CHAPTER VI
THE PROBLEM
"He's going to be a winner, is he?" asked Saltash, flicking the ash fromhis cigarette as he stood in the training-field with Jake.
"That depends how he's ridden, my lord," said Jake dryly. "He is a hotfavourite."
"Pity you can't ride him yourself," observed Saltash, watching theAlbatross with a critical eye as he cantered down the field. "Who is inthe saddle? Not Vickers?"
"No. Vickers is incapacitated. I have put Stevens up. He seems keenfor the chance, though I'm not so keen to give it him," Jake spoke withgrimness.
"He ought to pull it off," said Saltash.
"He ought, my lord." Jake's tone lacked conviction notwithstanding.
Saltash turned. "What's the matter with the lad? You don't seem overenthusiastic about him."
Jake flicked at a clump of nettles with his riding-whip. "I've done mybest to shape him, but he's a bit of a cur. The animals don't trusthim."
Saltash uttered a careless laugh. "Oh, you always were an adept atreading the equine mind. Come along and show me the latest offspring!What was it you called him? The Hundredth Chance? A curious name tochoose!"
Jake's grim face relaxed to a smile. "Oh, he's in the paddock alongwith his mother. He promises to be the most valuable animal in theStables. He'll carry everything before him when the time comes."
"Is that why you've given him such a hopeful name?" asked Saltash.
Jake uttered a brief laugh. "Even so, my lord. He carries my luck withhim wherever he goes."
"You're a queer fish, Bolton," observed Saltash, turning to leave thefield.
The paddock lay on the further side of the orchard, and here they foundthe pride of Jake's heart, a frisky black foal who kicked up his heelsand scampered at the sight of him.
"He'll take some taming presently," commented Saltash.
"And he'll knock spots off any animal I have ever had to tame," saidJake.
Saltash laughed again with nonchalant interest. "If ever there were theright man in the right place, it is you," he said. "Can we go backthrough the garden? I believe that's the shortest way." He spoke witha wary glance in the direction whither he wished to go. A white figurewas visible on the steps that led into the parlour. "I hear Mrs. Boltonis away," he added, immediately averting his eyes.
Jake turned in his sturdy fashion, and began to walk towards the house."No, she is at home for the present," he said. "We are expectingCapper. In fact the lad has gone to the station to meet him."
"What! Bunny? Is he really all right? Capper must be a magician!"ejaculated Saltash.
"He is the biggest man I know," said Jake simply.
They approached the house. The white figure had disappeared.
Saltash chatted inconsequently, strolling along with a cigarette betweenhis lips, and a confident smile on his dark face. He had come down asusual unexpectedly, but she was probably aware of his advent. His carwas awaiting him in the stable-yard. He did not think she would sufferhim to pass the window unnoticed.
Yet as he drew near she made no sign. Chops came smiling down the stepsto greet him, and he paused at once to fondle the dog.
Jake paused also, but he did not invite him to enter. He stood pullingat the lash of his riding-whip, stolidly patient, awaiting his patron'spleasure.
Suddenly Saltash looked up. "I believe your guest has arrived, Bolton.You'd better go. Never mind me!"
There came undoubtedly the sound of wheels from the other side of thehouse. Jake glanced towards the gate that led thither. Saltash bentagain over the dog.
"You'd better go," he reiterated. "I won't show. Don't let me keepyou!"
Jake raised a hand to his cap and turned away.
Instantly Saltash straightened himself. He uttered a low, clearwhistle, and almost immediately Maud, clad in white, came to the window.He sprang up the steps in a single bound and caught her hands into hisown.
"I had your letter," he said. "Quick! When can you meet me?"
Maud was gasping a little. Her face was deeply flushed. "Charlie! Youare so sudden! I only want--a few minutes alone with you."
He held her hands. "When?" he said.
His eyes were gazing into hers freely, ardently; but he was laughing ashe always laughed, ready to turn his ardour into a joke at a moment'snotice.
She hesitated.
"Quick!" he said. "They are coming, and I must go. Come down to theorchard-gate after dinner to-night! Jake and Capper will be smoking. Noone will know, Queen Rose. That is settled then. I shall be at thegate alone." He laughed under his breath, lifted her hands to his lips,made a wide gesture as if he would clasp her in his arms, laughed againas she drew back, and wheeling, sprang down the steps and was gone in amoment round the side of the house.
Maud's cheeks were burning. She turned to meet the visitor with thefeeling of one who has had a sudden rapid fall through space. She wasnot sure of the ground beneath her feet.
