CHAPTER XXI.
HAGAR AND CORA.
Meanwhile, Lucian Davlin had hastened to Bellair in response to Cora'ssummons, full of conjectures as to what had "turned up."
When the noon train from the city puffed up to the little platform,Lucian Davlin was among the arrivals, and at the end of the depotplatform stood the dainty phaeton of Mrs. John Arthur. That ladyherself reined in her prancing ponies, and the whole formed an objectof admiration for the few depot loungers.
As Lucian Davlin crossed the platform and took his seat beside thelady, an old woman hobbled across the track. Casting a furtive glancein the direction the ponies were taking, she hobbled away toward thewood.
Miss Arthur's maid had surmised aright. It was no part of Cora's planto permit the inmates of Oakley a view of Mr. Davlin on this occasion.So the ponies were driven briskly away from the town, and when thatwas left behind, permitted to walk through the almost leafless woods,while Cora revealed to Lucian the extent of the fresh calamity thathad befallen them in the advent of Mr. Percy.
"Well, what have you to say to all this?" demanded the lady,pettishly, after she had disburdened herself of the story, with itsmost minute particulars. "This is a pretty state of affairs, is itnot? I am worn out. I wish Oakley and the whole tribe were at thebottom of the sea!"
"Stuff!" with much coolness; then taking a flask containing some amberliquid from a breast pocket he held it between his eyes and the lightfor critical examination.
"Stuff? where? In that flask?"
"No, in your words. This," shaking the amber liquid, "is simon pure;best French. Have some? I felt as if I needed a 'bracer' thismorning."
"Up all night, I presume," eyeing him askant.
"Pretty much;" indifferently. "Won't take any? Then, here's confusionto Percy," and he took a long draught. "Now, then," pocketing thebrandy and turning toward her, briskly, "I'm ready for business. Howthe deuce did we let this fellow pounce down upon us like this? Ithought he was safe in Cuba?"
"He will never be safe anywhere, until he gets to--"
"Heaven," suggested he.
"I suppose it was stupid," she went on, gloomily. "But when EllenArthur raved of her dear friend Mr. Percy, how was I to imagine thatamong all the Percys on earth, this especial and particular one shouldbe _the_ Percy. I wrote you that she had a lover of that name; did itoccur to you that it might be he?" maliciously.
"Well, candidly, it did not."
"We were a pair of stupid fools, and we are finely caught for ourpains."
"First statement correct," composedly; "don't agree with the last,however."
"Why not?"
"Does he know I am on deck?"
"No."
"Didn't inquire after me, or say anything about the documents?"
"No special inquiries."
"Well, then, where is the great danger?"
"Where?" much astonished.
"Yes, where? If you told me all the truth concerning yourself tenyears ago, we can make him play into our hands."
"How?"
"Don't go too fast. When you told me that he believed you to have lefthome because of an unkind step-mother, was that true?"
"It was true. I did leave home and come to the city when I was butsixteen, because my father was a drunkard, and my step-mother abusive,and we were poor and I was proud."
"Don't doubt that fact;" with an outward gesture of the supple hand."But you told him that you had two big step-brothers!"
Cora laughed. "A big brother is an excellent weapon to hold over theheads of some men," she suggested.
"True," with an amused look. "Why didn't you brandish one over me?"
"Over you?" laughing again. "You and Percy were two different men."
"Much obliged," lifting his hat with mock gravity. "Well, we are 'twodifferent men,' still; just let your pretty little head rest, andleave Percy to me."
"I wish to Heaven you had made an end--"
"'Ah-h-h. I have sighed to rest me,'" warbled Davlin. "Cora, my love,never put your foot on too dangerous ground."
"Well, I do wish so, all the same," said she, with femininepertinacity.
"Now, tell me what your plan is. We want to understand each other, andhave no more bungling."
"All you will have to do will be to keep quiet and follow my cue. WhenI come down, we must manage it that I meet Percy in Miss Arthur'sabsence. The rest is easy; this Mr. Percy will not find his path freefrom obstacles, I think."
"What game will you play?"
"Precisely what I am playing now. I am your brother. That will explainsome things that puzzled him some time ago," dryly. "I am your soleprotector, saving the old chap, don't you see."
