_Wherein our Hero comes into a Wide Heritage_
The sunny morning was well spent, but Noll was pacing restlessly up and
down his little bedroom at the hotel. His breakfast, scarce tasted, lay
on a tray at the foot of his bed. His design of finding Betty before
he discovered himself to his own people threatened to be baulked; and
defeat fretted his impatient will. So he paced--leopard-like--when
there came a tap at his door, and the maid screamed through the panels
that a gentleman waited upon him below.
When Noll, descending the stairs, entered the dingy sitting-room of the
little hotel, an old gentleman rose to meet him; and Noll found himself
in the presence of the best and most loyal friend his house knew, or
was destined to know--the head of the legal firm of Overshaw.
“You must be Oliver Baddlesmere,” said the old lawyer--“you are so like
your mother;” and the courtesies passed.
“I am the family lawyer,” said he simply. “Your mother told me you were
in Paris--but in Paris I was given your address at Mr. Netherby Gomme’s
here in town. I gathered therefore that you had reasons for your family
not knowing your address.”
“Yes,” said Noll.
“I trust you have no engagements to-day, Mr. Noll.”
“I have a serious business, but it must wait a day if you can show
me the reason for urgency,” said Noll. “For I am baffled, and have
found no clue. I am baffled in a search. I have lost my wife,” he said
simply--“and must find her.”
The old eyes grew serious, then twinkled.
“That is the first time I have heard a sentiment of duty from a
Ffolliott--from the head of your house,” he said.... “And I am an old
man.”
Noll went and looked out of the window:
“Why drag in the Ffolliotts?” he asked wearily.
“Your mother came into the title and estates three days ago,” said the
lawyer.
There was a long pause.
At last Noll said hoarsely:
“I must find Betty.”
The old lawyer smiled inwardly.
Noll brooded for awhile:
“I shall suffocate in this dingy place,” said he. “Let us go out to St.
James’s Park--we can talk there in the fresh air--and I love the place.”
They walked by Charing Cross and Pall Mall to St. James’s Park, and
thus, and amidst the laughter of children, Noll heard that he had come
near to the great responsibilities of his manhood.
The grassy place about him teemed with sweet associations of Betty;
and his mind kept straying away from the recital of his fortune and
the duties that had come to him to the rustle of sweet-scented ghostly
skirts that swept the grass and the fragrance of a girl’s dainty being.
And the old lawyer, shrewd man of the world, suspected it, and was glad
of it....
The old gentleman arose, and put his last questions:
“Oh, another point, before we part--your cousin wronged a young
girl--indeed, he wronged several--and deserted them. What do you wish
to be done?”
He looked keenly at the young fellow before him.
“I, as my mother will do, accept the burdens of my heritage with the
honours,” said the young fellow--“the debts with the credit.” He smiled
faintly. “I am afraid I am not a man of fashion.”
“You wish the girl provided for?”
Noll nodded:
“It is only in common honour,” he said. “I wish I could wholly blot out
the damage. My--wife--would have had it so.”
The old gentleman put his hand on the young fellow’s shoulder:
“Oliver,” said he--“you are bringing more to your house than it is
bringing to you.... Good-bye!”