She did not know how she greeted Capper, but somehow the difficultmoment passed. She was convinced afterwards that her manner had beenperfectly normal, for the atmosphere was quite natural and free fromstrain. In a very few minutes they were all seated round the tea-table,and to her relief Bunny, and not she, was the centre of observation andgeneral topic of their talk.
She feared that when tea was over Capper would seek her out; but he didnot. He went round the Stables with Jake.
She went to her own room to rest and recover her composure. It was truethat she had wanted to see Charlie alone; in fact it had becomeessential to her mother's interests that she should do so. But she hadnot altogether expected so prompt a reply to her request. She wishedshe could have made some more ordinary arrangement. She wished with allher heart that she had had the presence of mind to veto his suggestion.It had never been her intention to meet him secretly and at night. Notthat she cared personally how or when she met him. Their friendship wastoo old for that. But she did not like secrecy. Small as was theconfidence she extended to her husband, she yet had no desire to excludehim deliberately from the knowledge of her doings. She did not wish tocommit any act, however innocent, which might appear suspicious in hiseyes.
The thing was unavoidable, however, the appointment was made. She couldnot leave Charlie to wait in vain. For this once she must run the riskand trust to luck to bring her through. It would not be a longinterview; she was fully determined upon that point. And she wouldnever agree to another on the same clandestine lines. She must asserther independence, and meet him openly. Jake must learn to trust her.She must not suffer him to interfere with her liberty of action. If hewere ridiculous enough to be jealous, that was his affair. She wouldnot allow herself to be influenced by such an absurd attitude. She neverquestioned his doings; she must not suffer him to question hers. So shesought to reassure herself the while her uneasiness grew.
She put on a dress of black lace when the supper-hour drew near. Itmade her look even paler than her wont, but she gave scarcely a thoughtto her appearance. Her mind was weighed down by far more seriousmatters.
Even the prospect of a _tete-a-tete_ with Dr. Capper hardly disquietedher, and when she discovered him on the garden-steps of the parlour shewent forward to join him without hesitation.
His greeting of her was full of kindness; there was nothingdisconcerting about his attitude.
"I was just thinking about my friend Rafford," he said. "You rememberhim? And how mad he went over that piece of statuary at BurchesterCastle? But, strange to say, it's not the anatomy that interests himany longer. It's the face."
She felt herself colour a little. "If it bears any resemblance to me,it is purely accidental," she said.
"Or rather, a coincidence," amended Capper. "It's a fine piece of workanyway. But he is nothing of a judge. Guess it's just the humanity ofthe thing that gets him."
"It's rather a painful study," Maud said.
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"Ah, but it leaves endless possibilities. That is where the genius ofthe sculptor displays itself. Rafford saw that. 'The hotter thefurnace, the purer the gold,' he said to me; 'if I had the naming ofthat work I'd call it _The Crucible or Seven Times Purified_.'"
"What a peculiar point of view!" Maud exclaimed, almost in spite ofherself.
Capper assented. "Raff is highly imaginative. He has a very longperspective. A bit of a dreamer too. If it weren't for that, I shouldprophesy a great future for him. But there's no time for dreaming inthis world. You must either hustle through or be content to stand aside.You can't do both."
"I don't like hustling," Maud said, with a smile.
He made her a bow. "No, you are English. But Raff has not that excuse.That's why I doubt if he ever gets there. He needs to be up against athing before he considers it worth while. That's not the way to win outhandsomely. It's the way to get whipped off the field."
"Always make for the crest of the wave!" said Jake's voice behind them."You may get there--some day--if you're lucky; though it's more likelyyou'll be dragged under and swamped."
Capper turned to him. "Not you, Jake!" he said. "You're a born winner.I'm sure Mrs. Bolton will bear me out there."
Jake's hand descended upon his wife's shoulder. "Mrs. Bolton doesn'tknow my capabilities in that respect at present," he remarked dryly."She has only witnessed the start."
Maud did not turn her head. "You are all invincible, of course," shesaid.
Bunny's advent diverted the conversation. He could think and talk ofnothing but the forthcoming races at Graydown which had been fixed forthe end of the week, and which he had prevailed upon Jake to allow himto attend.
Capper, though not particularly enthusiastic, was to remain for them,"just to see Jake come out on top," as he expressed it. It was takenfor granted by all that Maud would go too, and she supposed she would doso; but she took no part in the conversation which Bunny found soall-absorbing. She was too occupied with the thought of Charlie.
