DICK HEARS STRANGE NEWS
"Good mornin', sir."
The porter touched his cap and looked at Dick curiously.
"Good morning, Wheelright. You are here still?"
"Yes, sir. They took the other chap, and left no one in his place, so to
speak. So me and the stationmaster have had to do everything. I was sort
of superannuated, so to speak, when you was 'ere, so I had to take on my
old job when Ritter went. However, I'd 'ear that he'll soon be back."
"Yes, the boys are coming home now."
"And a good job, too. Not but what me and the stationmaster have carried
on, so to speak, and I'm as good a man as ever I was."
Dick remembered old Wheelright well. He did odd jobs at the station
during his short stay at Wendover Park, and was known among the people
in the neighbourhood as "Old So-to-speak." He was also noted as an
inveterate gossip.
"Comin' down to live 'ere again, so to speak?" he queried, looking at
Dick curiously.
"No," replied Dick. "Just paying a short visit. I shall be returning by
the 4.20 at the latest."
Wheelright shuffled on at Dick's side. He was much tempted to ask him
further questions, but seemed afraid.
"You don't know where--where Squire Riggleton is, I suppose, sir?
"Why do you ask that?"
"I was wondering, that's all. There's been a good deal of talk about
him, so to speak. Some say he was took for the army just the same as if
he hadn't sixpence. I have heard he was took prisoner by the Germans,
too. But some people _will_ talk. Have you heard 'bout his being killed,
sir?"
"No, I never heard that."
"Ah." He looked at Dick questioningly, and then ventured further. "He
didn't do hisself much credit as a squire," he added.
"Indeed."
"No, there was nice carryings on, so I've heard. But then some people
will talk. However, there's no doubt that Mrs. Lawson, who had her two
daughters as servants there in your day, took them both away. It was no
place for respectable Christians to live, she said."
Dick made no reply. He had just come by train, and was the only
passenger who alighted. Old Wheelright immediately recognised him. He
did not feel altogether at ease in listening to him while he discussed
his cousin, but was so interested that he let him go on talking. The
truth was that Dick did not know why he was there, except that he had
obeyed the command he had heard when walking from King's Cross. As he
stood there that day he was not sure whether he had heard a voice or
whether it was only an impression. But the words haunted him, and he
felt he could do no other than obey. Now he was here, however, he did
not know where to go, or what to do. He felt sensitive about going to
the house which he had thought was his, and asking for admission. The
action would call up too many painful memories. And yet he did not like
going back without once again seeing the home that had meant so much to
him.
"You know that people have talked a lot about _you_, sir?"
"I dare say."
"And everybody was sorry when you left. It was all so funny. Young
Riggleton he came to the Hare and Hounds, and told the landlord all
about it."
"Indeed."
"Yes. I did hear that the London lawyers called him over the coals for
talking so much, so to speak. But some people will talk. However, as I'd
say, 'twasn't the lawyer's business. If Riggleton liked to talk, that's
his business. Still I s'pose he had a drop of drink in him, or p'r'aps
he mightn't a' done it. He told the landlord that he'd offered you a
good job if you'd stay, but as the landlord said, 'How could you expect
a gentleman like Mr. Faversham to stay as a servant where he'd been
master?' I suppose he did make the offer, sir?"
"Is the same housekeeper at Wendover?" asked Dick, not noticing
Wheelright's questions.
"Oh yes, bless you, sir, yes. I've been told she gave notice to leave
like the other servants; but Riggleton went away instead. He said he
couldn't stand living in a cemetery. That's what he called Wendover,
sir. He came back a few times, but only for a day or two. From what I
hear he hasn't showed his face there for years. All the same, it's kept
in good repair. I suppose the London lawyer do see to that."
The old man went on retailing the gossip of the neighbourhood, but
beyond what I have recorded he said little that interested Dick. After
all, why should he care about stories concerning Anthony Riggleton, or
pay attention to the scandalous tales which had been afloat? He had no
doubt but that Mr. Bidlake would have given him all information about
his cousin, if he had called and asked him; but he had not gone.
He made his way along the country lanes, scarcely seeing a single soul.
He was angry with himself for coming, and yet he knew that he had not
been able to help himself. He was there because he had been drawn there
by an irresistible impulse, or because he was under the power of
something, or someone whom he dared not disobey.
The day was dark and cloudy, and the air was dank and cold. The trees
were leafless, not a flower appeared, and the whole countryside, which
had once appeared to him so glorious, now seemed grim and depressing.
"Of course, I'm a fool," he muttered savagely, but still he trudged
along until he came to the lodge gates. How proud he had been when he
had first seen them! How his heart had thrilled at the thought that all
he saw was his own, his very own! But now he had no right there. He
might have been the veriest stranger.
He had carefully avoided the entrance near which old Hugh Stanmore
lived. He did not want the old man to know of his visit.
