With that indescribably dreadful rushing, whirling sensation in the
brain, which can never be forgotten by whoever has once experienced it,
May Cheffington recovered out of her swoon, and her senses returned to
her.
She was lying on a cushioned seat in the ladies' waiting-room at
Wendhurst Junction. Her dress had been loosened, her own warm cloak had
been spread over her as a coverlet, a woollen shawl was thrown across
her feet, and an elderly woman was sprinkling water on her forehead. She
opened her eyes, and then shut them again lazily. The glare of the gas
made her blink, and the sense of rest was, for the moment, all she
wanted.
"She'll do now," said the elderly woman, wiping May's wet forehead with
a handkerchief. Then she went to the door of the room, and half opening
it, said to some one outside, "Coming round beautiful, sir; she'll be
all right now."
"Who's there?" asked May, in a little feeble, drowsy voice.
"Your pa, dear. He _has_ been in a taking about you. But I'm telling him
you're as right as right can be. So you are, ain't you? There's a
pretty!"
Every second that passed was bringing more clearness to May's mind, more
animation to her frame. By the time the elderly woman had finished
speaking, May said--
"Oh, ask him to come in. Ask him, pray, to come here and speak to me!"
This message being transmitted, the door was opened, and in walked Mr.
Bragg, with a most disturbed and anxious countenance.
May was lying with her head supported on a pillow formed of a great coat
hastily rolled up, which the attendant had covered with her own white
apron. The pretty soft brown hair, dabbled here and there with water,
was hanging in disorder. Her eyes looked very large and bright in her
pale face. Mr. Bragg came and stood beside her, and looked at her with a
sort of tender, pitying trepidation: as an amiable giant might
contemplate Ariel with a broken wing: longing to help, but fearing to
hurt, the delicate creature.
May put out her hand and took hold of Mr. Bragg's as innocently as
little Enid might have done. "Oh, I am so sorry!" she said.
"Yes," returned Mr. Bragg, in a subdued voice. "And I'm so sorry, too.
But you are feeling better now, ain't you?"
"Oh, but I mean I am sorry for _you_. Sorry to frighten you and to give
you so much trouble."
"Trouble! Well, I don't know about that. This good lady here has been
taking what trouble there was to take. Not such a vast deal, was it,
ma'am?"
The "good lady" who had begun to doubt the correctness of her assumption
that these two were father and daughter, smoothed the shawl over May's
feet, and murmured that they were not to mention it.
Mr. Bragg pulled out his watch impatiently.
"What! haven't they found anybody yet?" he said. "I sent off a man in a
fly ten minutes ago."
The attendant observed apologetically that the first doctor they'd gone
to might not have been at home, and then they'd have to go on a goodish
bit further.
May started up on her elbow.
"Doctor!" she cried, in dismay. "You haven't sent for a doctor?"
"Yes, I have," answered Mr. Bragg, dismayed in his turn by her evident
distress. "I couldn't do less. You might have been dying for anything I
knew. You don't know how bad you looked!"
"But I don't want a doctor. I'm quite well. I only want to go on. I want
to go on to Granny."
And May's head fell back on the pillow, while a tear forced its way
beneath the closed eyelids.
"You came by the slow down, didn't you? Ah, well, there's no passenger
train going on that way before eleven-five to-night," observed the
elderly female.
At this intelligence the tears poured down May's cheeks, and she turned
away her head on the cushion.
"Don't cry! Don't fret!" exclaimed Mr. Bragg. "You shall be in
Oldchester within an hour if the medical man says you're able to travel.
I'll speak to the station-master at once. Only we _must_ hear what the
doctor says, mustn't we? I dursn't run a risk, now durst I? You see that
yourself. You're what you might call laid on my conscience to take care
of. Good Lord, will this fool of a fellow never come back? I told him to
drive as fast as he could pelt."
May was crying now less from vexation than from exhaustion.
