I might have been hurt but for him. Then he heard George Johnson calling me by my name, and it turned out that he knew you. Oh, wasn"t he a swell, and didn"t he look it! And hadn"t he a name worth boasting of! "Mr. Gerald Wyndham." Why, what"s the matter, father? He said that he had often promised to look you up some evening, to bring you some stupid book or other. He said maybe he would come to-night. That"s why I had the drawing-room and dining-room all done up. He said perhaps he"d call, and took off his hat most refined. I took an awful fancy to him--his ways was so aspiring. He said he might come to-night, but he wasn"t sure. I didn"t know you had young men like that at your office, father. And what is the matter?--why, you"re quite white!"
"I never talk of what goes on at the place of business," replied Helps, in quite a brusque voice for him. "And as to that young gent, Esther, he"s our Miss Valentine"s husband."
"Married? Oh, lor, he didn"t look it! And who is "our Miss Valentine?"
if I may be bold enough to ask."
"Mr. Paget"s daughter. I said I didn"t mention matters connected with the place of business."
"You always were precious close, father. But you"re a dear, good, old dad, all the same, and Cherry and I would sooner die than have you scolded about anything. Cherry, my fine beau"s a married man--pity, aint it? I thought maybe he"d suit me."
"Then you needn"t have lit the fire in the drawing-room," answered Cherry, a very practical and stoutly-built little maid of fifteen.
"Maybe I needn"t, but there"s no harm done. I suppose I can talk to him, even if he is married. Won"t I draw him out about Miss Valentine, and tell him how father always kept her a secret from us."
"Supper"s ready, uncle," said Cherry. "Oh, bother that fire! It"s quite out. Don"t the sausages smell good, uncle? I cooked them myself."
The three sat down to the table, poor Helps shivering not a little, and casting more than one regretful glance at the warm and cosy kitchen. He was feeling depressed for more than one reason this evening, and a sense of dismay stole over him at Esther"s having accidentally made Wyndham"s acquaintance.
"It"s a bad omen," he said, under his breath, "and Esther"s that contrary, and so taken up with making a lady of herself, and she"s beautiful as a picter, except when she talks folly.
"I liked that young man from the first," he murmured. "I took, so to speak, a fancy to him, and warned him, and I quoted scripter to him.
All to no good. The glint of a gel"s eye was too much for him, he sold himself for her--body and soul he sold himself for her. Still, I went on keeping up a fancy for him, and I axed him to look me up some evening, and have a pipe--he"s wonderful on words too--he can derivate almost as many as I can. I"m sorry now I asked him--Esther"s that wilful, and as beautiful as a picter. She talks too much to young men that"s above her. She"s set on being a lady. Mr. Wyndham"s married, of course, but Esther wouldn"t think nothing of trying to flirt with him for all that."
"Esther," he said, suddenly, raising his deep-set eyes, and fixing them on his daughter, "ef the young man calls, it"s to see me, mind you--he"s a married man, and he has got the most beautiful wife in the world, and he loves her. My word, I never heard tell of n.o.body loving their wife so much!"
Esther"s big grey eyes opened wide.
"How you look at me, dad," she said. "One would think I wanted to steal Mr. Wyndham from his wife! I"m glad he loves her, it"s romantic, it pleases me."
"And there"s his ring at the door," suddenly exclaimed Cherry. "Esther was right to prepare the drawing-room. I"m glad he have come. I like to look at handsome gents, particular when they are in love."
Gerald"s arrival was accidental after all. He and his wife were dining in Queen"s Gate, and after dinner he remembered his adventure on the ice, and told the story in an amusing way.
"A most beautiful girl, but with such an accent and manner," he said.
"And who do you think she turned out to be, sir?" he added, turning to his father-in-law. "Why, your cracked clerk"s daughter. She told me her name was Esther Helps, and I found they were father and daughter."
"Has old Helps got a daughter?" exclaimed Valentine.
"How funny that I should never have known it. I have always been rather fond of old Helps."
"He has an only daughter, as I have an only daughter," replied Mr.
Paget. Valentine was sitting close to him; he put his arm around her waist as he spoke.
"How queer that I should never have known," continued Valentine. "And her name is Esther? It is a pretty name. And you say that she is handsome, Gerry? What is she like?"
