He laughed. "Well, I shall be left, and I shan"t let you grizzle. We must organize a _fete_ week. You and I will be the head of the committee. I"ll come round to-morrow, and we"ll draw up a plan to submit to old Badgers; merely a matter of form, you know. He"ll consent to anything. We will have a fancy-dress ball for one thing, and a picnic or two, and some races and gymkhanas. Perhaps we might manage some private theatricals."
"Oh, we couldn"t possibly!" protested Olga. "We could never get anything up in time."
But Noel was not to be discouraged. He proceeded to sketch out a lavish programme of entertainments with such energy and ingenuity that at length he managed to infuse her with some of his enthusiasm, and the end of dinner came upon her as a surprise.
Will, Hunt-Goring, Max, and Nick sat down to play bridge when it was finally over--at the suggestion of Hunt-Goring, who displayed not the smallest desire to seek her out. It seemed as though all memory of their former relations had pa.s.sed completely from his mind. Neither by word nor look did he attempt to recall old times.
And gradually Olga became rea.s.sured. His fancy for her had quite obviously evaporated. He scarcely so much as glanced her way.
Could it have been mere coincidence that had brought him there? she began to ask herself. Stranger things had happened; and he was plainly on intimate terms with his hostess, rather more intimate than Daisy"s manner seemed to justify. But then familiarity with women was one of his main characteristics, as she knew but too well. He had not been able to exercise this much at Weir. She suspected that boredom alone had induced him to pursue her so persistently.
In any case, it was over. He cared for her no more and was at no pains to conceal the fact, which she on her part recognized with profound relief.
She went with Daisy to the drawing-room, leaving the card-players established in Will"s especial den. Noel airily accompanied them, and sang a few songs at the piano, as much for his own pleasure as theirs.
He was in a particularly charming mood, and was evidently determined to enjoy himself to the utmost.
But he was not minded to give them too much of his society, and presently he slipped away to take a peep at Peggy.
"I shan"t wake her," he said; but apparently he found his small adorer awake, for he did not return.
"He"s a dear boy," said Daisy.
Olga a.s.sented warmly. "I shall love him for a brother."
Daisy smiled faintly. "Poor Noel! I"m afraid that is scarcely the sort of appreciation he wants."
Olga flushed. She was standing near the window, her girlish face outlined against the dark. Very young and slender she looked standing there, scarcely more than a child; and Daisy"s heart went out to her in a sudden rush of almost pa.s.sionate tenderness. She rose impulsively and joined her. She slipped a warm arm round her waist.
Olga glanced at her in momentary surprise, then swiftly responded to the caress. She leaned her cheek against Daisy"s shoulder.
"You see," she said, "I met Max first."
"I see, dear," said Daisy. She hesitated a moment. "And Max is your ideal of all that a man should be?" she asked then.
"Oh, no!" said Olga. She gave a little laugh. "No; Nick is that, and always has been. I don"t think anyone could idealize Max, do you?"
"But you love him?" said Daisy.
Olga looked at her with clear, direct eyes. "Oh, yes, I love him. But I don"t try to think he is nicer than he really is. Nice or horrid, I love him just the same."
"Do you know any horrid things about him, then?" Daisy asked.
Olga laughed again. "I knew the horrid part of him first," she said.
"Why, I--I almost hated him once."
"And then you changed your mind," said Daisy.
The love-light glowed softly in Olga"s eyes as she answered, "Yes, dear Mrs. Musgrave; he made me."
Daisy uttered a sharp, involuntary sigh. "I hope he is all you believe him to be," she said.
"But why do you say that?" questioned Olga. "I"m afraid you don"t like him."
Daisy hesitated. "I am afraid I know too much about him," she said at length.
Olga looked at her in surprise. "Has Noel been telling you things?"
Daisy shook her head.
"Oh, then it"s that detestable Major Hunt-Goring!" said Olga, adding quickly: "Please forgive me for running down your guest; but he really is a hateful man."
"I don"t care for him myself, dear," said Daisy.
"He has only come here to make mischief," said Olga, with conviction. "I guessed it the moment I saw him. He hates me because--because--" she faltered a little--"because I wouldn"t marry him. As if I possibly could!" she ended fierily. "And as if he would have really liked it if I had!"
"Oh, is that it?" said Daisy, in a tone of enlightenment.
Olga nodded. "He"s a beast, Mrs. Musgrave. And what has he been telling you about Max?"
Daisy hesitated. She was a.s.sailed by sudden misgiving. Was it all a ruse? She did not trust Major Hunt-Goring. She believed him fully capable of vindictiveness, and yet, so subtle had been his strategy, he had not seemed vindictive. He had repeated the story idly in the first place, and, finding she took it seriously, he had advised her to hold her peace. No, she would do him justice at least. She was convinced that he had not been deliberately malicious in this case. It had not been his intention to work evil.
"Tell me what he said!" said Olga.
Her tone was imperative; yet Daisy still hesitated. "Do you know, dear, I don"t think I will," she said.
"Please--you must!" said Olga, with decision. "It concerns me as much as it does him."
"I am not sure that it really concerns either of you," Daisy said. "It was just a piece of gossip which may--or may not--have had any foundation."
"Still, tell me!" Olga insisted. "Forewarned is fore-armed, isn"t it?
And things do get so distorted sometimes, don"t they?"
"Well, dear--" Daisy was beginning to wish herself well out of the matter--"it is not a pretty story. You and Nick may possibly have heard of it. Quite possibly you know it to be untrue. Major Hunt-Goring told me it was sheer gossip, and he would not vouch for the truth of it. It concerned the death of your friend Violet Campion."
"Ah!" said Olga. She breathed the word rather than uttered it. All the colour went out of her face. "Go on!" she whispered. "Go on!"
"You know the tale?" said Daisy.
"Tell me!" said Olga.
Reluctantly Daisy complied. "It was whispered that there had been an understanding between them, that the poor girl went mad with trouble, and that--to protect himself from scandal--he gave her a draught that ended her life."
Briefly, baldly, fell the words, spoken in an undertone, with evident unwillingness. They went out into silence, a silence that had in it something dreadful, something that no words could express.
It was many seconds before Daisy ventured a look at the girl"s face, though her arm was still about her. When she did, she was shocked. For Olga was gazing straight before her with eyes wide and gla.s.sy--the eyes of the sleep-walker who stares upon visions of horror which no others see.
As Daisy moved, she moved also, went to the window, stepped straight out into the night. Dumbly Daisy watched her. She had obeyed her instinct in speaking, but now she knew not what to say or do.
Slowly at length Olga turned. She came back into the room. The gla.s.sy look had gone out of her eyes. She appeared quite normal. She went to Daisy, and laid gentle hands upon her shoulders.