"I'm _not_ ill, indeed," she murmured, trying to check her tears.
"But, my dear young lady, people don't faint dead away like that, and
look so white and ghastly, without there's _something_ the matter. It
wasn't the news I told you upset you like that, surely?"
"No; of course not. I think it was because I--I had had no dinner."
"Lord bless me!" cried Mr. Bragg. "Why, you're starving! _That's_ what
it is, then!"
In his anxious solicitude for her Mr. Bragg would have ordered
everything eatable to be brought which the refreshment-room afforded.
But he yielded to May's entreaty that she might have a cup of tea and a
piece of bread. The attendant suggested a teaspoonful of brandy in the
tea, but at this May shook her head. Mr. Bragg, however, thought the
suggestion a good one, and producing a small flask from his travelling
bag, insisted on pouring a few drops of its contents into the cup of
tea.
"That's fine old Cognac," he said; "like a cordial. I wouldn't ask you
to swallow the stuff they sell here; but this'll do you nothing but
good. Dear me, if I'd only thought of giving you some of this before!"
He was quite self-reproachful, and May had some difficulty in persuading
him that no blame could possibly attach to him for not having
administered a dose of brandy to her as soon as they met in the railway
carriage.
By this time the doctor sent for from Wendhurst had arrived. A brief
interview with his patient convinced him that she was perfectly well
able to travel on as far as Oldchester.
"Rather delicate nervous organization, you see," said the doctor to Mr.
Bragg, when he left May. "And there has been some mental distress;
family troubles, she tells me; and then the long fast, and the journey,
quite sufficient to account--oh, thanks, thanks. She'll be all right
after a good night's rest, I haven't the least doubt." And the doctor
withdrew with a bow; for Mr. Bragg, apologizing for having disturbed him
and brought him so far through the rain, had put a handsome fee into his
hand.
Mr. Bragg had also mentioned in the hearing of the waiting-room
attendant, who was hovering inquisitively in the background, that the
young lady had been put under his charge, and that he had just left the
house of her great-uncle, Lord Castlecombe. He was aware that he himself
was far too well-known a man in those parts for the adventure not to be
talked about. And his experience of life had taught him that, while it
is as difficult to check gossip as to bring a runaway horse to a
standstill, yet that both may generally be turned to the right or left,
by a cool hand.
His sagacity was amply justified. For the waiting-room attendant, for
weeks afterwards, would narrate to passing lady travellers how that
sweet young lady, Lord Castlecombe's grandniece, was so cut up by the
death of her cousin that she fainted right away coming back from the
funeral at Combe Park, not having been able to touch food for more than
twelve hours in consequence of her grief; and how Mr. Bragg, the great
Oldchester manufacturer, who was taking charge of the young lady on her
journey home, was so kind and anxious, and quite like a father to her;
and how they both repeatedly said, "Mrs. Tupp, if it hadn't been for
your care and attention, we don't know whatever we _should_ have done."
Soon after the doctor had departed, Mr. Bragg came back to May, and
informed her that arrangements had been made for their starting for
Oldchester in three-quarters of an hour, if that would be agreeable to
her. And in reply to her wondering inquiry as to how that could have
been managed, he said quietly, "Oh, I've got a special train. I'm a
director of this line, and they know me here pretty well."
May had always understood that a special train was an immensely costly
matter. But in her ignorance she was by no means sure that it might not
be part of the privileges of a railway director to have special trains
run for his service gratis, whensoever he should require them. Which,
probably, was precisely what Mr. Bragg desired her to suppose.
He then called aside the attendant, and held a short colloquy with her
in the adjoining room, the result of which was to put the worthy Mrs.
Tupp into a great fuss and flutter. She dashed at a cupboard in the wall
and plunged her hand into it, drawing it out again with a battered old
black bonnet dangling by one string, as though she had been fishing at a
venture and brought up _that_ rather unexpectedly. Further, Mrs. Tupp,
with many apologies, took the checked shawl which had been laid over
May's feet and put it on her own shoulders; and then, assuring Mr.