He was altogether unnoticed by the people who lived in the lodge, and a
few seconds later was hurrying up the drive. Yes, in spite of the
winter, in spite of the leafless trees, the place was very beautiful.
The noble avenue under which he was walking was very imposing, the
rhododendron, and a dozen other kinds of shrubs relieved the wintry
aspect. Besides, the woods were so restful, the fine park lands were the
finest he had ever seen.
And he had thought they were all his. He for a short time had been
master of everything!
Suddenly the house burst on his view, and with a cry, almost like a cry
of pain, he stood still, and looked long and yearningly. No wonder he
had loved it. It was all a country home should be.
And it might have been his! If he had obeyed Romanoff; but no; even then
he felt thankful that he had not yielded to the man who tempted him.
For a moment he thought of turning back. It would be too painful to go
and ask for permission to go in. But he did not turn back. As if urged
on by some unseen power he made his way towards the entrance.
He had an eerie feeling in his heart as he approached the steps. He
called to mind his first visit there, when he had asked the lawyer if he
saw anything. For a moment he fancied he saw the outline of a shadowy
form as he saw it then. But there was nothing. The grey stone walls,
half hidden by ivy, stood before him as they stood then, but that
wondrous face, with pitiful pleading eyes, was not to be seen.
He felt half disappointed at this. He could understand nothing, but he
had a feeling that it was the form of someone who loved him, someone
sent to protect him.
At first he had fought the idea. He had told himself that he was too
matter-of-fact, that he had too much common sense to think of an optical
illusion as something supernatural; but as event after event took place
he could not help being possessed by the thought that he was under the
guardianship of something, someone who watched over him, helped him. He
never spoke about it to anyone; it was too sacred for discussion.
But there was nothing. He heard no voice, saw no form, and a feeling
like disappointment crept into his heart. Dick Faversham was not a
morbid fellow, and he had a feeling of dislike for anything like
occultism. As for spiritualism, in the ordinary sense of the word, it
made no appeal to him. But this was different. Somehow he had a kind of
consciousness that the spirit world was all around him, and that the
Almighty Beneficence used the inhabitants of that spirit world to help
His children.
No, there was nothing. His visit had been purposeless and vain, and he
would find his way back to the station. Then suddenly the door opened,
and the old housekeeper appeared.
"It is, it _is_ Mr. Faversham!"
But he did not speak. A weight seemed on his lips.
"Come in, sir, come in."
Before he realised what had taken place he stood in the entrance hall,
and the door closed behind him.
"Are you come for good?"
The housekeeper's voice was tremulous with excitement, and her eyes were
eagerly fastened on his face.
Dick shook his head. "No, I'm only here for a few minutes."
"But he's dead."
"Who's dead?"
"That man. The man Riggleton. Haven't you heard about it?"
"No, I've not heard."
"But there were rumours, and I thought you'd come to tell me they were
true. Oh, I am sorry, so sorry. I should love to have you here as master
again. It was such a joy to serve you. And that man, he nearly drove me
mad. He brought bad people here. He filled the house with a lot of low
men and women. And there were such goings on. I stood it as long as I
could, and then I told him I must leave the house at once. So did
several of the servants. He begged me to stop, he offered to double my
wages, but I told him I must go, that I was a respectable woman, and had
served only gentry who knew how to behave themselves. Then he said he
would leave himself, and he persuaded me to stay on. Didn't you hear,
sir?"
"No, I did not hear. I went away to the North of England."
"Oh, there were such stories. I suppose he threw away a fortune in
London."
"Is he there now?" asked Dick.
"I don't know. I asked Mr. Bidlake, but he would tell me nothing. The
last I heard was that he was forced into the army, and was killed."
"How long was that ago?"
"Several months now."
"And you've heard nothing since?"
"No, sir; nothing."
"Well, I will go now."
"But you'll stay for lunch? I'm not stinted in any way, and Mr. Bidlake
sends me a liberal allowance for the expenses of the house. I can easily
manage lunch, sir, and it would be such a joy to me."
"You are very kind, and I appreciate it very much; but I really
couldn't--after what took place. I'll go to the Hare and Hounds and have
some bread and cheese."
"Couldn't you, sir? I'm so sorry, and it's a long way to Lord
Huntingford's."
"Yes, of course, that's out of the question."
"But you must have lunch somewhere, and you couldn't go to the Hare and
Hounds."
"Oh yes, I could. I dare say Blacketter would give me some bread and
cheese. That will be all I shall need."
The housekeeper began to rub her eyes. "It's just awful," she sobbed.
"To think that you who were master here, and whom we all liked so much,
should have to go to a place like that. But I know. Mr. Stanmore is at
home; he'll be glad to welcome you there."
"Mr. Stanmore is at home, is he?"
