The Woman with One Hand, and Mr. Ely's Engagement

  CHAPTER XII

  THE RIVALS--NEW VERSION

  When they reached Shanklin, Mr. Ely was shown into the drawing-room,while Mr. Ash disappeared upstairs.

  "You wait in there," suggested Mr. Ash; "there's a word or two I wantto say to the old lady. I want to get to the bottom of the thing,because it's quite possible we've come on a wild goose chase afterall. You wait half a minute, and I'll see Miss Lily's sent to you. Ishouldn't be at all surprised to see her come flying headlong intoyour arms. Then you'll find out that it's almost worth while to fallout for the sake of the reconciliation."

  Left alone in the drawing-room, Mr. Ely was not by any means so sure.He was inclined to be sceptical as to the young lady's flying leapinto his arms. And as to falling out for the sake of thereconciliation--well, there might be something, perhaps, in that, buthe would like to have felt as sure about the reconciliation as he didabout the falling out.

  He seated himself on an ottoman, thrust his hands into his trouserspockets, and stared at his patent toes. A minute passed, more than aminute, more than five minutes, indeed, still he was left alone. Helooked at his watch. Ten minutes had elapsed since he entered theroom.

  "This is a pretty state of things; ten living minutes have I satstewing here! And Ash said that in less than half a minute he wouldn'tbe surprised to see her in my arms. It looks like it!"

  He got up and surveyed the apartment.

  "I wonder where she is? And where the other fellow is? That's the manto whom I ought to apply for information. I lay my hat that she's donesome bounding into his arms since yesterday. That's a pleasant thoughtto think about the woman who's promised to be your wife!"

  Mr. Ely disconsolately paced the room.

  "And to think that I paid twenty pounds for an engagement-ring! And Imight have forked up forty-five! That's what gets at me! And I've gotRosenbaum's writ in my coat pocket. Damages laid at thirty thousandpounds! Oh, lor! This is a nice day's work I've done!"

  Pausing before the fireplace he leaned his elbow on the mantelshelf,and his head upon his hand, and groaned.

  "Excuse me, but can you tell me where Miss Truscott is?" There was avoice behind him. Mr. Ely turned.

  "Hallo, Ely! I had no idea that it was you! How are you, dear oldman?"

  Mr. Ely turned--metaphorically--into a pillar of ice. Into a pillar ofred-hot ice, if we may confound our metaphors. For while his exteriordemeanour was several degrees below zero, his interior economy leftboiling point at the post.

  A gentleman had strolled into the room through the opened window--Mr.William Summers. Mr. William Summers as large as life, and larger.There were no signs of guilt upon his countenance; certainly therewere none in his bearing. He held a soft crush hat in one hand, theother he held out to Mr. Ely.

  "Well, I'm--hanged!"

  "I say, Ely, what's the row?"

  Speechless with indignation, Mr. Ely turned and strode towards thedoor. When he reached it he paused, and turning again, he gazed at theintruder. The intruder did not seem to be at all abashed.

  "That's the way they used to do it at the Coburg. Exit vanquishedvice."

  "Sir!"

  "That's a little Coburg, too. They used to roll their r's."

  Mr. Summers tugged at his beard. Retracing his steps, Mr. Ely strodeon until he was in a measurable distance of Mr. Summers's nose.

  "Understand this once for all: you are a perfect stranger, sir, tome."

  "That's all right; I thought I was. Excuse one stranger speaking toanother, but could you tell me where Miss Truscott is?"

  Mr. Ely gasped. "This--this beats anything I ever heard of! Mr.Summers!"

  "That's right, Ely, I'm awake. Wire in and lay me flat; I sha'n't minda bit."

  "In all this there may be something funny, sir, which commends it toyour mind--if you have a mind--but I see nothing comic in desecratingnature's most sacred ties and in corrupting the innocence of youth."

  "More don't I, Ely; not the way you put it--and I couldn't put itbetter if I tried."

  "Are you aware that Miss Truscott has promised to be my wife?"

  "Ah, that was a mistake!"

  "A mistake! What the devil do you mean?"

  "You see, Ely, I've been in love with her a good twelve months--aye,that and more. I fell in love with her the first moment she cameacross my path."

  "What the dickens do I care if you've been in love with her twelveyears? More shame you! Do you consider that a justification to thescoundrel who betrays another fellow's wife?"

  "In love with her in a sense you do not understand--in love with herwith my whole life."

  "What on earth has that to do with me?"

  "I have lived for her, and worked, and hoped, and dreamed, until shehas grown to be the centre of my being. Does she mean all that toyou?"

  "What business have you to ask me such a question? When you haveruined Mrs. Jones do you put a similar inquiry to Jones? I shouldthink Jones would feel that you were a logical sort of person if youdid."

  "Ah, but here she is not your wife."

  "But she's going to be!"

  "As I live she never will."

  "Hang it, sir; don't I tell you that she promised?"

  "And don't I tell you that was a mistake. If you will keep cool I willgive you an explanation. If you decline to listen to an explanation,you must be content to realise the fact."

  "Look here, Mr. Summers, you are a sort of man with whom I have hadvery little to do----"

  "My misfortune--not your fault."

  "But I suppose you have some idea of common decency, if you have noneof honour----"

  "I hope I have."

  "And I ask you if you think it's decent, directly a woman has promiseda man to be his wife, to go behind his back and induce the woman todishonour herself and him?"

  "But that is not what I have done."

  "It is what you have done. One day Miss Truscott promises to be mywife, the next--directly my back is turned--you come and persuade herto be false to herself and me."

