XIV.
Paula was in her boudoir, writing down some notes previous to beginningher wedding toilet, which was designed to harmonize with the simplicitythat characterized the other arrangements. She owned that it wasdepriving the neighbourhood of a pageant which it had a right to expectof her; but the circumstance was inexorable.
Mrs. Goodman entered Paula's room immediately behind Charlotte. Perhapsthe only difference between the Paula of to-day and the Paula of lastyear was an accession of thoughtfulness, natural to the circumstances inany case, and more particularly when, as now, the bride's isolation madeself-dependence a necessity. She was sitting in a light dressing-gown,and her face, which was rather pale, flushed at the entrance ofCharlotte and her aunt.
'I knew you were come,' she said, when Charlotte stooped and kissedher. 'I heard you. I have done nothing this morning, and feel dreadfullyunsettled. Is all well?'
The question was put without thought, but its aptness seemed almost toimply an intuitive knowledge of their previous conversation. 'Yes,' saidCharlotte tardily.
'Well, now, Clementine shall dress you, and I can do with Milly,'continued Paula. 'Come along. Well, aunt--what's the matter?--and you,Charlotte? You look harassed.'
'I have not slept well,' said Charlotte.
'And have not you slept well either, aunt? You said nothing about it atbreakfast.'
'O, it is nothing,' said Mrs. Goodman quickly. 'I have been disturbedby learning of somebody's villainy. I am going to tell you all some timeto-day, but it is not important enough to disturb you with now.'
'No mystery!' argued Paula. 'Come! it is not fair.'
'I don't think it is quite fair,' said Miss De Stancy, looking from oneto the other in some distress. 'Mrs. Goodman--I must tell her! Paula,Mr. Som--'
'He's dead!' cried Paula, sinking into a chair and turning as pale asmarble. 'Is he dead?--tell me!' she whispered.
'No, no--he's not dead--he is very well, and gone to Normandy for aholiday!'
'O--I am glad to hear it,' answered Paula, with a sudden coolmannerliness.
'He has been misrepresented,' said Mrs. Goodman. 'That's all.'
'Well?' said Paula, with her eyes bent on the floor.
'I have been feeling that I ought to tell you clearly, dear Paula,'declared her friend. 'It is absolutely false about his telegraphing toyou for money--it is absolutely false that his character is such as thatdreadful picture represented it. There--that's the substance of it, andI can tell you particulars at any time.'
But Paula would not be told at any time. A dreadful sorrow sat in herface; she insisted upon learning everything about the matter there andthen, and there was no withstanding her.
When it was all explained she said in a low tone: 'It is thatpernicious, evil man Dare--yet why is it he?--what can he have meantby it! Justice before generosity, even on one's wedding-day. Before Ibecome any man's wife this morning I'll see that wretch in jail! Theaffair must be sifted.... O, it was a wicked thing to serve anybodyso!--I'll send for Cunningham Haze this moment--the culprit is even nowon the premises, I believe--acting as clerk of the works!' The usuallywell-balanced Paula was excited, and scarcely knowing what she did wentto the bell-pull.
'Don't act hastily, Paula,' said her aunt. 'Had you not better consultSir William? He will act for you in this.'
'Yes--He is coming round in a few minutes,' said Charlotte, jumping atthis happy thought of Mrs. Goodman's. 'He's going to run across to seehow you are getting on. He will be here by ten.'
'Yes--he promised last night.'
She had scarcely done speaking when the prancing of a horse was heard inthe ward below, and in a few minutes a servant announced Sir William DeStancy.
De Stancy entered saying, 'I have ridden across for ten minutes, as Isaid I would do, to know if everything is easy and straightforward foryou. There will be time enough for me to get back and prepare if I startshortly. Well?'
'I am ruffled,' said Paula, allowing him to take her hand.
'What is it?' said her betrothed.
As Paula did not immediately answer Mrs. Goodman beckoned to Charlotte,and they left the room together.
'A man has to be given in charge, or a boy, or a demon,' she replied. 'Iwas going to do it, but you can do it better than I. He will run away ifwe don't mind.'
'But, my dear Paula, who is it?--what has he done?'
'It is Dare--that young man you see out there against the sky.' Shelooked from the window sideways towards the new wing, on the roof ofwhich Dare was walking prominently about, after having assisted two ofthe workmen in putting a red streamer on the tallest scaffold-pole. 'Youmust send instantly for Mr. Cunningham Haze!'
'My dearest Paula,' repeated De Stancy faintly, his complexion changingto that of a man who had died.
