XIX
TORRANCE ASKS A QUESTION
There was but one lamp lighted in the hall at Cedar Range, and that wasturned low, but there was light enough to satisfy Clavering, who stoodbeneath it with Hetty's maid close beside him and a little red leathercase in his hand. The girl's eyes were eager, but they were fixed upon thecase and not the man, who had seen the keenness in them and was notdispleased. Clavering had met other women in whom cupidity was at least asstrong as vanity.
"Now I wonder if you can guess what is inside there, and who it is for,"he said.
The maid drew a trifle nearer, stooping slightly over the man's hand, andshe probably knew that the trace of shyness, which was not all assumed,became her. She was also distinctly conscious that the pose she fell intodisplayed effectively a prettily rounded figure.
"Something for Miss Torrance?" she said.
Clavering's laugh was, as his companion noticed, not quite spontaneous."No," he said. "I guess you know as well as I do that Miss Torrance wouldnot take anything of this kind from me. She has plenty of them already."
The maid knew this was a fact, for she had occasionally spent a delightfulhalf-hour adorning herself with Hetty's jewellery.
"Well," she said, with a little tremor of anticipation in her voice, "whatis inside it?"
Clavering laid the case in her hand. "It is yours," he said. "Just pressthat spring."
It was done, and she gasped as a gleam of gold and a coloured gleam mether eyes. "My!" she said. "They're real--and it's for me?"
Clavering smiled a little, and taking her fingers lightly closed them onthe case.
"Of course," he said. "Well, you're pleased with it?"
The sparkle in the girl's eyes and the little flush in her face was plainenough, but the man's soft laugh was perfectly genuine. It was scarcely agift he had made her; but while he expected that the outlay upon thetrinket would be repaid him, he could be generous when it suited him, andwas quite aware that a less costly lure would have served his purposeequally. He also knew when it was advisable to offer something moretasteful than the obtrusive dollar.
"Oh," said the girl, "it's just lovely!"
Clavering, who had discretion, did not look round, but, though he kept hisdark eyes on his companion's face, he listened carefully. He could hearthe wind outside, and the crackle of the stove, but nothing else, and knewthat the footsteps of anyone approaching would ring tolerably distinctlydown the corridor behind the hall. He also remembered that the big doornearest them was shut.
"Well," he said, "it wouldn't do to put anything that wasn't pretty on aneck like that, and I wonder if you would let me fix it."
The girl made no protest; but though she saw the admiration in the man'sdark eyes as she covertly looked up, it would have pleased her better hadhe been a trifle more clumsy. His words and glances were usually boldenough, but, as he clasped the little brooch on, his fingers were almostirritatingly deft and steady. Men, she knew, did not make fools ofthemselves from a purely artistic appreciation of feminine comeliness.
"Now," she said, slipping away from him with a blush, "I wonder what youexpect for this."
Clavering's eyebrows went up and there was a faint assumption ofhaughtiness in his face, which became it.
"Only the pleasure of seeing it where it is. It's a gift," he said.
"Well," said the girl, "that was very kind of you; but you're quite sureyou never gave Miss Torrance anything of this kind?"
"No. I think I told you so."
The maid was not convinced. "But," she said, looking at him sideways, "Ithought you did. She has a little gold chain, very thin, and not like thethings they make now--and just lately she is always wearing it."
"I never saw it."
The girl smiled significantly. "I guess that's not astonishing. She wearsit low down on her neck--and the curious thing is that it lay by and shenever looked at it for ever so long."
Clavering felt that the dollars the trinket had cost him had not beenwasted; but though he concealed his disgust tolerably well, the maidnoticed it. She had, however, vague ambitions, and a scarcely warrantedconviction that, given a fair field, she could prove herself a match forher mistress.
"Then, if it wasn't you, it must have been the other man," she said.
"The other man?"
"Yes," with a laugh. "The one I took the wallet with the dollars to."
