"Which jools, ma"am, having been a dream, must for me so remain, me not bein" faithful in my dooties to you an" Mr. Geoffrey. Consequently I begs to tender you now my resignation, yieldin" up my post in your service to one better worthy, and returnin" t" th" place wherefrom I come."
Here Mrs. Trapes put on her bonnet, setting it a little askew in her agitation.
"Th" labourer is worthy of his hire, but if he ain"t--so be it!"
Here Mrs. Trapes tied her bonnet strings so tightly and with such resolute hands that she choked.
"Why, Ann dear," cried Hermione, "whatever do you mean? As if I could bear to part with you!" Here she untied the bonnet strings. "As if I could ever let you go back to Mulligan"s!" Here she took off the bonnet.
"As if I could ever forget all your tender love and care for me in the days when things were so hard and so very dark!" Here she tossed the bonnet into a corner.
"My land!" sighed Mrs. Trapes, "me best bonnet--"
"I know, Ann. I made it for you over a year ago, and it"s time you had another, anyway! Now, open that parcel--this minute!"
But instead of doing so, Mrs. Trapes sank down in the chair beside the table and bowed her head in her hands.
"Hermy," said she, "oh, my lamb, he"s gone! You left Arthur in my care an"--he"s gone, an" it"s my fault. Went away at five o"clock, an" here it is nigh on to ten--an" him sick! G.o.d knows I"ve searched for him--tramped to th" ferry an" back, an" th" footmen they"ve looked for him an" so have th" maids--but Arthur"s gone--an" it"s my fault! So, Hermy--my dear--blame me an" let me go--"
The harsh voice broke and, bowing her head, she sat silent, touching the unopened packet of jewellery with one long, bony finger.
"Why, Ann--dear Ann--you"re crying!" Hermione was down on her knees, had clasped that long bony figure in her arms. "You mustn"t, Ann, you mustn"t. I"m sure it wasn"t your fault, so don"t grieve, dear--there!"
And she had drawn the disconsolate grey head down upon her shoulder and pillowed it there.
"But--oh, Hermy, he"s gone! An" you told me to--look after him."
"Ann, if Arthur meant to go, I"m sure you couldn"t have prevented him; he isn"t a child any longer, dear. There, be comforted--we"ll hunt for him in the car--won"t we, Geoffrey?"
"Of course," nodded Ravenslee, "I"ll "phone the garage right away."
But as he opened the door he came face to face with Joe, who touched an eyebrow and jerked a thumb over his shoulder.
"S"cuse me, sir," said he, "but it"s that Old Un, covered wi" dust "e is, sir, an" wants a word wi" you. And, sir, "e "s that mysterious as never was. Shall I let him come in, sir?"
"You try an" keep me out, my lad, that"s all!" panted the Old Un, ducking under Joe"s great arm, "I"m better man nor ever you"ll be!"
So saying, the Old Un hobbled forward and, sinking into the nearest armchair, fanned himself with his hat, which, like the rest of his garments, bore the dust of travel.
"Greetin"s, Guv!" said he, when he had caught his breath. ""Ere I be--a old man as "as done more for ye than all th" young "uns put t"gether.
Mrs. Ravenslee, ma"am, best respex!"
"And what have you been doing now?" enquired Ravenslee, smiling.
"Well, Guv, I been an" got th" murderer for ye, that"s all!"
Hermione caught her breath suddenly and gazed at the fierce, dusty old man with eyes full of growing terror; beholding which Ravenslee frowned, then laughed lightly and, seating himself on a corner of the table, swung his leg to and fro.
"So you"ve found him out, have you, Old Un?"
"Ah, that I have!"
"Are you sure?"
"Ah, quite sure, Guv."
"Well, where is he--trot him out."
""E"s comin" along--th" Spider"s bringin" un. Ye see, he"s a bit wore out same as I am--we been trampin" all th" arternoon. Look at me shoes, that"s th" worst o" patent leather--they shows th" dust. Joe, my lad, jest give "em a flick over with ye wipe."
But at this moment steps were heard slowly approaching, and Hermione uttered an inarticulate cry, then spoke in an agonised whisper: "Arthur!"
Pallid of cheek and drooping of head Spike stood in the doorway, his shabby, threadbare clothes dusty and travel-stained, his slender shape encircled by the Spider"s long arm. At Hermione"s cry he lifted his head and looked up yearningly, his sensitive mouth quivered, his long-lashed eyes swam in sudden tears, he strove to speak but choked instead; then Ravenslee"s calm, pleasant voice broke the painful silence.
"Old Un," said he, rising, "I understand you are fond of jam--well, from now on you shall bathe in it if you wish."
"Spoke like a true sport, Guv!"
"Why, you see, you have surely done me a very great service."
"Meanin" because I found ye th" murderer."
"Murderer?" exclaimed Ravenslee, staring.
"Why, yes--there "e is!" and the old man pointed a long finger at the shrinking Spike.
"Old Un," said Ravenslee, shaking his head, "don"t joke with me--"
"I--I ain"t jokin", Guv," cried the Old Un, rising. "Why--oh, Lorgorramighty, you don"t mean t" say as this ain"t "im? Why, "e "s confessed, Guv; I "eard "im!"
Ravenslee smiled gently and shook his head again.
"But he has been sick, Old Un; he was hurt, you know, when he saved my life."
"But, Lord, Guv, if "e "s confessed--"
"He has been sick, Old Un, and when we are sick the wisest of us are apt to say silly things--even I did, so they tell me."
"What?" quavered the old man, "ain"t I--ain"t I found no murderer for ye, arter all, Guv?"
"You"ve done something much, very much better, Old Un--you"ve found me my brother!"
"Brother!" echoed Spike, "brother? Oh, Geoff--" he sighed deeply, and as Ravenslee crossed toward him he smiled wanly and sank swooning into the supporting arms of the Spider, who at a word from Hermione bore the boy up-stairs; but scarcely was he laid upon his bed than he opened his heavy eyes.
"Say, Spider," said he wearily, "old Geoff sure does play square--even to a worm like me--well, I guess! No, don"t go yet, I want yer to hear me try to explain the kind o" dirty dog I been--I guess he won"t want t" call me "brother" after that; no, siree, he"ll cut me out same as you have an" serve me right too." Then turning toward where Ravenslee and Hermione stood he continued: "Geoff--Hermy, dear--ah, no, don"t touch me, I ain"t worth it. I"m too dirty--Spider says so--an" I guess he"s right. Listen--I meant t" go away t"day an" leave you because I felt so mean, but th" old man followed me, an" I couldn"t run because my arm pained some--y" see, I fell on it. So I let him bring me back because I guess it"s up t" me t" let you know as I ain"t fit t" be your brother, Geoff--or Hermy"s." For a moment Spike paused, then with an effort he continued but kept his face averted. "Geoff, it was me--in the wood that time! Yes, it was me, an" I had a gun. I--I meant--t" do you in, Geoff--"
Spike"s voice failed and he was silent again, plucking nervously at the sheet, while Hermione"s proud head drooped and her hands clasped and wrung each other in an agony of shame; but to these painfully rigid hands came another hand, big and strong yet very gentle, at whose soothing touch those agonised fingers grew lax and soft, then clung to that strong hand in sudden, eager pa.s.sion.
"Poor old Spike!" said Ravenslee, and his tone was as gentle as his touch.
"But--but, Geoff," stammered the boy. "I--oh, don"t you see? I meant to--kill you?"