There was no need for her to talk. She sat silent and abstracted whilethe protracted discussion went on around her. Bunny had learned moreabout the animals in ten days than she had discovered in as many weeks,and Capper listened with amused indulgence. It all went over her head,and no one seemed to notice her aloofness.
Bunny would gladly have sat up till late, but Jake would not permitthis. He ordered him off to bed on the stroke of nine, and Bunny wentwithout demur. He was learning to obey his brother-in-law without anythought of rebellion. Maud noted the fact bitterly. It was anotherproof to her of the despotic mastery of Jake's personality. He ruledthem all.
She herself rose from the table upon Bunny's departure, and as she didso she was for the first time conscious of Capper's critical scrutiny.It passed almost immediately as he sprang to his feet to open the door.
"I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again?" he asked.
She bent her head. "I am only going to fetch a wrap for the garden."
He smiled and bowed her out.
Jake was in the act of lighting a cigarette when he returned to thetable. He proffered the end of it to Capper, and as the latter stoopedto kindle his own their eyes met. Capper's held a question that couldscarcely be ignored.
Half-reluctantly Jake removed his cigarette and spoke. "It's the biggestproblem I've ever been up against."
Capper puffed forth a cloud of smoke. "What's troubling you?"
Jake sat down heavily. "She ain't pleased--not any. Life is damnablydifficult. I thought I was going to make her happy, but I've made analmighty failure of it. She used to just tolerate me in the old days;but now--she hates the very sight of me. The mere thought of bearing mea child seems to drive her clean crazy."
He ceased to speak and sat bowed in his chair, his chin on his breast,his eyes gazing sombrely forth under bent brows.
Capper was still on his feet. He stood cracking his fingers one afterthe other with meditative regularity. His eyes, very green and shrewd,rested upon Jake's head that shone like copper in the lamplight.
There fell a silence of several seconds; then at length with anothergreat puff of smoke he spoke. "Guess it's just a case for patience,Jake, my lad. These things right 'emselves, you know, when the timecomes. It's wonderful how childbearing softens a woman. And you loveher. That'll make a difference too--when the time comes."
Jake did not look up. "God knows I do," he said slowly. "But you know,Doc--" he seemed to be speaking with something of an effort--"I don'tfancy she knows it."
"Oh, shucks!" Capper exclaimed. "She wouldn't be a woman if shedidn't."
Jake shook his head despondently. "I suppose I'm just a brute beast.She thinks so, and I can't show her anything different now. Maybe I ammore flesh than spirit; but for all that she is the one woman I want,and none other could ever satisfy me now. But I haven't got her. Evenwhen I hold her in my arms, she ain't there. And she has never kissedme, never once."
Again he ceased to speak, and Capper pulled at his beard and saidnothing.
There fell a long silence between them through which the grandfatherclock in the corner ticked with a melancholy beat. It was like theheart of a tired man.
Jake's cigarette hung neglected between his fingers which almost trailedon the floor. His eyes still stared before him as though they saw onething, and only one.
Capper smoked with scarcely a pause. His yellow face was verythoughtful His cigarette came to an end, and he dropped it smoulderingon to a plate. Then he turned and laid a kindly hand upon Jake'sshoulder.
"Keep a stiff upper lip, my son! I guess she's yours for the winning,or she will be. It's no good trying to understand a woman's moods. Younever will do that as long as you live. But she'll come to you in theend, sure. Give her all the rope you can! If she hasn't any use for youat present, it'll come."
"Will it?" said Jake rather bitterly. "I reckon I'm further away fromwinning her now than I've ever been. Once--it's ages ago--she came to meand cried out her troubles on my shoulder. She'd no more dream of doingthat now than she'd dream of flying. She'd be more likely to--" Hebroke off short.
"What?" said Capper.
Jake sat slowly up. His eyes still seemed to be fixed upon somedefinite object. "I was going to say," he said, in a voice that hadbecome peculiarly soft and deliberate, "that she'd be more likely tocarry her troubles to Saltash. But I don't think exactly that. He's toocrooked to hold a woman's confidence. No woman with any sense wouldtrust him."
He grasped Capper's hand and looked up with a curious smile.
"It would be a pity to have to shoot a freak like Saltash; wouldn't it?"he said. "Reckon a good many women would miss him."
His eyes shone red for a moment, then he uttered a laugh that seemed todismiss the subject.
"Come into the garden and see the moon rise!" he said.