CHAPTER VIII
It seemed a long wild journey in the dark, but actually only half an hourpassed before the car emerged from the wind and rain of the moors into thedimly-lighted stone street of the churchtown. A few minutes later the carstopped, and the driver informed Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton in a Cornish drawlthat they had reached Dr. Ravenshaw's.
Husband and wife emerged from the car and discerned a square stone houselying back from the road behind a white fence. They walked up the pathfrom the gate and rang the bell.
A rugged and freckled servant lass answered the ring, and stared hard atthe visitors from a pair of Cornish brown eyes. On learning their namesshe conducted them into a small room off the hall and departed to informthe doctor of their arrival.
Dr. Ravenshaw came in immediately. The quick glance he bestowed upon hisvisitors expressed surprise, but he merely invited them to be seated andwaited for them to explain the object of their late visit. The room intowhich they had been shown was his consulting room, furnished in thesimplest fashion--almost shabbily. There were chairs and table and acouch, a small stand for a pile of magazines, a bookcase containing somemedical works, and a sprawling hare's-foot fern in a large flowerpot bythe window. Mr. Pendleton seated himself near the fern, examining it asthough it was a botanical rarity, and left his wife to undertake theconversation. Mrs. Pendleton was accustomed to take the lead, andimmediately commenced--
"I have taken the liberty of coming to ask your advice about my niece,doctor. You heard what my brother said this afternoon?"
Dr. Ravenshaw inclined his head without speaking, and waited for her tocontinue.
"As you are a friend of my brother's--"
"Hardly a friend," he interrupted, with a gesture of dissent. "Ouracquaintance is really too short to warrant that term."
There was a professional formality about his tone which pulled her upshort. Like all impulsive people she was chilled by a lack ofresponsiveness. Her impulse in visiting him had hoped for an interestequalling her own. She reflected now that she should have remembered thatnobody liked being bothered with other people's affairs. She recovered herfeminine assurance and went on, with a winning smile.
"But you are in my brother's confidence, doctor--you were present at ourfamily gathering this afternoon. It is because of that I have come to seeyou again, at this late hour. My husband and I are returning to London inthe morning, and there would be no other opportunity. I have been thinkingover all my brother said this afternoon, and I am very much distressedabout my niece."
He gave a short comprehending nod which encouraged her to proceed.
"I am extremely desirous of preventing this scandal of my brother'smarriage coming to light after all these years," she earnestly pursued."It seems to me that Robert has decided to let the truth be known withoutfirst considering all the circumstances. He has forgotten that if hesucceeds in restoring the title he will come prominently into the publiceye. As the holder of a famous name his affairs will have a publicinterest, and details will be published in the newspapers and eagerlyread. That is why this story about Sisily's mother would be so terriblefor all of us, and especially for Sisily."
"I should think your brother had foreseen all this." said Dr. Ravenshaw,after a short pause.
"I do not think Robert has realized it," Mrs. Pendleton eagerly rejoined."He is a most unworldly man, and lives in a world of his own. His wholelife has been devoted to the idea of restoring the title. He has thoughtof nothing else since he was a boy. He is quite incapable of understandingwhat a sensation this story of an earlier marriage will cause if it ismade public. Indeed, I did not realize it myself until afterwards. Then Idecided to come and see you, and ask your help."
"I quite agree with you that it would be better if the story could remainunknown, after all these years. But how can I help you?"
She had anticipated that question, and proceeded to unfold her plan.
"It might be kept quiet, I think," she said meditatively. "It is Robert'sduty to keep it secret for Sisily's sake. I am chiefly concerned abouther. Girls are difficult, so different from boys! It wouldn't be so bad ifshe were a boy. A boy could change his name and emigrate, go on a ranchand forget all about it. But it is different for a girl. Leaving the shockout of the question, this thing would spoil Sisily's life and ruin herchances of a good marriage if it was allowed to come out. People willtalk. It is inevitable that they should, in the circumstances. I fancy thematter could be arranged in a way to satisfy Robert--so as not tointerfere with his plans about the title."
"What do you suggest?"
"Sisily could be told that there is some obstacle which prevents hersucceeding to the title. Robert has not brought her up as an heiress withexpectations. He has never treated her fairly, poor girl. It was his dreamto have a son to succeed him. Not that it would have made any differenceif Sisily had been a son, after what's come to light! Sisily would neverquestion anything that was told her about this wretched title, for I'mquite sure that the idea of inheriting it has never entered her head. Itcertainly never entered mine. I thought titles descended in the male line.I don't know, really, but that has always been my idea."
"It depends on the terms of the original creation. The Turrald baronyoriginally went into abeyance among several daughters. One daughter couldhave succeeded. There is nothing in the wording of the original writ toprevent it--no limitation to male heirs. It is now well established byprecedent that a daughter can inherit a barony by writ. But for theunhappy obstacle revealed by your brother's story, his daughter wouldundoubtedly have succeeded to the restored title on his death."
"I'm sure it's very good of you to explain it to me," murmured Mrs.Pendleton, in some confusion of mind. "It sounds quite reasonable, too. Awoman can inherit the throne of England, so why not a title? But it neveroccurred to me before. Sisily, of course, cannot succeed to my brother'stitle because of her birth. But is there any need for this to be known?Could she not sign a paper renouncing her rights in return for a share ofmy brother's fortune?"
"I doubt if the law would approve of the arrangement if it became known."
"The law should realize that it was done from the best of motives to keepfrom an innocent girl a secret which would darken her life," respondedMrs. Pendleton with decision.
"I wasn't looking at it altogether in that light," replied Dr. Ravenshawwith a slow shake of the head. "But it might have been tried--oh yes, itmight have been tried." He rose from his chair, and paced thoughtfully upand down the room.
"Is it too late to try it now?" she asked.
He looked at her thoughtfully.
"In what way?"
"By trying to persuade my brother to change his mind."
"He is not likely to change his mind."
"That," responded Mrs. Pendleton, "remains to be put to the test. I intendto see him to-night, before it is too late. I beg you for Sisily's sake tocome with me and try and persuade him."
"Such a request as you propose to make should come only from a member ofthe family," replied Dr. Ravenshaw. "It is a matter in which I wouldrather not be involved. If you wish support, I would remind you that thereare two other members of your own family--your other brother and hisson--staying temporarily in this churchtown, not far from here. Why not goto them?"
With a charmingly feminine gesture Mrs. Pendleton washed her hands of theother members of the family. "I would not dream of going to Austin," shesaid in decided tones. "He would not approve of my plan, nor, indeed,would Robert listen to him if he did. But he would listen to you, I feelsure. That is my reason for coming to you." She rose from her seat, andsought to shepherd him into compliance by approaching him with apropitiatory smile. "Do come, doctor. I have trespassed too much on yourkindness already, but oblige me further in this."
"It's rather late for a visit," he replied.
"It's only half-past nine," she said, with a glance at her wrist watch."My brother sits up till all hours over his papers and books. I will takeall responsibility upon myself for
the visit. I will tell Robert that Iliterally had to drag you with me, and he will understand that we simplyhad to see him to-night, as he knows we are going home to London firstthing in the morning. Do come, Dr. Ravenshaw. The car is waiting."
He consulted his own watch.
"Very well, Mrs. Pendleton," he assented. "I will accompany you. Pleaseexcuse me while I get my coat."
He rejoined them in a moment or two, and they proceeded outside to thewaiting car.