His abruptness and hoa.r.s.eness were expressive, but she felt that there was something lacking and she answered with a flippancy she seldom indulged in.
"You thought it needful to bring your privy counselor with you?"
"No; he came without even asking my permission."
"Well," she said, sitting down with forced calmness, "it doesn"t matter; but are you quite sure now that you really want me?"
There was no doubt that he was desperately anxious for her formal word; there was a feverish eagerness in his eyes. It puzzled her, but it left her unmoved and cold.
"Want you!" he cried. "Can you ask? Haven"t I constantly shown my devotion?"
"For the last few months--I mean after Lisle went back to Canada," she replied with gathering color. "Before then, for a time, I think one could reasonably have doubted it."
He looked confused; that Bella had attracted him had been obvious, and there was no way of getting over the fact gracefully.
"I"m afraid I have my weaknesses--want of balance, impulsiveness, and a capacity for being easily piqued," he confessed. "Well, though perhaps I deserved it, you were cold and aloof enough to madden a more patient man, and I suppose I slackly yielded to wounded vanity. All the time, you were the one I had chosen, the only woman who had ever really stirred or could influence me. Nearly as long as I can remember I have loved and respected you. Occasionally you unbent enough to show me that you recognized it."
There was some truth in this, and seeing the change in her expression, he went on:
"You can"t cast me off and fling me back upon myself--I couldn"t face that. During those last few months in England, you helped me forward far more than you suspected--showed me my duties, enabled me to carry them out. I can"t go on alone; I"m your responsibility; having taken it up, you can"t deny it now."
Millicent smiled faintly.
"No," she admitted; "I suppose that would be hardly fair."
He would have thrown his arm about her, but she laid a hand on his shoulder and with gentle firmness held him back.
"No," she said, with a deep color in her face; "not yet. We have been a.s.sociated as cousins; I must get used to the new position."
He had wit enough to yield, but he kissed her hands exultantly.
"It"s a pledge! I may tell the others?"
"Yes," she consented quietly, "I think you may."
For a while he sat at her feet, with her hand on his shoulder, talking about the future, and she was sensible of a certain calm satisfaction which had in it more than a trace of resignation. She had not shirked her duty, she was safe from temptation, and she had after all a sincere, half-pitying tenderness for the man. Her liking for him would, she thought, grow stronger, and the pa.s.sion which Lisle had once or twice half awakened in her was a thing to be subdued and dreaded. Though Gladwyne saw that she was but lightly moved, he was content, and some time had pa.s.sed when they went slowly back together to the camp.
Miss Hume was the first to notice them and when Millicent smiled she went hastily forward and kissed her. Then Bella joined them and Batley offered his good wishes in fitting terms. When Lisle and Nasmyth came up, a word from Bella was sufficient for them. For a moment the girl was startled by what she read in the Canadian"s face. It was, however, invisible to Millicent. Turning suddenly round without speaking he strode away, followed by Nasmyth. Stopping when he was hidden from the camp among the rocks Lisle turned savagely to his companion.
"You heard what Bella said!"
"I did!" replied Nasmyth. "The hound! It must be stopped!"
"Yes," a.s.serted Lisle, more coolly, "that"s a sure thing. Still, there are difficulties--she may not believe my story now. I almost think I"ll wait until we reach the two caches; then with something to back my statements, I might force the truth from him."
"In that case, you had better watch him," warned Nasmyth, looking deeply disturbed. "He may try to reach them first."
The next moment Crestwick joined them.
"What"s to be done, Vernon?" he exclaimed. "Miss Gladwyne"s engagement"s formally announced--it can"t go on!"
"Why?" Lisle"s voice was stern. "What has it to do with you?"
"Well," explained Crestwick, hesitating, "the man"s not to be trusted, he"s dangerous. He simply can"t be allowed to make this match!" He paused and spread out his hands. "I"m horribly troubled about it--I"d better tell you that I know--"
"You know nothing that need be mentioned," Lisle interrupted him. "That"s positive; you have to remember it. As to the rest, you"ll leave the matter entirely in my hands."
"Oh, well," agreed Crestwick, "if you order it. That relieves me of my responsibility. I"m uncommonly glad to get rid of it."
Lisle abruptly strode away, and Crestwick saw that Nasmyth was regarding him curiously.
"Lisle was quite right," Nasmyth said. "He only forestalled me in instructions I meant to give you."
"Then you understand what I was referring to?" exclaimed Crestwick.
"I"ve a good idea," Nasmyth answered dryly. "In my opinion, so has Lisle."
"But you were on the far side of the hedge on the morning we tried the horse, and Lisle was down. He wasn"t conscious when I broke through the thorns."
"Quite correct; but it"s most unlikely he lost consciousness from the fall, and he was lying with his face turned toward the jump--it wasn"t until the chestnut came down on his shoulder that he was badly hurt. The doctor agreed with me on that point."
"That might have struck me," Crestwick rejoined. "But you owned that you had an idea of what happened at the jump. How did you get it? Did Lisle tell you?"
Nasmyth smiled grimly.
"I"m firmly convinced that he"ll never mention what he saw or suspects to anybody, unless it"s to Gladwyne. As to the rest, the hedge wasn"t thick enough to prevent my seeing through it."
"He"s an unusual man," declared Crestwick in an admiring tone. "I haven"t met his equal. But I"ll keep my eye on Gladwyne--there"s risk enough at some of the rapids--the hound shan"t have another chance if I can help it."
They turned and went back to camp, but on reaching it they sat down among the packers, avoiding Gladwyne and Millicent.
CHAPTER XXIX
A BOLD SCHEME
The sense of security which Millicent experienced on announcing her engagement was not permanent and in a few days the doubts that had troubled her crept back into her mind. She had never entertained any marked illusions about Clarence and although, now that she was irrevocably pledged to him, she endeavored to fix her thoughts on his most likable qualities, even these appeared in a less favorable light than they had formerly done. The growth of the warmer attachment she had expected to feel was strangely slow, and though it was early to indulge in regrets her heart sometimes grew heavy as she looked forward to the future. Clarence was considerate, attentive and deferential in a polished way, but he lacked something one looked for in a lover. Besides, she was anxious about him; he looked worn, his manner suggested that he was bearing a strain, but this was in his favor, for it roused her compa.s.sion. She fancied that the cause of it was financial, and this in a sense was encouraging, because this was a trouble from which she could purchase him immunity.
In the meanwhile she was stirred by mournful memories as she followed the last stages of her brother"s journey and visited the lonely spot where he had met his end. Somehow the thought of him encouraged her--George had quietly done his duty, regardless of the cost, and even if her burden proved heavy, which it was premature to admit, she must bear it cheerfully.
At length they stopped one evening at a portage, and Lisle examined the stores.
"The food"s getting short," he announced. "One or two of you had better take out your rifles the first thing to-morrow, while the rest go fishing. I"ll tackle the portage with two packers."
He began his work at sunrise the next morning and it was toward evening when Crestwick came back exultant with a blacktail buck. Nasmyth was fishing near the camp and Lisle was busy with a canoe near by.