  "My good Ely, there is one factor you are omitting from yourcalculations, and that is--love."

  "Which with you stands higher--love or honesty?"

  "Oh, they both go hand-in-hand. Would it have been honest for her tohave married you when she loved me?"

  "Pooh! Stuff and nonsense! I never heard such impudence! What thedickens do you mean by saying that the woman who has promised to be mywife loves you?"

  "You perceive, it is from that that I saved you--that curse of allexistence, that canker which eats into the very root of life--aloveless marriage. But there are not many signs of gratitude, that Ican see."

  And Mr. Summers sighed. Mr. Ely gasped.

  "Look here, Mr. Summers, I am not a fighting man."

  "No?"

  "But if I were----!"

  "Yes. If you were? Go on!"

  "By George, sir, if I were----!" At this moment Mr. Ash entered theroom. "I'm sorry, Ash, that you have come. You've interrupted the mostagreeable interview that I ever had in all my life."

  "I'm surprised, Mr. Summers, after what has passed, to see you here."

  "Why? I assure you I'm not at all surprised at seeing you."

  Rising, Mr. Summers held out his hand. But Mr. Ash declined to see it.

  "Oh, take his hand! For goodness' sake take his hand! Shake it off hiswrist! Don't let him suppose that you're not delighted to have thepleasure."

  "Our friend Ely----"

  "Your friend Ely! What the dickens, sir, do you mean by calling meyour friend?"

  Very red in the face, Mr. Ely struck an attitude in front of Mr.Summers which was probably intended to express ferocity. Mr. Summerstugged at his beard, and smiled. Mr. Ash interposed.

  "I can hardly think, Mr. Summers, that it is necessary for me tosuggest that your presence is not required here."

  "My dear fellow, I am only waiting to obtain a little information."

  "What information can you possib
ly expect to receive?"

  "I only want to know where Miss Truscott is."

  "Yes, that's all! That's all he wants to know! A more modest request Inever heard! He only wants to know where my wife is!"

  "Excuse me, Ely, but Miss Truscott is not your wife!"

  "But she's going to be!"

  "That she will never be!"

  "Hang it, sir!" Mr. Ely rushed forward. But again Mr. Ash thought itadvisable to interpose.

  "Mr. Summers, be so kind as to leave this house."

  "Oh, don't turn him out! For goodness' sake don't turn him out! Praytell him where the lady is! And also acquaint him with the situationof the spoons! And entreat him, next time he calls, to bring hisburglar friends, and other relatives."

  Mr. Ash endeavoured to pacify his friend. But the attempt was vain.Mr. Ely's blood was up. His wrongs were more than he could bear.

  "My dear Ely, I beg that you will not pay the slightest attention tothis--gentleman."

  "Attention! Not me! I'm not paying the attention! It's he! And to myyoung woman, by the Lord!"

  Still tugging at his beard, Mr. Summers laughed and turned away.

  "I'm sorry you cannot give me the information I require. And youreally are inhospitable, Ash, you really are. But never mind, I'llhave my revenge! When you come to see me I'll not show you the door;nor Ely, if he'll condescend to call."

  He had reached the window when the door opened, and Mrs. Cliveappeared.

  "Ah, here is Mrs. Clive! I am sure that Mrs. Clive will take pity on aman, especially a man in the forlorn situation which I am. May I askif you can tell me where I am likely to find Miss Truscott?"

  "Mr. Summers!"

  Mrs. Clive's attitude was a study. It was as though all the pokers inEngland were down her back. But Mr. Summers did not show any sign ofdiscomposure.

  "Surely you will not be hard upon a man, especially upon a man inlove. Consider our position. I seek Lily, she seeks me. Life'ssummer-time is short. You would not have us waste its sweetness?"

  "Mr. Summers, I am more amazed than I can say."

  "Oh, don't be amazed! For goodness' sake don't be amazed! And don't behard upon a man--especially upon a man in love! Consider his position,and don't waste the sweetness of life's summer-time--oh, don't, forgracious' sake!" Mr. Ely pulled up his shirt-collar and "shot" hiscuffs. "I reckon I'm spending one of the pleasantest half hours I everhad in all my life."

  "Mrs. Clive, will you not listen to the all-conquering voice, thevoice of love?"

  "Mr. Summers, I must decline to listen to another word. And I amamazed to think that you should attempt to address me at all,especially as I have given you to understand that our acquaintance,sir, had ceased."

  "Ceased! And I am going to marry your niece! Could you so divide thefamily? She who loves you so! And whom, for her sweet sake andPompey's, I love too?"

  "Well, this--this does beat cock-fighting! That allusion to Pompey wasone of the most touching things I've heard. And he is going to marryyour niece, so you and I, Ash, had better go back to town."

  And again Mr. Ely's collar and cuffs came into play. Mr. Ash advanced.

  "Mr. Summers, I have already requested you to go. You can scarcelywish us to use force."

  "No, not force--not that. If it must be then--goodbye! After all,parting is such sweet sorrow. Goodbye, Mrs. Clive, you will weep forme when I am gone. Ta-ta, Ely, we shall meet at Philippi--I leaveyou--yes, you three!--perchance to wrangle, in very truth thinkingangry thoughts--in such an air of discord, too! While I--I go underthe shadow of the trees, where love lies dreaming--and waiting perhapsfor me. If I meet Miss Truscott, Ely--and I shall under the trystingtree--I will tell her that if you had been a fighting man youcertainly would have murdered me."