It was the first time that Lady Mildred had left her room since the
birth of her child and she was lying on the couch which had been drawn
close to the fire. Her sister, Lady Ethel, was standing by her side and
regarding her with an amused smile.
“I don’t quite understand this husband of yours, for he doesn’t live
up to his reputation. I have been with you for a fortnight and my eyes
have not been shut, my dear. I always understood that John was a very
modern financier, but from what I have seen he might be in training for
a parson,” Lady Ethel said laughingly.
“John is not an easy man to understand, but I have never noticed any
tendency towards religion,” Lady Mildred answered.
“Don’t you know that Mr. Drake—a clergyman from the East End—takes up
his residence here to-day?”
“John did mention that some one was coming to stay with us, but surely
he does not intend that the parson should be a fixture?” Lady Mildred
said with a frown.
“That’s what I gather, and I’m quite sure that there’s some mystery
about. Your worthy husband and Mr. Drake are always talking together in
the library, and when I make an appearance, the subject, whatever it
is, is quickly dropped.”
“What sort of a man is this Mr. Drake?” Lady Mildred asked musingly.
“Oh, he’s all right, for he doesn’t thrust religion down your throat.
In fact, I’m always forgetting he’s in the Church and I’m afraid that
at times he’s rather shocked by some of my remarks. But I like him.”
There was a knock at the door and a nurse entered, carrying in her arms
the baby. “Let me have him. I’ll be very careful,” Lady Ethel cried
eagerly.
With great gentleness she took the sleeping child and sat down on the
couch beside her sister, while the nurse, at a nod from her mistress,
left the room.
The young girl, radiantly beautiful, crooned a lullaby and she did not
hear the door open to admit John Gaunt and Edward Drake.
“May we come in, Mildred?” the former asked quietly, and his wife
smiled in reply. “This is Mr. Drake,” Gaunt continued. “I want you to
like him.”
She looked up and her eyes quickly scrutinized this new friend of her
husband, and the examination apparently satisfied her, for she held out
her hand and spoke graciously.
“I am glad to know you, Mr. Drake. My sister was just speaking of you.”
Drake longed to know what Lady Ethel had said, and he was aware that
there was mischief in the latter’s eyes, as he murmured his thanks to
Lady Mildred for her welcome.
“You must not stay up too long, dear,” Gaunt said anxiously, and Lady
Mildred flushed slightly at the concern in his voice.
During these last few days a feeling of embarrassment had sprung up
between husband and wife, and there had been no intimate talk between
them. Lady Mildred was conscious of a shyness in Gaunt’s presence that
she could not understand while he was determined to take no risks,
but to be patient until he was absolutely certain of the state of her
feelings towards him.
“Have you given orders to get the yacht ready?” Lady Mildred asked
suddenly.
“Not yet, for I find that I sha’n’t be able to leave England for a
month or two,” he answered hurriedly.
“Of course, if your business is so pressing, I should not think of
asking you to make any sacrifice,” she answered, but he could see that
she was hurt by his reply.
But it was one of the disabilities of the fulfillment of his vow, that
he could not leave England until many things had been done, and when he
spoke his tone was apologetic.
“My hands are tied for a while. I have no choice, Mildred, or I would
not hesitate to go at once. If you wish, the yacht shall be got ready
and you can take your sister with you for company until I can join you.”
“You are very good, but I don’t think that I am very keen on going.
After all it would have been rather dull—just you and I,” she answered
coldly.
Lady Ethel took the baby back to the nurse and a few moments later
Drake excused himself with the plea that he would finish his unpacking.
“Why have you brought that man to live with us?” Lady Mildred asked
when she was alone with her husband.
“I like him,” Gaunt answered emphatically.
“Yes. But that is not an answer to my question.”
“Have you any objection? If so, I can very quickly alter the
arrangement.”
“No. I don’t wish that. You have the right to ask any friend you wish
to your house.”
“If you dislike the idea, I will——”
“No—no. You misunderstand me,” she interrupted him hastily. “I was only
thinking that it was a little strange that you should make a clergyman
a member of our family. I have never noticed that you were religiously
inclined,” she wound up drily.
“Mildred, dear, will you be patient with me? It is my intention to make
a great change in my life, and I want your help and sympathy.”
A look of surprise swept over her face.
“Surely you haven’t lost all your money, or anything dreadful of that
kind?” she cried.
“No. But even if I had, you would be quite safe. Your settlement was
a quarter of a million, and that can never be touched,” he answered
grimly.
“May I ask the reason of the change you propose?”
“First of all, I shall give up business in the City. As soon as
possible I shall retire from all the companies in which I am
interested, and shall invest my capital in gilt edged securities that
are easily realized. But a great deal of this capital I intend to
use, and it is probable that in a few months’ time I shall be only a
moderately wealthy man.”
Lady Mildred had listened with eager attention, and was evidently very
puzzled by the announcement.
“It is certain that you can do as you like with your money. As you
say, I and the child are provided for by the settlement,” she remarked
frigidly.
Gaunt was silent and there was a hesitating look in his eyes for he was
wondering if it were possible to tell his wife of the vow that he had
made; but it was certain that she would not understand, and so the idea
was quickly abandoned.
“Mildred, I had hoped that we were going to be better friends,” he said
impulsively.
“Is that possible, John? I think we are a model couple for I cannot
remember that we have ever quarrelled,” she answered nervously.
“I wish that you cared for me sufficiently—to quarrel. I sometimes
wonder if you suspect how much I love you. A few days ago—when you were
so ill—I imagined that, that you loved me even as I love you.”
“My dear, I am afraid that you are growing sentimental. Really, John,
you are full of surprises. Of course I love you.”
Their eyes met, and his were filled with so great a passion that she
grew afraid and rose quickly.
“I am very tired, and the doctor said that I must not overdo it. I
think I will retire,” she said hastily.
Gaunt proffered his arm and together they walked in silence to her
room, at the door of which she dismissed him with a smile. He went to
the library, and sat down to think over what had taken place. It was
certain that Lady Mildred had been hurt by his refusal to set off on
the yacht at once, and he cursed the necessity of refusal, but there
was no alternative if he was to keep faith.
These last few days had revealed to him some of the difficulties that
lay before him, and for the moment he was dismayed, but it was typical
of the man that there was not even a temptation to turn aside from the
course that he had mapped out.
His reverie was interrupted by the entrance of Drake and Lady Ethel,
both of whom were in the best of spirits, for they were chatting
together gaily and it seemed to Gaunt that the man whom he now called
his father confessor was enjoying himself thoroughly.
“Mr. Drake, I will play you a hundred up,” said Lady Ethel.
“I can’t play billiards,” Drake replied ruefully.
“Then it’s time you learned and I will teach you.”
“I shall be delighted,” he answered.
Gaunt looked after him, and then called out.
“Drake, I want to have a long chat after dinner, so please don’t make
any promise to amuse this young lady,” he said drily.
A slight flush came to Drake’s face as he answered quietly.
“I shall be at your service, Mr. Gaunt.”
And Lady Ethel threw him a glance that was full of mischief.