Bragg, in a speech which it took some time to deliver, that she wouldn't
be gone not ten minutes, for her house was close by--better than half a
mile before you really come into Wendhurst High Street, going the
shortest way from the station--she finally disappeared.
"Now, Miss Cheffington," said Mr. Bragg, "I want you to do something to
oblige me. Will you?"
"Most gladly, if I can; but I'm afraid it will turn out to be something
to oblige _me_," answered May, looking up at him timidly. "Don't you
want some food? I dare say you do."
"Why, no, Miss Cheffington, I can't say I do; I ate a most uncommon
hearty luncheon. I wonder why people always eat so much when there's a
funeral going on! Besides, it isn't dinner-time yet, you know."
"Isn't it? I have no idea what o'clock it is. If you told me it was the
middle of next week, I don't think I should feel surprised," and she
smiled with one of her old, bright looks.
"That's right," said Mr. Bragg. "You're picking up. Well, now, I was
going to say that I noticed in the refreshment-room a cold roast fowl,
which didn't look at all nasty; no, really, not at all nasty," insisted
Mr. Bragg, with the air of one who is aware that his statement may not
unreasonably be received with incredulity. "And if you'll let them bring
it in here on a tray, and try to eat a bit of it, and drink another cup
of tea--no! I promise not to put any brandy in it,--I shall esteem it a
favour."
Of course there was no refusing this. But May said wistfully, "I was
going to ask you--would you mind--I have something to say to you; and if
I don't say it soon that woman will be here. She is coming back
immediately."
"Why, as to that, Miss Cheffington, I don't think she is. From what I
can make out, she's the kind of person that never can realize to
themselves that fifteen minutes, one after the other, end to end, make
up a quarter of an hour. She lost a lot of time here talking, and I saw
her stop to tell the young woman at the bar over yonder what a hurry she
was in. No; I make no doubt but what she'll be back before we start, but
not just yet awhile."
The roast chicken and some freshly made tea were brought in due course,
and Mr. Bragg had the satisfaction of seeing May partake of both. Then
he professed his readiness to hear what she wished to say.
"Are you comfortable? Light not too much for you? There! Now--provided
you don't overtire yourself, nor yet what you might call overtry
yourself--I'm listening."
He sat down in a chair nearly opposite to the fire, so that his profile
was turned to May, and looked thoughtfully into the hot coals, folding
his arms in an attitude of massive quietude which was characteristic of
him.
"First of all, you must let me thank you for all your kindness," said
May.
"No, don't do that," he answered, without removing his gaze from the
fire. Then he repeated musingly, "No, no; don't do that! Don't ye do
that!"
Then ensued a pause. It lasted so long that Mr. Bragg, glancing round at
the girl, said--
"That wasn't all you had in your mind to say, was it?"
"No, Mr. Bragg."
"Perhaps you've changed your mind about speaking? Well, don't you worrit
yourself. You do just what you feel most agreeable to yourself, you
know."
"But I want to speak! I was so anxious to tell you----This chance, which
I could never have expected or dreamt of, gives me the opportunity, and
now--now I don't know how to begin!"
He was silent for a moment, pondering. Then he said, "Could I help you?
I wonder if it is about a certain conversation you and me had together a
few days back?"
"Yes--partly."
"Well, now, you remember that on that occasion I said to you that I
hoped we might be friends, you and me--real, true friends. You remember,
don't you?"
"Gratefully."
"Well, I meant what I said. If you have been----" He was about to say
"persecuted," but changed the word. "If you have been any way bothered
in consequence of that conversation, I'm truly sorry for it. But don't
let it make any difference as between you and me. Your aunt, Mrs.
Dormer-Smith, she's a most well-meaning lady, and has beautiful manners.