The woman pondered a moment. "I think it will answer," she said, atlast. "At any rate, it is the best we can do now."
A little more conversation, and Cora was quite satisfied with that andother arrangements. Then the ponies were headed toward the village,and driven at a brisk pace, thus enabling Mr. Davlin to catch theafternoon train back to the city. No one at Oakley was any the wiserfor his visit. It was no uncommon thing for Cora to drive outunattended, and she returned to the manor in a very good humor,considering the situation.
Cora's drive had given her an appetite, and she had partaken of noluncheon. She therefore ordered a very bounteous one to be served inthe red parlor. Mr. Arthur was enjoying his usual afternoon siesta;Miss Arthur was invisible, for which Cora felt duly thankful; and soshe settled herself down to solitude, cold chicken and other edibles,and her own thoughts.
Ever and anon she gazed listlessly from the window, letting her eyesrove from the terrace to the hedgerow walk, the woods beyond, and backagain to the terrace. Suddenly she bent forward, and looked earnestlyat some object, moving toward the stile from the grove beyond. Amoment later, it appeared in the gap of the hedge.
Cora leaned back in her chair, still observant, muttering:
"I thought so! It is that ugly old woman. Now, what in the world doesshe want here, for--yes, she is entering the grounds, coming up theterrace."
True enough, old Hagar was coming slowly along the terrace, taking aleisurely survey of the window facing that walk, as she did so.Casting her eyes upward, they met the gaze of Mrs. Arthur. Then, muchto the surprise of that lady, she paused and executed a briefpantomime, as grotesque as it was mysterious.
Cora drew back in some astonishment, pondering as to whether or no theold woman might not be partially insane, when Susan, the maid of theromantic mind, appeared before her, and announced that the object ofher thoughts was in the kitchen, and begged that Mrs. Arthur wouldpermit her an interview.
Cora was still more surprised. "What can she possibly want with me?"she asked herself, quite audibly.
"If you please, ma'am," volunteered Susan, "she said that it wassomething important; and that she never would have put her foot insidethis house, begging your pardon, only for you."
Flattering though this statement might be, it did not enlighten hermuch. So, after a moment's reflection, Mrs. Arthur bade the girl,"show the old person up."
Accordingly, in another moment almost, old Hagar was bowing veryhumbly before the lady with the silken flounces. Susan retiredreluctantly, deeply regretting that she could find no time to stop upthe key-hole with her ear, thus rendering it impossible for pryingeyes to peep through that orifice.
"Well, old woman," began Cora, rather inelegantly, it must beconfessed, "what on earth were you making such a fuss about, down onthe terrace? And what do you want with me?"
A close observer of the human countenance divine would never havejudged, from the small amount of expression that was manifest in theface of Hagar, that her reply would have been such a very humble one."I want to serve you, dear lady."
The "dear lady" pursed up her lips in surprise. "You--want--"
"To warn you, madame."
Cora was dumb with astonishment, not unmingled with apprehension. Whathad broken loose now?
"I am only a poor old woman, lady,
and nobody thinks that old Hagarhas a heart for the wrongs of others. I said that I would never crossJohn Arthur's threshold again; but I have seen your pretty face, goingto and fro through the village streets, and I knew there was no one towarn you but me."
"Oh, you did," remarked Cora, not knowing whether to be alarmed oramused, at the old woman's earnestness. "Well, old--what's your name?"
"Hagar, lady."
"Well, old Hagar, do you mean to tell me that I am in any particulardanger just at present?"
"Is the dove in danger when it is in the nest of the hawk?" saidHagar, closing her eyes tight as she uttered the words, but lookingotherwise very tragical.
Cora laughed musically. "Good gracious, old lady!" She was modifyingher titles somewhat, probably under the influence of Hagar'sflatteries. "You mean to compare me to a dove," laughing afresh,"in--a hawk's nest? Oh, dear! oh, dear!" wiping her eyes. "Now, then,please introduce me to the wicked hawk."
Hagar was getting tired of her part, and she made a direct rush at thepoint of the business, and with very good dramatic effect. "I meanyour husband," she said, vehemently. "I mean John Arthur. He is a badman. If he has not done it already, he will make you miserableby-and-by."