Clavering hoped he had not betrayed his astonishment; but she had seen themomentary flash in his eyes and the involuntary closing of his hand.
"Now," he said firmly, "that can't be quite straight, and one should bevery careful about saying that kind of thing."
The girl looked at him steadily. "Still, I took a wallet with dollar billsin it to Mr. Grant--at night. I met him on the bluff, and Miss Torrancesent them him."
It was possible that Clavering would have heard more had he followed theline of conduct he had adopted at first; but he stood thoughtfully silentinstead, which did not by any means please his companion as well. He had avague notion that this was a mistake; but the anger he did not show wastoo strong for him. Then, he fancied he heard a footstep on the stairway,and laughed in a somewhat strained fashion.
"Well, we needn't worry about that; and I guess if I stay here any longer,Mr. Torrance will be wondering where I have gone," he said.
He went out by one door, and a few moments later Miss Schuyler came in byanother. She swept a hasty glance round the hall, most of which was in theshadow, and her eyes caught the faint sparkle at the maid's neck. The nextmoment the girl moved back out of the light; but Miss Schuyler saw herhand go up, and fancied there was something in it when it came down again.She had also heard a man's footstep, and could put two and two together.
"Miss Torrance wants the silk. It was here, but I don't see it," she said."Who went out a moment or two ago?"
The girl opened a bureau. "Mr. Clavering. He left his cigar-case when hefirst came in."
She took out a piece of folded silk, and Miss Schuyler noticed the fashionin which she held it.
"It is the lighter shade we want; but the other piece is very like it.Unroll it so I can see it," she said.
The maid seemed to find this somewhat difficult; but Miss Schuyler hadseen a strip of red leather between the fingers of one hand, andunderstanding why it was so, went out thoughtfully. She knew theappearance of a jewel-case tolerably well, and had more than a suspicionas to whom the girl had obtained it from. Miss Schuyler, who would nothave believed Clavering's assertion about the trinket had she heard it,wondered what he expected in exchange for it, which perhaps accounted forthe fact that she contrived to overtake him in the corridor at the head ofthe stairs.
"When you left Hetty and me alone we understood it was because Mr.Torrance was waiting for you," she said.
"Yes," said Clavering, smiling. "It is scarcely necessary to explain thatif he hadn't been I would not have gone. I fancied he was in the hall."
Flora Schuyler nodded as though she believed him, but she determined toleave no room for doubt. "He is in his office," she said. "Have you thedeerskin cigar-case you showed us with you? You will remember I wasinterested in the Indian embroidery."
"I'm sorry I haven't," said Clavering. "Torrance's cigars are better thanmine, so I usually leave mine at home. But I'll bring the case next time,and if you would like to copy it, I could get you a piece of the dressedhide from one of the Blackfeet."
He turned away, and Flora Schuyler decided not to tell Hetty what she hadheard--Hetty was a little impulsive occasionally--but it seemed to MissSchuyler that it would be wise to watch her maid and Clavering closely.
In the meantime, the man walked away towards Torrance's office,considering what the maid had told him. He had found it difficult tocredit, but her manner had convinced him, and he realized that he couldnot afford the delay he had hitherto considered advisable. A young woman,he reflected, would scarcely send a wallet of dollars at night to a manwhose plans were opposed to her father's without a strong mo
tive, and thefact that Hetty wore a chain hidden about her neck had its meaning. Hehad, like most of his neighbours, laughed at Larry's hopeless devotion,but he had seen similar cases in which the lady at last relented, andwhile he knew Hetty's loyalty to her own people, and scarcely thought thatshe had more than a faint, tolerant tenderness for Larry, it appearedeminently desirable to prevent anything of that kind happening. Torrance,who was sitting smoking, glanced at him impatiently when he went in.
"You have been a long while," he said.
"I have a sufficient excuse, sir," said Clavering.
"Well," said Torrance drily, "they are quite clever girls, but I havefound myself wishing lately they were a long way from here. That, however,is not what I want to talk about. Apparently none of us can get hold ofLarry."