But she's liable to make mistakes like the rest of us. And don't you
fret, you know. You're going to your grandmother, Mrs. Dobbs, you tell
me. And she's a woman of wonderful good sense. She'll understand some
things better than what your aunt can. It'll be all right. Don't you
worrit yourself."
He spoke in a gentle, soothing tone, such as one might use to a child,
and kept nodding his head slowly as he spoke, still with his eyes fixed
on the fire.
"It isn't that! I mean--I wanted to tell you something!"
He turned his head now quickly, and looked at her. Her eyes were cast
down, and she was plucking nervously at the fur lining of the cloak
which lay on the seat beside her.
"Is it something about that confidence that you made me, and that I look
upon as an honour, and always shall? Well, now, if you're going to speak
about that, I shall take it as a sign that you really mean to be friends
with me, and trust me. And there's nothing in the world would make me so
proud as that you should trust me, full and free."
Then she told him all the story of her engagement to Owen. How it had
been kept secret for three months by her grandmother's express
stipulation. How, when Owen returned to England, they had revealed it to
Mrs. Dormer-Smith; how that lady had disapproved and forbidden Owen the
house, and had written to Captain Cheffington requesting him to
interpose his parental authority; how, finally, May had felt so
miserable and lonely, that she had made up her mind to leave her aunt's
house and take refuge with her grandmother.
Mr. Bragg sat like a rock while she told her story, hesitatingly and
shyly at first, but gathering courage as she went on. When she first
mentioned Owen's name, his brows contracted for a moment, in a way which
might mean anger, or perplexity, or simply surprise. But he remained
otherwise quite unmoved to all appearance, and perfectly silent.
When May had finished her little story, she said timidly, as she had
said to him on that memorable day in her aunt's house, "You are not
angry, Mr. Bragg?"
He answered nearly as he had answered then, but without looking at her,
and keeping his gaze on the fire, "Angry, my child! No; how could I be
angry with you? You have never deceived me. You have been true and
honest from first to last."
"But I mean, you are not--you are not angry with Owen?"
The answer did not come quite so promptly this time; but after a few
seconds, he said, "I don't know that I've the least right to be angry
with Mr. Rivers. Only I should have liked it better if he had told me
how things were, plain and straightforward, when we were talking
about--something else." He brought his speech to an abrupt conclusion.
Upon this May assured him that Owen had never desired secrecy. The
engagement had been kept secret in deference to "Granny." And as soon as
her aunt knew it, Owen had urged her (May) to tell Mr. Bragg also,
feeling himself in a false position until the truth was revealed.
"I ought to have written to you yesterday," she said guiltily. "It's my
fault, indeed it is!"
Mr. Bragg got up from his chair, and muttering something about "getting
a little air," walked out on to the long platform.
There was certainly no lack of air outside there. A damp raw wind was
driving through the station, making the lamps blink. Mr. Bragg had no
great coat, that garment having been rolled up to serve as May's pillow.
But he marched up and down the long platform with his hands behind his
back, at a steady and by no means rapid pace, apparently insensible to
the cold.
Owen Rivers! So the man May was engaged to was his secretary, Mr.
Rivers! That was very surprising. Mr. Rivers was not at all the sort of
man he should have expected that exquisite young creature to care about.
But Mr. Bragg would have been puzzled to describe the sort of man he
would have expected her to care about. He had never seen any man he
thought worthy of her, and it might safely be predicted that he never
would; seeing that Mr. Bragg was in love with May, and would certainly
never be in love with May's husband, let him be the finest fellow in the
world.
One suspicion he at once dismissed from his mind--that Owen had ever
been in the least danger from Mrs. Bransby's fascinations. No; when a
man was betrothed to a girl like May Cheffington he was safe enough from
anything of that kind, argued Mr. Bragg. Indeed, his visit to the
widow's house had given him a favourable impression of all its inmates.
