If Una had been a queen visiting some distant part of her realm, more
elaborate preparations for her amusement could not have been made.
Not a day passed but Stephen had got some proposition for pleasuring,
and he never tired of hunting up some place to go.
One morning they would drive to some romantic and historic spot; another
there would be some flower show or _fete_, which he insisted upon them
seeing; on others, they would play lawn tennis in the now beautiful
grounds. The fame of the new Hurst had spread abroad, and those of the
county families who were in residence called at once, and dinner parties
were given and accepted. So the week glided by quickly, even to Una,
who reckoned time by the day on which she would see Jack.
Every morning there came a scrawl--Jack's handwriting was mysterious and
terrible--from him; in every letter he expressed his longing to see her,
and the hateful time he was having in town. But every letter had some
mention of Lady Bell; and it was evident that he spent most of his time
at Park Lane.
But Una was not jealous--she put away from her resolutely any feeling of
that kind.
"I am so glad that Lady Bell is in town, and that Jack has some place to
go to," she said to Mrs. Davenant.
And Mrs. Davenant smiled; but sighed at the same time. To her, as to
others, it seemed that Jack spent too much time in attendance upon the
great heiress.
Stephen's money flew, it was scattered about in every direction; but
still he was not popular. Men touched their hats, but they never smiled
as they had done at the old squire, and as they had done at Jack. There
was something about Stephen that the Hurst folk could not and would not
take to; and even while they were drinking with his money, they talked
of Master Jack and shook their heads regretfully.
And Stephen knew it, and hated them all; but most of all hated old
Skettle. It seemed as if the old man was ubiquitous; he was everywhere.
Stephen could not take a walk outside the grounds but he came upon the
old man; and, though Skettle always raised his hat and gave him
"Good-day," Stephen felt the small, keen eyes watching him. Of Hudsley
he had seen nothing.
At last the county papers announced the important fact that Lady
Earlsley had arrived at Earl's Court, and Una knew that in two days she
would see Jack.
That night Stephen was more attentive than ever. They had been dining
out at a neighbor's, and were sitting in the drawing-room, talking over
the evening. The prospect of Jack's coming had brought a glad light to
Una's eyes--a brighter color to her face. In two days she should see
him! In her happiness she felt amiable and tender to all around her,
and, for the first time, she responded to Stephen's unceasing devotion.
He had brought in from the new library a whole pile of books relating
to the county, and was showing and explaining the illustrations.
"That is Earl's Court," he said; "a beautiful place, isn't it? But Lady
Bell has several grander places than that."
"She is very rich," said Una.
"Very," he said, thoughtfully. "It's a pity that she does not marry."
Una smiled.
"She says that she will never marry," she said.
Stephen looked up.
"And yet a little while ago they were saying that she would be married
before the year was out."
"Indeed!" said Una.
"It would be a grand match for any one," said Stephen. "It would have
been a great match for him."
"For him?" said Una. "Who was it?"
Stephen started and looked embarrassed, as if he had made a slip of the
tongue.
"Well," he said, with a little, awkward laugh; "but--are you jealous?
Perhaps I ought not to tell tales out of school, though the affair is
off long ago, and he has made a happier choice."
Una put the fire screen on one side and looked at him calmly. He was
sitting almost at her feet. Mrs. Davenant was dozing in her accustomed
arm-chair.
"Of whom do you speak?" she asked.
Stephen hesitated, as if reluctant to reply.
"Well," he said, "it is mere gossip, of course, but gossip awarded the
great prize of the season to a near and dear friend of yours."
Una's heart beat fast. She guessed what was coming.
"Tell me," she said, in a low voice.
"Tut!" said Stephen, as if ashamed to retail such idle gossip.
"Well, they said that Jack meant to marry the great heiress."
"It is not true," Una said; but her color went, and left her quite pale
and cold.
"Of course not," said Stephen, cheerfully; "though I would not say but
there was some excuse for the rumor. Jack was a great deal at Park Lane
until he met--one who shall be nameless." And he looked up at her with
a smile. "Why, they went so far as to congratulate him," he said,
laughing as if at an excellent joke. "And indeed I think if Jack had
said 'Yes,' Lady Bell would not have said 'No.' So, you see, that you
have made a veritable conquest!"
And he laughed again.
But there was no answering smile on Una's pale face. It was not of Lady
Bell she thought, but of herself and Jack.
It was true she had stepped in between Jack and wealth and
prosperity--she, the penniless daughter of a woodman, had prevented his
marrying the great heiress and becoming the master of Earl's Court and
all the Earlsley wealth! A chill passed over her, and she raised the
screen to hide her face from Stephen's eye.
"Yes, it would have been a great match for Jack," he said,
carelessly--"it would have set him on his feet, as they say. But he is
still more fortunate." And he sighed.
Una rose.
"I think I will go up now," she said; and she went and woke Mrs.
Davenant.
Stephen escorted them to the head of the stairs, smiling as if nothing
had been said, and then went straight to the old library and rang the
bell.
It was understood that no one was to answer the library bell but
Slummers, and Slummers now appeared.
Stephen wrote two letters; one ran thus:
"MY DEAR MR. ROLFE:--Be kind enough to be at my chambers tomorrow
morning at eight o'clock."
The other was still more short; it was addressed to Mr. Levy Moss:
"Put on the screw at once."
Calmly and leisurely he put them in their envelopes, as if the fate and
happiness of two souls were not hanging upon them, and gave them to
Slummers.
"Take the morning express and deliver these yourself," he said, quietly.
"I shall follow you by the midday train. When you have done so, find Mr.
Newcombe and keep him in sight. You understand?"
"Quite, sir," said Slummers, and disappeared as silently as usual.