*CHAPTER XXVII.*
*A TERRIBLE SECRET.*
To Toney the next two days passed as if the hours were leaden-footed,for no Lewis appeared again. She was very restless and immensely busy.Her energy was appalling, and Mr. Russell showed signs of rebellion.His young mistress heaped work upon him, for the Stone House was reallybegun, and the parish was invaded by workmen. Toney realised at oncethat there was not enough accommodation for them, and had ready-madeNorwegian cottages sent down by return from a firm who kept them insections on the premises. The contractor thought the heiress was mad tobother about the men, but he found it vastly convenient and so did themen!
Sir Evas too was kept occupied. Toney would not let him go out of hersight, and he was really in his element. Only Lady Dove complained.Energy was most displeasing to her--except her own--but just now she andMiss Grossman were in accord, and this lady agreed to her strongassertions concerning the iniquity of young people possessing money thatshould by right have belonged to others.
"I nourished a serpent in my bosom, Miss Grossman, when I invitedAntonia to come and live here---- We are beggars, whilst she throwsmoney to the winds."
"Miss Whitburn never thinks of a rainy day," said Miss Grossman; "Ialways do, I never give anything away. Charity begins at home, and if Idid otherwise, doubtless I should be helping the undeserving."
"Quite right, I often say so to Sir Evas, but he is weak, very weak, andI must say weaker since Antonia's arrival. She is not a girl, she is awhirlwind. Just look at her now tearing down the drive."
It was true Toney was tearing down to meet Maud. It was Wednesdayafternoon. This evening Lewis Waycott was going to town, and Toney hadnot seen him!
"Oh, Toney, I've come to tell you all is ready. Jeanie's dress islovely, and her other things---- She wants to thank you."
"When?" said Toney; her face was flushed, and there was no smile on it.
"Lewis won't have any visitors to-day. He said so, but he goes thisevening."
Toney felt a big lump in her throat. Surely _she_ was not a visitor!
"But I'm not a stranger."
"I said so, and Lewis said he didn't want _anybody_. So unlike him!"
"I understand---- He wants you all to himself. What train does he goby?"
"The seven o'clock express."
Toney nodded.
"I shall meet Mr. Weston at 7.10, so I'll come early."
"Do. We shan't go to the station, Lewis doesn't want any fuss. AuntHonoria is very much upset by this sudden determination, but I quiteunderstand it."
"Of course---- You are brave."
"Oh, no. Indeed I shan't miss Lewis till later. We have had such hardwork unpacking your lovely things and packing up again. Toney, I havenever seen Jeanie look as she does now! She walks about the house witha smile on her face, and sings softly to herself all the time."
Trick came trotting out to look for his mistress. Toney snatched him up.
"Dumb friends are very comforting, aren't they? Sort of understand. IsJeanie coming to Winchley Station?"
"No, I think it is rather hard on Jeanie Lewis going like that. You'llstay for the breakfast to-morrow of course, Toney, and we'll give them agood send off."
Toney shook herself and hugged Trick closer.
"Yes, we'll finish up the romance properly. I've got heaps to do so Ishan't have a minute till I go off to Winchley. I think to-morrow Ishall go to London to see Mr. Staines on business."
"Poor Toney! you are hard worked. I hear the Stone House has beenbegun. You will let me help you still more, won't you? I am so happy."
Maud went off singing an air out of _Il Trovatore_.
"Well, gracious stars, she is one in a thousand," murmured Toney, "andI'm a horrid wretch to mind his going when she takes it so grandly!"
She stumbled over Sir Evas.
"Oh, Uncle Evas, it is nice to have you. We are good comrades, aren'twe, always have been?"
"Yes, of course, but I'm afraid that means you want something more ofthis poor, overworked man." He looked supremely contented however.
"Yes, ever so much more."
"To be your good comrade, Toney, isn't a sinecure, you know!"
"If you really took up 'the Path of Perfection' you'd have to beg yourdaily bread, uncle! I can't see you doing it at all!" and Toneyactually laughed in spite of her sore heart.
"You're not good enough yet, uncle, but listen, have you ever shotlions?"
"Nothing bigger than a pheasant--not my line, I'm sure the lions wouldmake a meal of me before I had time to aim at the right place."
"You know Mr. Waycott is going to shoot lions in Somaliland. Maudthinks it all right, and is very unselfish about it."
"Are you sure about Maud?" said Sir Evas scraping his muddy boots, acustom he feared to forget, as Lady Dove might be looking out of thewindow.
"Of course! I've promised to look after her, but, uncle, I want him tohave awfully good rifles and all the right things for shooting wildbeasts. The kit is tremendously expensive. Couldn't you run up andorder it for him and pretend it's _your_ present? You know he's done alot for my affairs and it's difficult to----"
"Oh, I see; well, I was going to town. I'll go after the wedding andspend a night there."
"He's at Charing Cross Hotel. You might stay there too----"
"So I might."
"And you'll manage, won't you, ducky, and not hurt his feelings. He'srather proud. Sort of in the blood I suppose."
"All the Waycotts always were as proud as Lucifer."
"But you are so understanding. Ouf! I shall feel less under anobligation too if you get a first-rate rig-out for killing lions andtigers."
"Can't think why he has taken that idea into his head."