"It is not for the want of effort. There are few things that would pleaseme better."
Torrance glanced at Clavering sharply. "No. I fancied once or twice youhad a score of your own against him. In fact, I heard Allonby saysomething of the same kind, too."
"Chris is a trifle officious," said Clavering. "Any way, it's quiteevident that we shall scarcely hold the homestead-boys back until we getour thumb on Larry."
"How are we going to do it? He has come out ahead of us so far."
"We took the wrong way," said Clavering. "Now, Larry, as you know, putsall his dealings through the Tillotson Company. Tillotson, as I found outin Chicago, has a free hand to buy stocks or produce with his balances,and Larry, who does not seem to bank his dollars, draws on him. It's notan unusual thing. Well, I've been writing to folks in Chicago, and theytell me Tillotson is in quite a tight place since the upward move in lard.It appears he has been selling right along for a fall."
Torrance looked thoughtful. "Tillotson is a straight man, but I've had anotion he has been financing some of the homestead-boys. He handles allLarry's dollars?"
Clavering nodded. "He put them into lard. Now, the Brand Company holdTillotson's biggest contract, and if it suited them they could break him.I don't think they want to. Tillotson is a kind of useful man to them."
Torrance brought his fist down on the table. "Well," he said grimly, "wehave a stronger pull than Tillotson. Most of the business in this countrygoes to them, and if he thought it worth while, Brand would sell all hisrelations up to-morrow. I'll go right through to Chicago and fix thething."
Clavering smiled. "If you can manage it, you will cut off Larry'ssupplies."
"Then," said Torrance, "I'll start to-morrow. Still, I don't want to leavethe girls here, and it would suit me if you could drive them over toAllonby's. I don't mind admitting that they have given me a good deal ofanxiety, though they've made things pleasant, too, and I've 'most gotafraid of wondering what Cedar will feel like when they go away."
"Will Miss Torrance go away?"
"She will," said Torrance, with a little sigh, though there was pride inhis eyes, "when the trouble's over--but not before. She came home to seethe old man through."
Clavering seized the opportunity. "Did you ever contemplate thepossibility of Miss Torrance marrying anybody here?"
"I have a notion that there's nobody good enough," Torrance said quickly.
Clavering nodded, though he felt the old man's eyes upon him, and did notrelish the implication. "Still, I fancy the same difficulty would be metwith anywhere else, and that encourages me to ask if you would have anyinsuperable objections to myself?"
Torrance looked at him steadily. "I have been expecting this. Once Ithought it was Miss Schuyler; but she does not like you."
"I am sorry," and Clavering wondered whether his host was right, "though,the latter fact is not of any great moment. I have long had a sincererespect for Miss Torrance, but I am afraid it would be difficult to tellyou all I think of her."
"The point," said Torrance, somewhat grimly, "is what she thinks of you."
"I don't know. It did not seem quite fitting to ask her until I had spokento you."
Torrance said nothing for almost a minute, and to Clavering the silencebecame almost intolerable. The old man's forehead was wrinkled and hestared at the wall in front of him with vacant eyes. Then, he spoke veryslowly.
"That was the square thing, and I have to thank you. For twenty years nowI have worked and saved for Hetty--that she might have the things hermother longed for and never got. And I've never been sorry--the girl isgood all through. It is natural that she should marry; and even so far asthe dollars go, she will bring as much to her husband as he can give her,and if it's needful more; but there are one or two points about you Idon't quite like."
The old man's voice vibrated and his face grew softer and the respect thatClavering showed when he answered was not all assumed.
"I know my own unworthiness, sir, but I think any passing follies I mayhave indulged in are well behind me now."
"Well," said Torrance drily, "it's quite hard to shake some tastes andhabits off, and one or two of them have a trick of hanging on to the manwho thinks he has done with them. Now, I want a straight answer. Do youknow any special reason why it would not be the square thing for you tomarry my daughter?"
