"Tell Mrs. Jarvis that I have gone over to Ada Chester"s, and I won"t be back till tea-time, when I hope that man will be gone; and oh, Eliza! do, like a good girl, clean up that mess for me," pointing to the demolished dish and the contents thereof, "and I"ll do something for you sometime. I dare not stop, for I am properly scared for once," and she flew out the back-door, down through the kitchen garden and into a back street, out of sight of the house, before she stopped to regain her breath.
Mrs. Jarvis was thoroughly surprised at Dexie"s behavior, but she carried the little note to Mr. Sherwood and waited his direction.
"Yes; show the gentleman here, and I will see him."
"Well, Hugh, so you have found us out," as he appeared behind Mrs. Jarvis.
"You find me on my back. Get a chair for yourself."
Hugh was surprised to learn of the seriousness of the accident that rendered this position of his friend necessary, having supposed it a slight affair from which he had long since recovered.
The two men talked for some time on matters in general, when Hugh said:
"I suppose you know what has brought me here, Mr. Sherwood. My feelings for Dexie have not changed, unless they have become more intense. I heard through the Gurneys that her engagement with Lancy was at an end, and started from Australia at once, on purpose to try again to win her. I have still your permission; have I not?" he eagerly asked.
"I fear then you will be disappointed, Hugh; Dexie is already won."
"Mr. Sherwood, you are not in earnest; you are saying this to try me," and Hugh turned an appealing face to the one that lay back on the pillows.
"Have pity, Mr. Sherwood; I have suffered enough."
"Hugh, my dear fellow, I was hoping you had got over this, and not hearing from you for so long I believed you had. But it is true. You are too late, for Dexie is the promised wife of another."
"She is not yet married, then?" and his face recovered from the despairing look.
"Not yet, but as much lost to you as though she were. How is it that you did not take my last letter to heart and seek a wife abroad? I told you that Dexie had not changed towards you, though I did all I could to influence her in your favor. But she has won the heart of a good man, Hugh; he is everything I could wish for, even in Dexie"s husband."
"But I love her so!" The words were low, but seemed wrung from his very soul, and he turned away toward the window, but without seeing anything of the prospect beyond.
"Can I see her?" he asked, at last. "Let me hear from her own lips that she loves another, and, if she really does, I will surely know it. If I find it is so, I will go away and not trouble her any more. Give me this one more chance, Mr. Sherwood."
"It will be of no use, Hugh. I may as well tell you so at once; but I will try and persuade her to see you, though she sent me word just now that she would not come in while you were here. It is fair enough that you should hear the truth from her own lips, but I know the interview will be painful to you both," and Mr. Sherwood pulled the bell-cord that hung above him.
"Tell Dexie I wish to see her here for a few minutes," he said, as Jarvis answered the summons.
"She has gone out, Mr. Sherwood, and she left word that she would not be back till tea-time," and she glanced at the foreign-looking gentleman who made himself so very much at home.
"Very well, that will do," and Jarvis left the room.
"You see how it is, Hugh; she has run out on purpose to get clear of you."
"But that is no sign that I need despair," and there was a happier look in his eyes than there had been since he heard she was lost to him.
"Ask me to stay, Mr. Sherwood, for I cannot go away till I see her. I must learn the truth from herself before I leave the house," and the well-remembered impetuosity of old was visible in his words.
"Certainly, Hugh; stay, of course, but I fear you will not find your refusal as pleasantly spoken as if you had taken it at second-hand," and a feeble smile parted his lips for a moment. "But you know Dexie"s ways, Hugh, so you must abide the consequences."
"I have borne much for love of her, and I am still willing to suffer if I may be rewarded in the end by seeing her once again," he answered earnestly. "A sight of her face would have been more welcome than an angel"s visit during these long, weary months; to look back on them is like looking into desolation," he added, in a low, serious tone.
There was silence in the room for some moments. Hugh sat listening for the first footfall that would announce Dexie"s approach, while Mr. Sherwood lay back, with closed eyes, thinking what an easy solution of the trouble it would be if Hugh would turn to Gussie for the gift that Dexie denied him. Then, rousing himself, he talked to Hugh of his travels and adventures on sea and land.