'Please send for Mr. Haze at once,' returned Paula, with gracefulfirmness. 'I said I would be just to a wronged man before I was generousto you--and I will. That lad Dare--to take a practical view of it--hasattempted to defraud me of one hundred pounds sterling, and he shallsuffer. I won't tell you what he has done besides, for though it isworse, it is less tangible. When he is handcuffed and sent off to jailI'll proceed with my dressing. Will you ring the bell?'
'Had you not better consider?' began De Stancy.
'Consider!' said Paula, with indignation. 'I have considered. Will youkindly ring, Sir William, and get Thomas to ride at once to Mr. Haze? Ormust I rise from this chair and do it myself?'
'You are very hasty and abrupt this morning, I think,' he faltered.
Paula rose determinedly from the chair. 'Since you won't do it, I must,'she said.
'No, dearest!--Let me beg you not to!'
'Sir William De Stancy!'
She moved towards the bell-pull; but he stepped before and interceptedher.
'You must not ring the bell for that purpose,' he said with huskydeliberateness, looking into the depths of her face.
'It wants two hours to the time when you might have a right to expresssuch a command as that,' she said haughtily.
'I certainly have not the honour to be your husband yet,' he sadlyreplied, 'but surely you can listen? There exist reasons against givingthis boy in charge which I could easily get you to admit by explanation;but I would rather, without explanation, have you take my word, when Isay that by doing so you are striking a blow against both yourself andme.'
Paula, however, had rung the bell.
'You are jealous of somebody or something perhaps!' she said, in toneswhich showed how fatally all this was telling against the intention ofthat day. 'I will not be a party to baseness, if it is to save all myfortune!'
The bell was answered quickly. But De Stancy, though plainly in greatmisery, did not give up his point. Meeting the servant at the doorbefore he could enter the room he said. 'It is nothing; you can goagain.'
Paula looked at the unhappy baronet in amazement; then turning to theservant, who stood with the door in his hand, said, 'Tell Thomas tosaddle the chestnut, and--'
'It's all a mistake,' insisted De Stancy. 'Leave the room, James!'
James looked at his mistress.
'Yes, James, leave the room,' she calmly said, sitting down. 'Now whathave you to say?' she asked, when they were again alone. 'Why must I notissue orders in my own house? Who is this young criminal, that youvalue his interests higher than my honour? I have delayed for onemoment sending my messenger to the chief constable to hear yourexplanation--only for that.'
'You will still persevere?'
'Certainly. Who is he?'
'Paula... he is my son.'
She remained still as death while one might count ten; then turned herback upon him. 'I think you had better go away,' she whispered. 'Youneed not come again.'
He did not move. 'Paula--do you indeed mean this?' he asked.
'I do.'
De Stancy walked a few paces, then said in a low voice: 'Miss Power,I knew--I guessed just now, as soon as it began--that we were going tosplit on this rock. Well--let it be-
-it cannot be helped; destiny issupreme. The boy was to be my ruin; he is my ruin, and rightly. Butbefore I go grant me one request. Do not prosecute him. Believe me, Iwill do everything I can to get him out of your way. He shall annoy youno more.... Do you promise?'
'I do,' she said. 'Now please leave me.'
'Once more--am I to understand that no marriage is to take place to-daybetween you and me?'
'You are.'
Sir William De Stancy left the room. It was noticeable throughout theinterview that his manner had not been the manner of a man altogethertaken by surprise. During the few preceding days his mood had been thatof the gambler seasoned in ill-luck, who adopts pessimist surmises as asafe background to his most sanguine hopes.
She remained alone for some time. Then she rang, and requested thatMr. Wardlaw, her father's solicitor and friend, would come up to her. Amessenger was despatched, not to Mr. Cunningham Haze, but to the parsonof the parish, who in his turn sent to the clerk and clerk's wife,then busy in the church. On receipt of the intelligence the two latterfunctionaries proceeded to roll up the carpet which had been laid fromthe door to the gate, put away the kneeling-cushions, locked the doors,and went off to inquire the reason of so strange a countermand. It wassoon proclaimed in Markton that the marriage had been postponed for afortnight in consequence of the bride's sudden indisposition: and lesspublic emotion was felt than the case might have drawn forth, from theignorance of the majority of the populace that a wedding had been goingto take place at all.
Meanwhile Miss De Stancy had been closeted with Paula for more than anhour. It was a difficult meeting, and a severe test to any friendshipbut that of the most sterling sort. In the turmoil of her distractionCharlotte had the consolation of knowing that if her act of justice toSomerset at such a moment were the act of a simpleton, it was the onlycourse open to honesty. But Paula's cheerful serenity in somemeasure laid her own troubles to rest, till they were reawakened by arumour--which got wind some weeks later, and quite drowned all othersurprises--of the true relation between the vanished clerk of works, Mr.Dare, and the fallen family of De Stancy.