"Oh! Mr Pratt will not listen to me," said Mrs Gabriel, severely, "I know him of old. He can be obstinate when he chooses."
Pratt laughed but gave her a sly look which made her wince. Strong woman as she was, there was something about this artless, good-natured little man which made her turn white and draw her breath in quick gasps. "I consent to be taken," said Pratt, withdrawing his gaze, "if I am permitted to arrange the group myself."
"Certainly," said Raston, brightly. He had been exchanging a few words with Peggy. "Arrange it as you please."
Leo, who had Hale at his elbow, ranged alongside the American. "You know where to place me," he said softly, and Pratt nodded. It was mainly for that reason that he wished to arrange the group.
The result of his efforts was that Leo and Sybil were together, much to the wrath of the baronet and Mrs Gabriel. The others Pratt scattered anyhow, and placed himself at the back. Raston did not approve of this.
"You can hardly be seen, Mr Pratt," he said. "Please come more forward."
Pratt hesitated, but, catching sight of a cold smile on the face of Mrs Gabriel, he gave her a defiant look and placed himself in the position indicated by Mr Raston"s outstretched finger. Then the curate adjusted his kodak and took three pictures. He also had to take a fourth, as Mrs Bathurst wanted herself to be seen making tea, surrounded by her guests.
"To recall a happy, happy day," she explained.
"You are fond of photography, Raston?" said Pratt, when this was over.
"Very. I have taken pictures all round the place."
"And the other day he took a picture of the cup you gave," put in Sybil.
"I guess that"s kind of him," said Pratt, gnawing his lip. "I suppose,"
he was addressing Raston, "that you send copies of these to your friends?"
"Indeed I do not," replied the curate, cheerily, "I take only a few copies and place them in an alb.u.m. Certainly I have given a few to Miss Bathurst."
"Natural, very natural," said Pratt, gravely; "you must give me one of the group you took just now." And without waiting for an answer he turned away. Somehow he seemed relieved to hear that the photographs were not likely to be sent round the country. And all the time Mrs Gabriel, who had listened to this conversation, heard it with a cold smile. She seemed rather pleased that Pratt should be upset, and upset he was, a remarkable thing in so calm a man.
After a time Leo and Sybil slipped away, and were some distance across the moor before their absence was noticed. There was no chance of following them save in the most pointed manner, so Sir Frank, with a scowl, devoted himself to his sister. She was seated on the heather, staring after Leo with a despairing look. Frank patted her hand kindly.
"He will come back, Edith," he whispered.
"No," she replied, quietly, "he will never come back. Sybil has taken him away for ever. Don"t worry about me, Frank."
"Oh! as to that," retorted Frank, savagely, "I approve of that no more than you do. If you want to marry Leo, I wish to make Sybil my wife."
"I am afraid neither of us will get our wishes," said Edith, with a sigh.
"We"ll see about that," muttered Frank; "at all costs I"ll stop that marriage. Sybil must become my wife."
Mrs Gabriel overheard him. "Make your mind easy, Frank," she said, "I can put an end to this." She cast a look at Pratt. "I could have done so long ago but for--" She stopped.
"But for what, Mrs Gabriel?"
"Nothing! nothing!" she said hastily. "A matter which does not concern you, Frank. But it is time to adopt strong measures. Mr Tempest"--she went to the vicar--"come for a stroll with me. I wish to speak to you."
"About parish matters?" asked the vicar, rather nervously, for he knew Mrs Gabriel"s tongue and temper. "Won"t you speak to Raston?"
"It is not about parish matters," said Mrs Gabriel. "It is concerning your daughter and Leo."
Mr Tempest looked up sharply. "Indeed!" he said, with quite a new note in his voice. "Nothing wrong, I trust?"
"I shall leave you to judge of that," replied Mrs Gabriel. "Come, vicar!" and she carried the old man away. Hale started after them distrustfully.
"What does she intend to do now?" he muttered. "I intend to take my own way in this matter, and I don"t trust her. Too clever by half!"
Meantime Leo and Sybil, not thinking of the envy their happiness caused, were walking slowly along. Every now and then they would turn and look at one another and smile. The action seemed childish, but those who are deeply in love are often nothing but children. Then they came to talk of their future.
"When are you going away, Leo?" asked Sybil.
"I go to Town next Monday," replied Leo. "I start at seven o"clock for Portfront, and there take the steamer that leaves at ten."
"And the money for your debts?"
"That will be all right. Frank has promised to give it me this week. But the queer part is, Sybil, that he will not give me a cheque."
"Why not?" she asked, stopping abruptly.
"I don"t know. Some whim on his part. He intends that I shall take it in sovereigns--yes, the whole three hundred pounds! There is a treasure to travel with! However, I shall take it to London and pay it into my bank there. Then I can settle with my creditors by cheque."
"Does he give any reason why he wants you to take it in gold?"
"No! But he is a queer chap, although a kind one. I must take the money as he chooses to give it. But do you know, Sybil, I believe Hale has the instincts of a miser, and likes to look at gold. I should not be surprised if he had a chest of sovereigns in his house. I expect that is why he gives me specie instead of a cheque or notes."
"I don"t like it at all," said Sybil, decisively.
"There you go with your distrust!" said Leo, good-humouredly. "You will not make allowance for the queerness of poor Frank. Never mind, I will take the money as he chooses to give it. When my creditors are paid I shall see about enlisting."
"You have made up your mind to that?"
"Fully. Mrs Gabriel understands as much. And I do not think, Sybil,"
said Leo, bending down, "that you will seek to dissuade me."
Sybil paused for a moment. "No," she said at length, and her voice was firm, "it is a good thing for you to take up the burden of life, Leo.
Even if you die in South Africa it will be better than that you should live on the charity of Mrs Gabriel. I admire your spirit."
Leo shook his head sadly. "Don"t admire anything about me, dear," he said. "Long, long ago, I should have earned my own living. I have been a fool too long. But now, Sybil, I intend to work my hardest for you. I am sure to get my commission, as there are plenty knocking about; and when I return, your father will consent to our marriage, and Mrs Gabriel will forgive me."
"I don"t think my father would ever object, Leo," said Sybil. "He would not care if you had little money. All he asks from anyone who marries me is that they come of a good stock. He has much family pride, you know."
"Then he will easily be satisfied with the Haverleighs. They have been established in the place down yonder for centuries. I did not know, though, that he attached much value to pedigree, Sybil."
"It is his one failing. He would not mind if I married a pauper, so long as my future husband had good blood in his veins. The one thing he would not permit would be that I should marry what he calls a "base-born" man.
But, of course, there is no danger of that."
"No; I think my pedigree will satisfy Mr Tempest. But it is strange that he should attach such value to race."
"I"m not so sure of that," said Sybil, slowly. "I have a great opinion of race myself, Leo. But, come," she broke off, "there is my father waving to me. I wonder what he wants. To go home, I expect."
Mr Tempest did, indeed, want to go home, and, moreover, he seemed by no means anxious for the company of Leo. Quite different to his usual self, he was stiff and cold towards the young man. Mrs Gabriel saw this, and smiled. Not in vain had she adopted the stronger measures of which she had spoken to Sir Frank. However, she gave Leo no time to talk to the vicar, but took possession of him and threw him into the company of Miss Hale. Leo was obliged to talk to the girl, for, although she bored him greatly, she was too unoffending a creature to hurt. Frank saw how dexterously Mrs Gabriel had managed, and came up to her. "What have you been doing?" he asked in a low voice.