A faint colour crept into Clavering's face. "I know a good many whichwould make the bargain unfair to her," he said, "but there are very fewmen in this country who would be good enough for her."
Torrance checked him with a lifted hand. "That is not what I mean. It isfortunate for most of us that women of her kind believe the best of us andcan forgive a good deal. I am not speaking generally: do you know anyspecial reason--one that may make trouble for both of you? It's a plainquestion, and you understand it. If you do, we'll go into the thing rightnow, and then, if it can be got over, never mention it again."
Clavering sat silent, knowing well that delay might be fatal, and yet heldstill by something he had heard in the old man's voice and seen in hiseyes. However, he had succeeded in signally defeating one blackmailer.
"Sir," he said, very slowly, "I know of no reason now."
Torrance had not moved his eyes from him. "Then," he said, "I can onlytake your word. You are one of us and understand the little things thatplease girls like Hetty. If she will take you, you can count on my goodwill."
Clavering made a little gesture of thanks. "I ask nothing more, and maywait before I urge my suit; but it seems only fair to tell you that myranching has not been very profitable lately and my affairs----"
Torrance cut him short. "In these things it is the man that counts themost, and not the dollars. You will not have to worry over that point, nowyou have told me I can trust Hetty to you."
He said a little more on the same subject, and then Clavering went outwith unpleasantly confused sensations through which a feeling ofdegradation came uppermost. He had not led an exemplary life, but pridehad kept him clear of certain offences, and he had as yet held his wordsacred when put upon his honour. It was some minutes before he ventured tojoin Hetty and Miss Schuyler, who he knew by the sound of the piano werein the hall.
Hetty sat with her fingers on the keyboard, the soft light of the lamps inthe sconces shining upon her--very pretty, very dainty, an unusualsoftness in the eyes. She turned towards Clavering.
"You went in to get it"--touching the music--"just because you heard mesay I would like those songs. A four days' ride, and a blizzard raging onone of them!" she said.
Clavering looked at her gravely with something in his eyes that puzzledMiss Schuyler, who had expected a wittily graceful speech.
"You are pleased with them?" he said.
"Yes," said the girl impulsively. "But I feel horribly mean because I sentyou, although, of course, I didn't mean to. It was very kind of you, butyou must not do anything of that kind again."
Clavering, who did not appear quite himself, watched her turn over themusic in silence, for though the last words were spoken quietly, therewas, he and Miss Schuyler fancied, a definite purpose behind them.
"Then, you will sing one of them?" he said.
Hetty touched the keys-
-there was a difference in her when she sang, formusic was her passion, and as the clear voice thrilled the two wholistened, a flush of exaltation, that was almost spiritual, crept into herface. Clavering set his lips, and when the last notes sank into thestillness Miss Schuyler wondered what had brought the faint dampness tohis forehead. She did not know that all that was good in him had revoltedagainst what he had done, and meant to do, just then, and had almostgained the mastery. Unfortunately, instead of letting Hetty sing again andfix Clavering's half-formed resolution, she allowed her distrust of him tofind expression; for capable young woman though she was, Flora Schuylersometimes blundered.
"The song was worth the effort," she said. "Mr. Clavering is, however,evidently willing to do a good deal to give folks pleasure."
Clavering glanced at her with a little smile. "Folks? That means more thanone."
"Yes; it generally means at least two."
Hetty laughed as she looked round. "Is there anybody else he has beengiving music to?"
"I fancy the question is unnecessary," Flora said. "He told us he camestraight here, and there is nobody but you and I at Cedar he would belikely to bring anything to."
"Of course not! Well, I never worry over your oracular observations. Theygenerally mean nothing when you understand them," said Hetty.
Flora Schuyler smiled maliciously at Clavering. She did not know that whena good deed hung in the balance she had, by rousing his intolerance ofopposition, just tipped the beam.