"So he goes to-day, eh?" said Crellock.
"Yes; I've seen him, and he's going to-day."
"Lucky for him, for I've got into a state of mind that does not promise
much good for any one who stands in my way," said Crellock, with an
unpleasant look in his eyes. "And now, mind this: as soon as he is
gone, and we are alone, the matter is to be pressed home. Here, I'll be
off. I don't want to say good-bye." He picked up his whip and stepped
out into the verandah, walking along past the dining-room window, which
was open, and through it came the voice of Julia in measured cadence,
reading aloud.
Crellock ground his teeth and half stopped; but he gave his whip a sharp
crack and went on.
"A row would only frighten her, and I don't want to _do_ that. The
coast will be clear this afternoon."
He went on round to the stable, saddled and mounted his horse, and
turned off by the first track for the open country.
"A good ride will calm me down," he said; and he went off at a gallop
for a few miles, but with his head down, seeing neither green tree with
its tints of pearly grey and pink, nor the curious tufts of grass in his
path. A mob of kangaroos started before him and went off with their
peculiar bounds; flock after flock of parrots, with colours bright as
the most gorgeous sunset, flew screaming away; and twice over he passed
spear-armed blacks, who ceased their task of hunting for grubs to stare
at the man riding so recklessly through the bush.
All at once he dragged his horse back upon its haunches with a furious
tug at the reins, and sat staring before him as in imagination he
pictured a scene in the dining-room at the Gully House.
"I'm a fool," he cried savagely; "a fool! I've got the fruit ready to
my hand, and I'm getting out of the way so as to let some one else pluck
it. Now perhaps I shall be too late."
Dragging his horse's head round, he set spurs to its flanks, and in the
same reckless manner began to gallop back. This time he was less
fortunate, though. As he went he left the horse to itself, and the
careful beast avoided rough parts or leaped them, carrying his rider in
safety. On the return Crellock was bent upon one thing only, getting
back to the Gully House at the earliest moment possible. Twice over the
horse swerved at an awkward depression or piece of rock, either of them
sufficient to bring both to grief, but for reward there was a savage
jerk at the bit, a blow over the head from the heavy whip, and a dig
from the spurs. The result was that the poor brute went on as the crow
flies at a hard gallop, rushed at an awkward clump of bush, rose, caught
its hoofs, and fell with a crash, sending Crellock right over its head
to lie for a few minutes half-stunned, and when he did gather himself
up, with the scene seeming to sail round him, the horse was standing
with its head hanging, snuffing at the coarse herbage, and stamping
angrily with its off hind hoof.
"You awkward brute!" cried Crellock, catching at the rein, and then
lashing the poor animal across the flank.
The horse started to the full length of the rein, but only on three
legs; one had had a terrible sprain.
"My luck!" said Crellock savagely, and, taking off the bridle, he
hobbled the horse's legs, and started off to walk.
Julia went on reading, with Philip Eaton drinking in every word she
uttered, and at last, leaning forward from the couch upon which he lay,
he felt that the time had come, and, no matter who and what her
relatives might be, here was the wife of his choice.
"Julia," he said in a low voice made husky with the emotion from which
he suffered.
She raised her eyes from the book and coloured, for it was the first
time he had called her by her Christian name.
"Have you thought," he said, "that I am going to-morrow?"
"I thought it was to-day," she said naively.
"To-day? Yes, I suppose it is to-day, but I cannot think of anything
but the one great fact that all this pleasant intercourse is to be at an
end."
Julia half rose.
"No, no," he cried, trying to reach her hand, and then uttering a
petulant ejaculation, for Mrs Hallam entered the room, looked eagerly
from one to the other, and came forward, while Julia gave her a
beseeching look, and went out.
For a few minutes neither spoke, and then Eaton placed a chair for Mrs
Hallam, and as she took it gazing at him searchingly, he hastily thought
over what he should say, and ended by saying something else, for in a
quick, blundering way, he cried:
"Mrs Hallam, I cannot say what I wish. You know how I love her."
Mrs Hallam drew a long sighing breath, full of relief, and her eyes
became suffused with tears.
"Yes," she said at last; "I felt that you did love her. Have you told
Julie so?"
"Not in words," he cried. "She disarms me. I want to say so much, but
I can only sit and look. But you will give your consent?"
"Have you thought all this over?" said Mrs Hallam gravely. "You know
everything--why we came here?"
"Yes, yes," he cried quickly. "I know all. I have known it from your
first landing."
"Such a union would not be suitable for you," she said gravely.
"Not suitable! Mrs Hallam, I am not worthy of your child. But you are
playing with me," he cried, his words coming fast now. "You will not
oppose it. You see I know all. Give me your consent."
She sat looking at him in silence for some moments, and then laid her
hand in his.
"Yes," she said. "If Julie loves you I will not withhold my consent."
"And Mr Hallam, may I speak to him now? Of course he will not refuse
me. You will tell him first. And Julia, where is she?"
In his eagerness his words came hurriedly, and he caught Mrs Hallam's
hands to his lips and kissed them.
"I will fetch Julie here," she said gently, and with a strange look of
repose coming over her troubled face.
She left the room and sought her child, who looked at her wonderingly.
"Come," she said with her voice sounding broken and strange; "Mr Eaton
wishes to speak to you."
"Mother!" exclaimed Julia, shrinking.
At that moment they heard Hallam's steps as he passed across the hall.
Mrs Hallam's countenance changed, and she shuddered.
"Come," she said; "you are not afraid of him?"
"Of Mr Eaton? Oh, no," cried Julia with animation; "but--"
"Hush, my child! I will not leave you. Hear what he has to say before
you speak."
Julia's eyes seemed to contract, and there was a shrinking movement, but
directly after she drew herself up proudly, laid her hand in her
mother's, and suffered herself to be led into the room.
"At last!" cried Eaton, flushing with pleasure. "Julie, I dare speak to
you now. I love you with all my heart."
He stopped short, for the window was darkened by the figure of Stephen
Crellock, who looked in for a moment, and then beckoned with his hand to
some one in the verandah. Hallam came forward looking flushed and
angry, and the two men entered the room.
"We are just in time," said Crellock with a half laugh, but with a
savage flash of the eye at Eaton. "Mr Lieutenant Eaton is bidding the
ladies good-bye."
Eaton gave him an indignant look, and turned to Hallam.
"Mr Hallam," he said proudly, "Mr Crellock is wrong. I have been
speaking to Mrs Hallam and--"
"Mr Crellock is right," said Crellock in a voice of thunder, "and Mr
Eaton is wrong. He is saying good-bye; and now, Robert Hallam, will you
tell him why?"
"Yes," said Hallam firmly; "Mr Eaton should have spoken to me, and I
would have explained at once that Mr Stephen Crellock has proposed for
my daughter's hand, and I have promised that she shall be his wife."
"But this is monstrous!" cried Eaton furiously. "Julie, I have your
mother's consent. You will be mine?"
Julia looked at him pityingly and shook her head.
"Speak! for heaven's sake, speak!" cried Eaton.
"No," she said in a low pained voice. "You have mistaken me, Mr Eaton.
I could never be your wife."
Eaton turned to Mrs Hallam to meet her agonised, despairing eyes, and
then without a word he left the room.
For the blow had fallen; the shadow Millicent Hallam had seen athwart
her daughter's life had assumed consistency, and as the thought of her
own fate came with its dull despairing pain, she caught Julia to her
breast to protect her from Crellock, and faced him like some wild
creature standing at bay in defence of her young.