"I think I know. Lions are next door to tigers, and tigers are samefamily as wild cats, and wild cats turn into pussies, and, I bet, he hasnot hit it off with the old pussy at Waycott."
"Good heavens, Toney! What reasoning powers you are developing, but theold pussy, as you call that worthy lady, can only be too delighted aboutthe engagement. Rather foolish to keep it so quiet! I expect HonoriaWaycott objects to cousins marrying. Always was a sensible woman. I'vegreat regard for Honoria Waycott."
"I'm sorry for her, she just adores her nephew. Now I must run. Youwon't make a mistake will you, uncle? Say--you must compose anythingyou like."
"Not much of an author, Toney, but I'll do my best---- Call it awedding present?"
"Oh, no! He's determined not to let it out yet, so it wouldn't do.It's a great pity to be proud, isn't it? 'by that sin fell the Angels,'but Lewis Waycott is awfully nice otherwise."
"Very much altered of late. First-rate fellow, but--yes, certainlydevilish proud. Beg pardon, Toney, my language is not quite choiceenough for an heiress."
"There you are at it! Heiress! Uncle, I shall go up with you to townand see Mr. Staines on business, and come back in the evening. I shallwant a rest after the wedding."
"And come back alone! Not quite the thing!"
"The thing!" repeated Toney scornfully, and ran away.
Everybody was kept going that day. Toney's untiring energy made Mr.Russell think seriously of resigning his post, and he was glad to seeher starting off alone in the motor at half-past six. She was going tomeet the bridegroom, and in her heart Toney hoped to say a real good-byeto Lewis Waycott, but the fates were all against her, for the expresscame panting in before the dog-cart dashed up, and Lewis only had timeto jump in, leaving his luggage to follow. Toney caught sight of aflying vision of him, and he did not even see her---- She stood quitestill as the train rushed out of the station. A feeling as if the sunhad gone out of the sky, and as if life were not worth living came uponher, then a great contraction in her throat--a feeling of numbness allover her.
She had to wait for the 7.10. She must pull herself together. What didthis mean? Why had Lewis been so--unkind? He migh
t have just come tosay "Good-bye, Toney, I'll not forget you among the lions"--or words tothat effect. He might have just given her one of his kind, jolly looks,which made one trust him with everything, he might even have smiled alittle scoffingly as he did over some of her plans!---- He had donenone of these things, simply, he had gone away as any stranger mighthave departed.
"Lewis, Lewis, Lewis," she repeated to herself though to his face shealways said "Mr. Waycott." Then something strange happened. She walkedinto the first-class waiting-room which was deserted and looked atherself in the glass. "Toney," she said, "Toney I--do believe--you area downright--horrid girl--I do believe--gracious stars! I believe youare--no." She shook herself like a Newfoundland dog just come out ofthe water. "I won't be--so horrid. What would Pups have said? To careso awfully for someone else's lover! Oh, Pups! I never guessed it tillnow." A tearless sob shook her, but at that moment the 7.10 steamed inand Toney had to dart out to meet the genius. Never in all her life hadshe made such an effort to call up a smile, but of course Frank Westonmust be received properly!
"Oh, Mr. Weston, there you are! I've told Jim to call for the luggage.Come into the motor at once. So sorry it's only me, but Jeanie isn'there. I think the puss--I mean Mrs. Hamilton--didn't like her coming.Sort of not proper to be seen in public. Odd, isn't it? But she knowsI'm looking after you."
Frank Weston was smiling all over his face.
"I told her not to come," he said. "She might catch cold, and besidesshe says she is very busy, and Maud is overworked."
"Everything's ready as I promised, you know."
Frank looked at the heiress and he thought her face was changed.
"You look tired, you have done too much for us--but I'll just say itonce, Miss Whitburn."
"No, say Toney; I shall be sort of sister now, shan't I?"
He laughed.
"Well, Toney, I'll just say it once, that we owe all our great happinessto you, and that we can never forget it. Jeanie isn't demonstrative,but she never forgets."
"She never forgot you, did she? But you needn't say 'thank you' becauseI'm grateful to you. If it hadn't been for what I saw in your faces Imight have made a great mistake."
"Is there----?"
"No--but I may as well confess. Sort of relieves me. I might have said'yes' to the wrong man."
"The right man will come," said Frank softly. "You deserve the best."
"No, he never will come--he--oh, it doesn't matter, but I shall never,never marry--only I'll try and make it awfully nice for loversbecause--I--I think I know, and you'll not say anything about it, evento Jeanie?"
"You may trust me, but if ever you want me--you may claim my help at anytime--and I will come."
Toney looked up at the strong face and knew he meant every word. Howcould Jeanie have ever doubted or hurt such a man? How glad she feltshe had cleared the brambles out of his path. It was not the music thatwas so wonderful, it was the man himself.
That evening Toney instead of being restless was very quiet, and in herface there was a new look of suffering such as had never been therebefore. She had learnt a terrible secret. She loved a man who belongedto another--and only now she realised that she had _always_ loved him.
"Oh! Lewis, Lewis!" she cried out alone in her room; "You shall behappy if I can do anything--and you shall never, never know mysecret---- It's no good blaming myself because--I never knew what itmeant till now. The path of perfection is awfully stoney and rutty."