"Yes, sir. He called here yesterday, and Miss Beatrice is at home too.
They were both here. Mr. Stanmore brought Sir George Weston over to see
the house."
"Sir George Weston?" and Dick felt a strange sinking at his heart as he
heard the words. "I don't seem to remember the name."
"He's from the west, sir, from Devonshire, I think. It has been said
that he came to see Miss Beatrice," and the housekeeper smiled
significantly.
"You mean----"
"I don't know anything, sir; it may be only servants' gossip. He's said
to be a very rich man, and has been serving in Egypt. Some say that he
came to discuss something about Egypt with Mr. Stanmore; but it was
noticed that he was very attentive to Miss Beatrice."
"He's been staying at the cottage, then?"
"For nearly a week, sir."
"Is he there now?"
"I don't know, sir. All I know is that he was here with them yesterday.
Mr. Stanmore brought a letter from Mr. Bidlake authorising me to show
them over the house."
"Is Sir George a young man? You said he was in the army, didn't you?"
Dick could not understand why his heart was so heavy.
"About thirty, I should think, sir. Yes, I believe he had a high command
in our Egyptian army. He's a great scholar too, and Mr. Stanmore said
that this house was the finest specimen of an Elizabethan house that he
knew of. A very pleasant gentleman too. It's not my business, but he'd
be a good match for Miss Beatrice, wouldn't he? Of course Mr. Stanmore
belongs to a very good family, but I suppose he's very poor, and Miss
Beatrice has hardly a chance of meeting anyone. You remember her, sir,
don't you? She was little more than a child when you were here, but
she's a very beautiful young lady now."
The housekeeper was fairly launched now, and was prepared to discuss the
Stanmores at length, but Dick hurried away. He would have loved to have
gone over the house, but he dared not; besides, in a way he could not
understand, he longed to get into the open air, longed to be alone.
"I hope, oh, I do hope that something'll happen," said the housekeeper
as he left the house; but what she did not tell him.
A little later Dick found himself on the drive leading to Hugh
Stanmore's cottage. He had not intended to take this road, but when he
realised that he was in it, he did not turn back. Rather he hurried on
with almost feverish footsteps.
Sir George Weston had been spending a week at the cottage, had he? Why?
Was it because he was an Egyptologist, and interested in Hugh Stanmore's
previous researches, or was he there because of Beatrice, as the
servants' gossip said? It was nothing to him, but he had an overwhelming
desire to know. Was Beatrice Stanmore a beautiful girl? She had not
appealed to him in this light when her grandfather brought her to see
him months before; but girls often blossomed into beauty suddenly.
Still, wasn't it strange that Weston should stay at the cottage a week?
Of course he would not call. He was simply taking the longer road to the
station. Yes, he could plainly see the house through the trees, and----
"Is that Mr. Faversham? Well, this is a surprise; but I _am_ glad to see
you."
It was old Hugh Stanmore who spoke, while Dick in a strangely nervous
way took the proffered hand.
"Come to look at your old house, eh? I see you've come from that
direction."
"Yes, I have been--talking with my old housekeeper," he stammered.
"And you've never been here before since--you left?"
Dick shook his head.
"Well, well, life's a strange business, isn't it? But come in, my dear
fellow. You're just in time for lunch."
Dick began to make excuses, but the other refused to listen, and they
entered the cottage together.
"I'm afraid I couldn't presume upon your kindness so far."
"Kindness! Nonsense. Of course you must. Besides, I see that you are a
Member of Parliament, and a Labour Member too. I must talk with you
about it. Lunch will be on the table in five minutes."
"You are sure I shouldn't be bothering you?" He had an overwhelming
desire to stay.
"Bother! What bother can there be? I'm only too delighted to see you.
Come in."
They entered the cottage together.
"Oh, by the way," went on Hugh Stanmore, as they entered a cosy
sitting-room, "let me introduce you to Sir George Weston."
A strikingly handsome man of about thirty rose from an arm-chair and
held out his hand. He was in mufti; but it was impossible to mistake him
for anything but a soldier. Head erect, shoulders squared, and a
military bearing proclaimed him to be what he was.
"Glad to see you, Mr. Faversham," said Sir George heartily "I suppose
you've come down to see----" He stopped abruptly. He felt he had made a
_faux pas_.
"It's all right," said Dick with a laugh. He felt perfectly at ease now.
"Yes, I came to see the old place which years ago I thought was mine.
You've heard all about it, I've no doubt?"
"Jolly hard luck," sympathised Sir George. "But anyhow you----"
"Ah, here's Beatrice," broke in Hugh Stanmore. "Beatrice, my dear,
here's an old friend dropped in to lunch with us. You remember Mr.
Faversham, don't you?"
The eyes of the two met, and then as their hands met Dick's friendly
feeling towards Sir George Weston left him. He could not tell why.