It was impossible, he thought, to be in Mrs. Bransby's presence without
perceiving her to be worthy of respect. Searching his memory, he
discovered that the first hint of her having any designs on young Rivers
had come from Theodore Bransby, and now the motive of the hint began to
dawn upon him. Theodore, as he had long ago perceived, hated Rivers. Mr.
Bragg now understood why. He paced up and down the draughty platform,
solitary and meditative, for full ten minutes. It was a dead time, and
the whole station seemed nearly deserted.
Then he returned to the waiting-room, of which May was still the sole
occupant. He stirred the fire into a blaze, and then sat down opposite
to it as before. May looked at him nervously and anxiously. She did not
venture to speak first.
"I'll tell you one thing, Miss Cheffington," said Mr. Bragg, all at
once. "What you told me has been a relief to my mind in one way."
She looked up inquiringly.
"Yes, it has been a relief to my mind, and I'm bound to acknowledge it.
I was afraid at one time--indeed, I'd almost made up my mind, though
terribly against the grain--that you was engaged to some one else."
"Some one else!" exclaimed May, opening great eyes of wonder, and
speaking in a tone which conveyed her _naif_ persuasion that, in that
sense, there did not exist any one else. "Why, whom can you mean?"
Mr. Bragg reflected an instant. Then he said, "I'll tell you. Yes, I'll
tell you, for he's tried to thrust it in people's faces as far as he
dared. Mr. Theodore Bransby."
May fell back on her seat with a gesture of mute astonishment.
"Ah, yes; you're wondering how I could be such a blockhead as to think
that possible. But if it had been true, you'd ha' wondered how I could
be such a blockhead as to think anything else possible," said Mr. Bragg.
It was the sole touch of bitterness which escaped him throughout the
interview. After a brief pause he went on, "Not, you understand, that I
mean to deny Mr. Rivers is far superior to young Bransby--out of all
comparison, superior to him. I may, perhaps, consider Mr. Rivers
fort'nate beyond his merits. That's a question we won't enter into,
because you and me can't help but look at it from different points of
view. But I must bear testimony that he's always behaved like a real
gentleman in his duties with me; and, so far as I know, he's thoroughly
upright and honourable."
May considered this to be but faint praise. But she graciously made
allowances. Granny, however, knew better. When Mr. Bragg's words were
repeated to Granny, she exclaimed, "Well done, Joshua Bragg! That was
spoken like a generous-minded man."
By this time the engine which was to draw them to Oldchester was in
readiness. Mr. Bragg inquired impatiently for the "good lady" of the
waiting-room. And then May learned that that person was to accompany
them on the journey, lest Miss Cheffington should need any attendance on
the way.
"And, indeed," said Mrs. Tupp, afterwards, "if the young lady had been a
princess royal, there couldn't have been more fuss made over her. S'loon
carriage, and everything! Of course, it was an effort for me to go along
with 'em at such short notice, and so entirely unexpected. But as they
said to me, 'Mrs. Tupp,' they said, 'had it not have been for your
kindness and attention, we don't know what we should have done.' And the
gentleman certainly made it worth my while." As he certainly did!
At the present moment, however, Mrs. Tupp was by no means in a
complacent frame of mind. She was seen hurriedly approaching from the
extremity of the station, very breathless and exhausted, attired in her
Sunday bonnet, and shawl to match, confronting Mr. Bragg, who stood,
sternly, watch in hand, at the door of the carriage.
"I told you so, Miss Cheffington," said he to May, who was already made
luxuriously comfortable within the carriage. "Now, ma'am! No, don't
trouble yourself to explain, please. Because in exactly two seconds and
a half we're off. _Would_ you be so kind?" This to a guard who stood
looking on beside the station-master. In a moment they had taken Mrs.
Tupp between them, and, assisted from behind by a youthful porter,
managed to hoist her into the carriage by main force. Mr. Bragg took his
place opposite to May. The whistle sounded, and they glided from beneath
the roof of the station, and at an increasing speed across the dark
country through the streaming rain.