To Edith, with her standard of morality, the course indicated by her father seemed eminently filial and praiseworthy. The thought of marrying Mr. Fox made her flesh creep, but a brief flirtation was another affair. She had flirted not a little in her day for the mere amus.e.m.e.nt of the thing, and with the motives her father had presented she could do it in this case as if it were an act of devotion. Of the pure and lofty morality of the Bible she had as little idea as a Persian houri, and rugged Roman virtue could not develop in the social atmosphere in which the Allens lived. It was with a clear conscience that she resolved to beguile Mr. Fox, and signified as much to her father.
"Play him off," said this model father, "as Mr. Goulden does Laura.
Curse him!--how I would like to slam the front door in his face. But my time may come yet," he added with set teeth.
That morning Mr. Allen sent for Mr. Fox, as he dared brave him no longer without some definite show of yielding, in order to keep back his fatal disclosures. With a dignity and formality scarcely in keeping with his fear and the import of his words, he said:
"I have considered your statements, sir, and admit their weight. As I informed you through my lawyer, I wish to be reasonable and hope you intend to be the same, for these are very grave matters. In regard to my daughter, you have my permission to call upon her as do her other gentleman friends, and she will receive you. In this land, that is all the vantage-ground a _gentleman_ asks, as indeed it is all that can be granted. I am not the King of Dahomey or the Shah of Persia, and able to give my daughters where interest may dictate. A lady"s inclination must be consulted. But I give you the permission you ask; you may pay your addresses to my daughter. You could scarcely ask a father to say more."
"It matters little to me what you or others say, but much what they do. My action shall be based upon yours and Miss Edith"s. I have learned in your employ the value of promptness in all business matters. I hope you understand me."
"I do, sir, but there can be no indecent haste in these matters. In gaining the important position--in a.s.suming the relations you desire--there should be some show of dignity, otherwise society would be disgusted, and you would lose the respect which should follow such vast acquirements."
"Where I can secure the whole cloth, I shall not worry about the selvage of etiquette and pa.s.sing opinion," was Mr. Fox"s cynical reply.
Mr. Allen could not prevent an expression of intense disgust from coming out upon his face, and he replied with some heat:
"Well, sir, something is due to my own position, and I cannot treat my daughter like a bale of cloth, as you suggest in your figurative speech. However," he added, warily, "I will take the necessary steps as soon as possible, and will trespa.s.s upon your time no longer."
As Mr. Fox glided out of the office with his sardonic smile, Mr. Allen felt for the moment that he would rather become bankrupt than make terms with him.
Meanwhile the month of February was rapidly pa.s.sing, though each day was an age of anxiety and suspense to Mr. Allen. The tension was too much for him, and he evidently aged and failed under it. He drank more than he ate, and his temper was very variable. From his wife he only received chidings and complaints that in his horrid "mania for business" he was neglecting her and his family in general. She could never get him to sit down and talk sensibly of the birthday and debut party that was now so near. He would always say, testily, "Manage it to suit yourselves."
Laura and Zell were too much wrapped up in their own affairs to give much thought to anything else. But Edith, of late, understood her father and felt deeply for him. One evening finding him sitting dejectedly alone in the library after dinner, she said:
"Why go on with this party, papa? I am sure I am ready to give it up if it will be any relief to you."
The heart of this strong, confident man of the world was sore and lonely. For perhaps the first time he felt the need of support and sympathy. He drew his beautiful daughter, whom thus far he had scarcely more than admired, down upon his lap and buried his face upon her shoulder. A breath of divine impulse swept aside for a moment the stifling curtains of his sordid life, and he caught a glimpse of the large happy realm of love.
"And would you really give up anything for the sake of your old father?" he asked in a low tone.
"Everything," cried Edith, much moved by the unusual display of affection and feeling on the part of her father.
"The others would not," said he bitterly.
"Indeed, papa, I think they would if they only knew. We would all do anything to see you your old jovial self again. Give up this wretched struggle; tell Mr. Fox to do his worst. I am not afraid of being poor; I am sure we could work up again."