Cora drew herself up and tried to look severe. "Old lady," she said,with supernatural gravity, "don't you know that it is very improperfor you to come and talk to me, like this, about my husband?"
"Just hear her!" sniffed Hagar, rather unnecessarily; "all because Ithink she is too young, and too pretty, to be sacrificed like theothers--"
"Like the others? What others?"
"Like his first wife. She was young, like you, and a lovely lady. Hiscruelty was her death. And then he must worry and abuse her poordaughter, until she runs away and comes to an untimely end. And now--"
"Now, you fear he will make an end of me?" briskly. "Sit down, oldlady," becoming still more affable. "So Mr. Arthur ill-used his firstwife, my predecessor?"
"Thank you, dear lady; you are very kind to a poor old woman," seatingherself gingerly on the edge of a chair opposite Cora. "Yes, indeed,he did ill-use her. She was my mistress, and I shall always hate himfor it."
Cora mused. Here was an old servant who hated the master of Oakley;might she not prove useful, after a time? At any rate, it would bewell to sound her.
"You were very much attached to the lady, no doubt?" insinuatingly.
"Yes; and who would not be? She was very sweet and good, was my poormistress. Oh, he is a bad, bad man, madame, and you surely cannot bevery happy with him."
"And he was unkind to his step-daughter, too?" ignoring the lastsupposition.
"Unkind? He was a wretch. Oh, I could almost murder him for hiscruelty to that poor dead lassie!" fiercely.
"Perhaps he was none too kind to you," suggested Cora.
"Oh, he never treated me like a human being. He hated me because Itried to stand between her and harm. But he could not get rid of thesight of me. I have a little home where he can't avoid seeing mesometimes. I believe, if I kept always appearing before him, he wouldgo raving mad, he hates me to that extent."
"Um-m! Is that so?"
"Yes, indeed. Why, lady, if I were without house or home, and you, outof the kindness of your heart, were to take me into your employment asthe very humblest of your servants, I believe he would kill us both."
"You think he would?"
Cora actually seemed to encourage the old woman in her garrulity.
"Oh, I know it. It's not much in the way of charity, or kindness, youwill be able to do in _this_ house. If he don't imprison you in one ofthese old closed-up musty rooms, you will be lucky. He is verydangerous. Sometimes I used to think he must be insane."
Cora started. "Well, Hagar," she said, sweetly, "it's very good of youto take so much interest in me. He is very cross sometimes, but,perhaps, it won't be so bad as you fear."
"I hope it won't," rising to go and shaking her head dubiously; "but Iam afraid for you."
"Well," laughing, "I'll try and not let him lock me up, at any rate.Now, is there anything I can do for you?"
If ever you want to make him feel what it is to makeothers suffer, Hagar will help you.--page 238.]
"Oh, no, lady. You looked so pretty, and so good, that I wanted towarn you; that is all. I should be glad if I could serve you, too, butI could never serve him. I don't want for anything, dear lady. Now theold woman will go."
"I won't forget you, Hagar, if I ever need a friend."
Hagar turned toward her. "If you ever want to make him feel what it isto make others suffer, Hagar will help you."
There was a vindictive light in the old woman's eyes, and she hobbledout of the room, looking as if she meant all she had said.
Cora sat, for a time, pondering over the interview, and trying totrace out some motive for insincerity on the old woman's part. But shecould see none. She resolved to investigate a little, and all thatevening was the most attentive and agreeable of wives. Abundant andversatile was her conversation. Deftly she led the talk up to theproper point, and then said, carelessly:
"Driving through the village, to-day, I passed that queer oldwoman--Hagar, do they call her? She glared at me, oh! so savagely."
"She is an old hag!" Mr Arthur answered, with unnecessary fierceness."I don't see what Satan has been about, all these years, that he's nottaken her away to her proper atmosphere."
"Why," in pretty surprise, "I thought she used to be one of yourservants?"
"She was a servant to my first wife," moodily. "I got rid of thebaggage quick enough, when Mrs. Arthur died. She is an old viper, andput more disobedience into that girl Madeline's head, than I evercould get out."
"What a horrid old wretch she must be!" shuddering.
Then the conversation dropped, and Cora was satisfied.
"The old woman shall be my tool," she thought, triumphantly.