"Since then," pursued Mr. Vyner, in the mournful tones suited to the subject, "it has got gradually worse. Sometimes it is in my mouth; sometimes-if I feel that I have offended anybody-it is in my boots."
Miss Hartley paid no heed.
"It is in my boots now," said the invalid, plaintively; "tight boots, too. Do you know what I was thinking just now when you looked at me in that alarmed, compa.s.sionate way?"
"Not alarmed," muttered Miss Hartley.
"I was thinking," pursued Mr. Vyner, in a rapt voice, "I was thinking what a fine nurse you would make. Talking of heart troubles put it in my mind, I suppose. Fancy being down for a month or two with a complaint that didn"t hurt or take one"s appet.i.te away, and having you for a nurse!"
"I think that if you are going to talk nonsense-" began Joan, half stopping.
"I"m not," said the other, in alarm, "I"ve quite finished; I have, indeed."
He stole a glance at the prim young, figure by his side, and his voice again developed a plaintive note. "If you only knew what it was like,"
he continued, "to be mewed up in an office all day, with not a soul to speak to, and the sun shining, perhaps you"d make allowances."
"I saw you down by the harbour this morning," said the girl.
"Harbour?" said the other, pretending to reflect-"this morning?"
Joan nodded. "Yes; you were lounging about-in the sunshine-smoking a cigarette. Then you went on to the Indian Chief and stood talking for, oh, quite a long time to Captain Trimblett. Then-"
"Yes?" breathed Mr. Vyner, as she paused in sudden confusion. "What did I do next?"
Miss Hartley shook her head. "I only saw you for a moment," she said.
Mr. Vyner did not press the matter; he talked instead on other subjects, but there was a tenderness in his voice for which Miss Hartley told herself her own thoughtlessness was largely responsible. She trembled and walked a little faster. Then, with a sense of relief, she saw Captain Trimblett approaching them. His head was bent in thought, and his usual smile was missing as he looked up and saw them.
"I wanted to see you," he said to Joan. "I"m off to London to-morrow."
"To-morrow!" repeated the girl, in surprise.
"Twelve-thirty train," said the captain, looking shrewdly from one to the other. "I"m just off home; there are one or two matters I must attend to before I go, and I wanted to talk to you."
"I will come with you," said Joan, quickly. "I haven"t seen Mrs.
Chinnery for a long time." She nodded to Mr. Vyner and held out her hand. "Good-by."
"Good-by," said that gentleman. He shook hands reluctantly, and his amiable features took on a new expression as he glanced at the captain.
"Try and cheer him up," he said, with an air of false concern. "It"s only for a little while, cap"n; you"ll soon be back and-you know the old adage?"
"Yes," said the captain, guardedly.
"Although, of course, there are several," said Mr. Vyner, thoughtfully.
"I wonder whether we were thinking of the same one?"
"I dare say," said the other, hastily.
"I was thinking of "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"-of the Indian Chief" said the ingenuous Robert. "Was that the one you were thinking of?"
The captain"s reply was inaudible as he turned and bore off Miss Hartley. The young man stood for some time watching them, and, as Joan and her burly companion disappeared round the corner, shook his head and set off home.
"He"ll sober down as he gets older," said the captain, after they had proceeded some way in silence. "I"m glad I met you. Your father told me you were going to London, and I was thinking we might go up together.
It"s odd we should both be going. Quite a coincidence."
"In more ways than one," said Joan. "Father told me you had arranged it together. I quite know why I am going."
The captain coughed.
"I know why you are going, too," said Joan.
The captain coughed again, and muttered something about "children" and "business."
"And if I"m going to-morrow I had better get back and pack," continued the girl.
"Plenty of time in the morning," said the captain. "It"ll make the time pa.s.s. It"s a mistake to stow your things away too soon-a great mistake."
"I would sooner do it, though," said Joan, pausing. 170
"You come along to Tranquil Vale," said Captain Trimblett, with forced joviality. "Never mind about your packing. Stay to supper, and I"ll see you home afterward."
Miss Hartley eyed him thoughtfully.
"Why?" she inquired.
"Pleasure of your company," said the captain.
"Why?" said Miss Hartley again.
The captain eyed her thoughtfully in his turn.
"I-I haven"t told "em I"m going yet," he said, slowly. "It"ll be a little surprise to them, perhaps. Miss Willett will be there. She"s a silly thing. She and Peter might make a duet about it If you are there--"
"I"ll take care of you," said Joan, with a benevolent smile. "You"ll be safe with me. What a pity you didn"t bring your little troubles to me at first!"
The captain turned a lurid eye upon her, and then, realizing that silence was more dignified and certainly safer than speech, said nothing. He walked on with head erect and turned a deaf ear to the faint sounds which Miss Hartley was endeavouring to convert into coughs.
Mrs. Chinnery, who was sitting alone in the front room, rose and greeted her with some warmth as she entered, and, the usual reproachful question put and answered as to the length of time since her last visit, took her hat from her and went upstairs with it. An arch smile from Miss Hartley during her absence was met by the ungrateful captain with a stony stare.
"I came to bid you good-by," said Joan, as Mrs. Chinnery returned. "I am off to London to-morrow."
"London!" said Mrs. Chinnery.
"I am going to stay with an uncle," replied Joan.
"Quite a coincidence, isn"t it?" said the captain, averting his gaze from the smiling face of Miss Hartley, and trying to keep his voice level.
"Coincidence!" said Mrs. Chinnery, staring at him.