"You know nothing about poverty," sighed her father. "When you are down, the world that bowed at your feet will run over and trample on you. I have seen it so often, but never thought of danger to me and mine."
"But this party," said the practical Edith, "why not give this up? It will cost a great deal."
"By no means give it up," said her father. "It may help me very much.
My credit is everything now. The appearance of wealth which such, a display insures will do much to secure the wealth. I am watched day and night, and must show no sign of weakness. Go on with the party and make it as brilliant as possible. If I fail, two or three thousand will make no difference, and it may help me to succeed. Whatever strengthens my credit for the next few days is everything to me. My stock is rising, only it is too slow. Things look better--if I could only gain time. But I am very uneasy--my head troubles me," and he put his hand to his head, and Edith remembered how often, she had seen him do that of late.
"By the way," said he, abruptly, "tell me how you get on with Mr.
Fox."
"Oh, never mind about that now; do rest a little, mind and body."
"No, tell me," said her father sharply, showing how little control he had over himself.
"Well, I think I have beaten him so far. He is very demonstrative, and acts as if I belonged to him. Did I not manage to always meet him in company with others, he would come at once to an open declaration. As it is, I cannot prevent it much longer. He is coming this evening, and I fear he will press matters. He seems to think that the asking is a mere form, and that our extremity will leave no choice."
"You must avoid him a little longer. Come, we will go to the theatre, and then you might be sick for a few days."
In a few minutes they were off, and were scarcely well away when Mr.
Fox, dressed in more style than he could carry gracefully, appeared.
"Miss Edith am out," said Hannibal loftily.
"I half believe you lie," muttered Mr. Fox, looking very black.
"Sarch de house, sah. It am a berry gentlemanly proceeding."
"Where has she gone? and whom did she go with?"
"I hab no orders to say," said Hannibal, looking fixedly at the ceiling of the vestibule.
The knightly suitor turned on his heel, muttering, "They are playing me false."
"Twas a pity, and he so true.
The next day Edith was sick and Mr. Allen"s stock was rising. Hannibal again sent Mr. Fox baffled away, but with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
On the following morning Mr. Allen found a note on his desk. His face grew livid as he read it, and he often put his hand to his head. He sat down and wrote to this effect, however:
"I am arranging the partnership matter as rapidly as possible. In regard to my daughter you will ruin all if you show no more discretion. I cannot compel her to marry you. You may make it impossible to influence her in your favor. You have been well received. What more can you ask? A matter of this kind must be arranged delicately."
Mr. Fox pondered over this with a peculiarly foxy expression. "It sounds plausible. If I only thought he was true," soliloquized this embodiment of truth.
Mr. Allen"s stock was higher, and Mr. Fox watched the rise grimly, but he saw Edith, who was all smiles and graciousness, and gave him a verbal invitation to her birthday-party which was to take place early in the following week.
The fellow had not a little vanity, and was insnared, his suspicions quieted for the time. Valuing money himself supremely, it seemed most rational that father and daughter should regard him as the most eligible young man in the city.
Edith"s friends, and Gus in particular, were rather astonished at the new-comer. Laura was frigid and remonstrant, Zell and Mr. Van Dam satirical, but Edith wilfully tossed her head and said he was clever and well off, and she liked him well enough to talk to him a little.
Society had made her a good actress. Meanwhile on the Tuesday following (and this was Friday) the long expected party would take place.
CHAPTER VI
THE WRECK
On Sat.u.r.day Mr. Allen"s stock was rising, and he ventured to sell a little in a quiet way. If he "unloaded" rapidly and openly, he would break down the market.
Mr. Fox watched events uneasily. Mr. Goulden grew genial and more p.r.o.nounced in his attentions. Gus, on Sat.u.r.day, showed almost as much solicitude for a decisively favorable answer as did Mr. Fox, if the language of his eyes meant anything; but Edith played him and Mr. Fox off against each other so adroitly that they were learning to hate each other as cordially as they agreed in admiring her. Though she inclined in her favor to Mr. Fox, he was suspicious from nature, and annoyed at never being able to see her alone.