"But what can you do?"
"The poor soul is in prison."
"That is where I came to offer my help. The a.s.sizes are not over.
The same judge who committed him has been delayed there for three days by a _nisi prius_ suit--an endless West Cornwall will case."
"You did not suppose, surely, that this was happening with any consent of mine?"
"No," Sir George answered slowly, "I did not. But do you know, Lady Killiow, that, without any consent of ours, you and I have nearly been in litigation over this same wretched ferry?" He smiled at her surprise.
"Oh, yes, I could help the Radicals to make out a very good case against us!"
"I learned to trust my old steward. It seems that I have carried over my trust too carelessly to this son of his, and with the less excuse because I dislike the man. The fact is, I am getting old."
"May I say humbly that you defend yourself before a far worse sinner in these matters? And may I say, too, that your care for Damelioc and its tenantry has always been quoted in my hearing as exemplary?"
"I am not defending myself. I have been to blame, though," she added with a twinkle, "I do not propose to confess this to my steward. I have been bitterly to blame, and my first business at Bodmin will be to ask this old man"s pardon."
"And after?"
"He must be released, and at once. Can this be done by withdrawing the suit? or must there be delays?"
"He must purge his offence, I fear, unless you can persuade the judge to reconsider it. If I can help you in this, I would beg for the privilege."
"Thank you, my friend. I was on the point of asking what you offer.
You had best leave your horse here and take a seat in my carriage."
"But," said Sir George, as she moved to the door, "you have not yet told me how you learned the news--who was beforehand with me."
"You shall see." She crossed the corridor, and softly opening a door, invited him to look within. There, in the lofty panelled breakfast-room, at a table reflected as a small white island in a sea of polished floor, sat Myra and Clem replete and laughing, unembarra.s.sed by the splendid footman who waited on them, and reckless that the huge bunch of grapes at which they pulled was of December"s growing.
Sir George laughed too as he looked. "But, good heavens!" said he, remembering the footprints on the drive, "they must have left home before daylight!"
"They started in the dead of night, so far as I can gather. Eh? What is it?" she asked, turning upon another footman, who had come briskly down the corridor and halted behind her, obviously with a message.
"Mr. Rosewarne, my lady. He has just come in by way of the stables.
He has seen the carriage waiting, but asks me to say that he will not detain your ladyship a minute."
"He has come for the children, no doubt. Very well; I will see him in the morning-room." As the man held open the door for her she motioned to Sir George to precede her. "I shall defer discussing Mr. Rosewarne"s conduct with him. For the moment we have to deal with its results, and you may wish to ask him some questions."
Mr. Sam never committed himself to horseback, but employed a light gig for his journeys to and from Damelioc. The cold drive having reddened his ears and lent a touch of blue to his nose, his appearance this morning was more than usually unprepossessing.
"I will not detain your ladyship," he began, repeating the message he had sent by the footman. "Ah, Sir George Dinham? Your servant, Sir George!
My first and chief business was to recover my runaways, whom your ladyship has so kindly looked after."
"You know why they came?" asked Lady Killiow.
"To tell the truth, I have not yet had an opportunity to question them.
Some freak of the girl"s, I should guess. The young teacher to whom I give house-room informs me that they were excited last night by an appearance of the Northern Lights--a very fine display, he tells me.
I regret that, being asleep, I missed it. He suggested that the pair had set out to explore the phenomenon; and that, very likely, is the explanation--more especially as their footprints led me due northward.
My housekeeper tells me that Myra--the elder child--firmly believes a pot of gold to be buried at the foot of every rainbow. A singular pair, my lady! and my late father scarcely improved matters by allowing them to run wild."
"You are mistaken, Mr. Rosewarne. Undoubtedly they followed the Northern Lights; but their purpose you Will hardly guess. It was to intercede for an old man of eighty, whom, it appears, I have been cruel enough to lock up in prison."
Mr. Sam"s face expressed annoyance and something more.
"I sincerely trust, my lady, they have not succeeded in distressing you."
"I suppose I may thank Heaven, sir, that they at least succeeded so far."
Her tone completely puzzled Mr. Sam, who detected the displeasure beneath it, but in all honesty could not decide whether she blamed him or the children.
"A painful business, my lady. The poor man was past his work--a nuisance to himself and to others. These last scenes of our poor mortality-- often, as it seems to us (could _we_ be the judges), so unduly protracted--But some steps had to be taken. The ferry was becoming a scandal. I felt called upon to act, and to act firmly. If I may use the expression, your ladyship"s feelings in the matter would naturally be those which do honour to your ladyship"s s.e.x; they would be, shall I say--er--"
"Why not say "womanly," Mr. Rosewarne?"
"Ha, precisely--womanly. I did my best to spare them."
"We will talk of that later. Just now, you will please instruct us how best to release the poor man, and at once. May I remind you that the horses are taking cold?"
"The horses?" Mr. Sam stared from Lady Killiow to Sir George.
"Her ladyship doesn"t tell me that she was actually proposing to drive to Bodmin?"
"I start within five minutes."
"But it is useless!"
"Useless?"
"The man is dead."
"Mr. Rosewarne--"
Mr. Sam drew a telegram from his pocket. "I received this as I was leaving home. The governor of the prison very kindly communicated with me as soon as the office opened. The prisoner--as I heard from the policeman who escorted him--collapsed almost as soon as they admitted him.
I telegraphed at once to the governor, a.s.suring him of my interest in the case and requesting information. This is his reply: "_ Vro died three-thirty this morning. Doctor supposes senile decay._" It was considerate of him to make this addition, for it will satisfy your ladyship that we acted, though unwillingly, with the plainest possible justification. The man was hopelessly past his work."
Sir George, who had been staring out of window, wheeled about abruptly, lifted his head, and gazed at Mr. Sam for some twenty seconds with a wondering interest. Then he turned to Lady Killiow.
"Shall I send back the carriage?"
"Thank you," she said; and he went out, with a glance at her face which silently expressed many things.
"Mr. Rosewarne," she began, when they were alone, "if I began to say what I think of this business, a person of your instincts would at once fall to supposing that I shifted the blame on to your shoulders, which is just the last thing in the world I mean to do. But precisely because I am guilty, and precisely because I accept responsibility for my steward"s actions, a steward who conceals his actions is of no use to me. You are dismissed."
CHAPTER XX.