Meanwhile Dexie had rushed in haste to the house of her friend, and from thence despatched a note that brought Guy Traverse to her side, and her agitation and alarm were so great that Guy was almost unable to soothe her.
"I cannot go home without you, Guy. There can be only one thing brought him here, and I cannot face him unless you are with me."
"I will go with you, certainly, dear, but I cannot understand why you are so frightened, for by your own description of him he is a gentleman."
A few hurried explanations of Hugh"s past history in connection with herself were given, and Guy grasped the headlines of it as it poured from Dexie"s lips.
"As my promised wife, darling, you need fear no further annoyance from him.
I will see to that," he replied. "Give me a few minutes while I go to the hotel and change my suit. I have been putting in shafting with the men, and am hardly presentable in my present condition," he laughingly added.
"I am putting you to great inconvenience, I fear, Guy; but I cannot help it, for it will not do to send word that I will not go back till he is gone."
"No, certainly not. He would put a different construction on your absence.
Let me find a more smiling face on my return, darling, for I will take care of you."
Half an hour later Guy and Dexie had entered the house; and finding that Hugh was still with her father, she left Guy in the parlor while she sought Jarvis in the kitchen.
"He is still here, then? Well, tell Eliza she can place _two_ extra plates for to-night, as Mr. Traverse will be here also," and giving no time for Jarvis to put the questions she was evidently anxious to have answered, she returned to the parlor.
"How I wish I could peep into the future and understand the programme of the next few hours," she said to Guy, as she stood by his side in the shadow of the window-curtain. "I hope it will be short, but I know by the shiver in my bones that it will not be sweet. Your adversary"s weak point is his temper, as you will see at a glance; so, Guy, don"t--whatever the provocation--don"t lose your own, dear."
Mr. Sherwood"s bell sounded through the house, but for the first time it was unheeded by Dexie. She knew what was wanted, but feared to face it, even with Guy at her side. But Mrs. Jarvis was in attendance, and she now appeared in the doorway, saying:
"Your father has found out you are home, and he wishes to see you at once."
With one long look at Guy, Dexie followed her. The excitement had sent a pretty color to her cheeks, and her eyes were brilliant with suppressed feeling, but she crossed the room to her father"s side without giving a glance in any direction save on her father"s face. Apparently she saw nothing of the dark eyes that brightened so vividly at the sight of her.
Hugh was not expecting anyone to follow her, and coming more slowly into the room Guy caught the look on Hugh"s face, and his own heart rose up in a protest against it. Guy had time for a good look at Dexie"s unwelcome admirer before his presence was discovered, and he wondered how it was that Dexie had not lost her heart long ago to this bold, handsome lover who so openly declared his pa.s.sion, for the eager, longing gaze that followed Dexie"s movements was easily read.
"Dexie, here is an old friend come to see you," and her father waved his hand in Hugh"s direction.
Dexie turned herself about, her feelings well under control, and even Guy was surprised at the easy, natural tone in which she replied:
"How do you do, Mr. McNeil? You are like a bit of Halifax, and, as such, an old friend."
As she gave him her hand she turned instantly about, adding,
"Guy, this is Mr. McNeil, a gentleman we used to know in Halifax. Mr.
McNeil, Mr. Traverse."
Hugh had not noticed Guy"s entrance till Dexie turned to introduce him; consequently he felt slightly embarra.s.sed, but Guy stepped forward with outstretched hand, and greeted him frankly and heartily.
"Any friend of yours, Dexie, is sure to meet a welcome from me. Glad to know you, Mr. McNeil."
It was impossible to resist the pleasant, affable manner in which Guy spoke. There was a magnetism in his winning smile and in the cordial grasp of the hand that attracted Hugh in spite of himself.
As Guy continued speaking, Hugh regarded him intently. Was this the man who had won Dexie from him? The looks interchanged when Dexie spoke said as much, and there was an air of ownership in Guy"s manner that sent an arrow through Hugh"s heart.