"Tall and pale, with an expressive face," replied Wyndham, lightly.
"She is lady-like, and even striking-looking until she opens her lips--then----" he made an expressive grimace.
"Poor girl, as if she could help that," replied Val. "She has never been educated, you know. Her father is poor, and he can"t give her advantages. Does old Helps love his daughter very much, dad?"
"I suppose so, Val. Yes, I think I may say I am sure he does."
"I am so interested in only girls with fathers," continued Mrs.
Wyndham. "I wish I had seen Esther Helps. I hope you were kind to her, Gerald."
"I picked her up, dear, and gave her to her friends. By-the-way, I said I"d call to see old Helps this evening. He has a pa.s.sion for the derivation of words, and I have Trench"s book on the subject. Shall I take Esther a message from you, Val?"
"Yes, say something nice. I am not good at making up messages. Tell her I am interested in her, and the more she loves her father, the greater my interest must be. See, this is much better than any mere message--take her this bunch of lilies--say I sent them. Now, Gerald, is it likely I should be lonely? Father and I are going to have two hours all to ourselves."
But as Valentine said these light words, her hand lingered on her husband"s shoulder, and her full brown eyes rested on his face.
Something in their gaze made his heart throb. He put his arm round her neck and kissed her forehead.
"I shan"t be two hours away," he said.
He took up the flowers, put "Trench on Words" into his pocket, and went out.
Wyndham had a pleasant way with all people. His words, his manner, his gentle courteous smile won for him hearts in all directions. He was meant to be greatly beloved; he was born to win the most dangerous popularity of all--that which brought to him blind and almost unreasoning affection.
He was received at No. 5 Acadia Terrace with enthusiasm. Esther and Cherry were open-eyed in their admiration, and Helps, a little sorrowful--somehow Helps if he wasn"t cynical was always sorrowful--felt proud of the visit.
Gerald insisted on adjourning to the kitchen. He and Helps had a long discussion on words--Cherry moved softly about, putting everything in order--Esther sat silent and lovely, glancing up now and then at Gerald from under her black eyelashes. Valentine"s flowers lay in her lap.
They were dazzlingly white, and made an effective contrast to her dark green dress. It was a peaceful little scene--nothing at all remarkable about it. Gerald fell more contented than he had done for many a day.
Who would have thought that out of such innocent materials mischief of the deadliest sort might be wrought to him and his.
CHAPTER XVII.
When Wyndham came back to Queen"s Gate his wife met him with sparkling eyes.
"How much time can you give me to-morrow?" she said. "I want to go out with you. I have been speaking to father, and he accedes to all our wishes--he will give us an income. He says he thinks a thousand a year will be enough. Oh, he is kind, and I feel so excited. Don"t let us drive, let us walk home, Gerry. I know the night is fine. I feel that everything is bright just now, and you will come with me to-morrow, won"t you, Gerry? Father, could you spare Gerald from business to-morrow? You know it is so important."
Mr. Paget was standing a little in the shadow, his face was beaming, his eyes smiling. When Valentine turned to him, he laid his hand lightly on her shoulder.
"You are an inconsistent little girl," he said. "You want to become a business woman yourself. You want to be practical, and clever, and managing, and yet you encourage that husband of yours to neglect his work."
Gerald flushed.
"I don"t neglect my work," he said. "My heavy work has never a chance of being neglected, it is too crushing."
Valentine looked up in alarm, but instantly Mr. Paget"s smiling face was turned to the young man, and his other hand touched his arm.
"Your work to-morrow is to go with your wife," he said gently. "She wants to shop--to spend--to learn saving by expenditure. You have to go with her to give her the benefit of your experience. Look out for cheap sales, my dear child--go to Whiteley"s, and purchase what you don"t want, provided it is a remnant, and sold under cost price. Save by learning, Val, and, Gerald, you help her to the best of your ability.
Now good-night, my children, good-night, both of you, bless you."
"It almost seemed to me," said Valentine, as they walked home together--it was a starry night and she clung affectionately to her husband"s arm--"it almost seemed to me that father was put out with you, and you with him. He was so sweet while you were out, but although he smiled all the time after you returned I don"t think he was really sweet, and you didn"t speak nicely to him, Gerald, about the work I mean. Is the work at the office very heavy. Gerald? You never spend more than about two hours a day there."