A few weeks had elapsed since Alfred Rayner had spurned the searchlight
which might have shown him some of the plague spots of his own heart.
They had proved very trying weeks in the house in Clive's Road. Hester
was striving to be tactful and tender, but her husband's wayward
outbursts of temper made things very hard for her, and even outsiders
began to mark the change in her looks.
"The Madras climate is already beginning to tell on Mrs. Rayner! Her
bloom has been short-lived, but I expect she will soon be carried off to
the hills and get her good looks restored at Ooty," were the remarks
passed from lip to lip, but none divined the true cause of the young
wife's weary mien.
In official circles the yearly migration to the hills had already begun.
The Governor and his suite had departed, and the constant succession of
gaieties were over for the season. This indeed proved a relief to
Hester, but it threw her husband more on his own resources, which was
threatening to prove disastrous. He now habitually lounged at the Club
and frequented card-playing resorts, returning late, often morose and
self-accusing. His moods, whatever they were, always reacted on his
wife, who was indeed learning patience through suffering.
One evening, however, he came home with an air of buoyancy which was now
very unusual to him. He had hardly alighted from his mail-phaeton when
he hurried to Hester, saying eagerly:
"I've got a project to unfold, my dear! What do you say to a jaunt to
Calcutta? You're looking pale. It is warming up here in this southern
hole. Three days at sea will do you a world of good, not to speak of a
jolly holiday in Calcutta!"
"But, Alfred, this is surely all very sudden! Are you really thinking of
a voyage all the way to Calcutta?" faltered Hester, whose breath was
almost taken away by her husband's eagerness.
"Of course I am, and do you suppose I'd leave you all alone here? The
trip will do you ever so much good--break the monotony that creeps over
one like a fungus in this humdrum place. I've just written to accept
Melford's invitation, so there's no drawing back now. You remember he
brought out his bride the steamer after ours? It's some weeks since he
wrote asking us to pay them a visit. It didn't seem to me possible then,
but I've made up my mind to take the step now. The truth is, I have a
desire to interview the reigning partner of my father's old firm,
Truelove Brothers. My allowance comes to me with exemplary regularity,
it is true, but it may be they owe me a much larger sum than I get. At
all events, being a minor no longer, it's high time I should be
investigating these matters for myself. So pack up, my darling, and
let's have a second honeymoon on the ocean's breast!"
The proposal had many attractions for Hester. Not that she resented the
alleged monotony of life on the plains of India as some around her were
continually complaining they did, but truly there had been a monotony of
jars and frets in her intercourse with her husband of late, and she
longed to break the cruel spell. He was looking ill and haggard, perhaps
the change of scene and the contact with old acquaintances might help
him; and she also looked forward to seeing the great city with its
historical associations.
With renewed hope she set about preparations for the journey. Soon all
the household at Clive's Road were sharing the exciting news that Dorai
and Dosani were going on a holiday, and the ayah and the dressing boy
were to accompany their master and mistress. Hester had written to Mrs.
Fellowes to tell her of the pending departure, and all preparations were
well advanced when her husband, returning on the following evening at a
late hour, announced with hesitating mien that he feared the sea journey
must be given up, that he was obliged for business reasons to include
Bombay in his trip, and five days in the train, which was then the
length of the journey, was unthinkable for such a frail creature as she
was. Moreover, he had that day met a friend whom he desired, also for
business reasons, to have as his companion, and he being a bachelor
preferred to travel _en garcon_. This they could do much more cheaply
than if they "were hum-bugged by wives," as his friend elegantly
expressed it.
So it came about that Hester's quick hope came to a sudden end. For a
little she felt keen disappointment, enhanced by the knowledge that in
her husband's change of plans there was a large element of wilful
selfishness. She accepted the decision without a murmuring word, and
felt almost surprised to perceive the strain of penitence which marked
his manner as she cheerfully busied herself in making all preparations
for his journey.
"I don't half like leaving you alone like this," he remarked on the
morning of his departure. "I've been thinking of a nice plan for you.
Suppose you write to Mrs. Fellowes and suggest a visit to her!"
Hester, however, declined to fall in with the proposal, assuring her
husband that she would find plenty to occupy her during her solitary
weeks. But on the same afternoon when Mrs. Fellowes called to say
farewell to her friend, and found to her astonishment that the hoped-for
holiday was abandoned as far as Hester was concerned, she at once
insisted that she should take up her abode at Royapooram during her
husband's absence. Thither Hester went on the day after Mr. Rayner's
departure to find rest and solace in the companionship of these good
friends.
Alfred Rayner's purpose in going to Calcutta was not very definite in
his own mind. He looked on it in the light of an experiment--a gamble.
It was, in fact, the need of money which urged him to try to gauge the
capacities of Truelove Brothers, and to make the attempt to bleed them
more heavily. Zynool's loan had tided him over a period, but financial
embarrassments were becoming pressing, and he decided to exhaust the
possibilities of help from the quarter from whence help had come with
such unfailing regularity longer than he could remember. It is true his
aunt had always volubly assured him that his allowance was all the firm
of Truelove Brothers had in store for him. But what were the assertions
of a woman like Aunt Flo, he thought with scorn, so ignorant, so
prevaricating, as he knew her to be. More than likely he had been up to
this date the victim of a cruel conspiracy to defraud him of his legal
rights as the son of one of the late partners of the firm. He had,
however, to remind himself that his recent endeavours to probe the
matter by a sharp query in a letter had elicited a firm though courteous
reply that the allowance which he received was the limit of his claim.
But now, since his financial condition was becoming desperate, unless
indeed he changed his whole scale of living, he had resolved to make the
attempt to sift the matter in person. The _dètour_ to Bombay might
indeed have been well dispensed with, and had only been yielded to at
the solicitation of one of the most worthless of his recent
acquaintances.
So it happened that when Alfred Rayner took his seat in the crowded
train _en route_ for Calcutta his purse was more empty than he liked to
contemplate. Prudence had even dictated that he should stoop to a seat
in a third-class carriage. He sat in a corner wedged in between closely
packed natives, his sun topee drawn over his eyes, the lower part of his
face covered by his pocket-handkerchief. But he could not shut his ears
to the discordant babel of voices round him, for every third-class
passenger in the East is nothing if not vociferous. His elegant person
was continually prodded by angular packages, his delicate nostrils, in
spite of all precautions, assailed by the most forbidding odours.
The journey seemed interminable. The slight refreshment he had been able
to secure as the train was in motion he could hardly eat in such
repulsive surroundings. At last the express swung into Howrah station,
but even then Rayner's gnawing discomfort was not at an end.
He had been congratulating himself that as he had not mentioned the hour
of his arrival, he would not be met at the station. But he reckoned too
much on Mr. Melford's ignorance of the time-table. On peering out of his
box-like carriage window, he caught sight of his friend in eager search
after his smart acquaintance of Piccadilly days, while that gentleman
lurked in a third-class carriage, choke full of natives.
Rayner decided that the only thing left for him to do was to secrete
himself in the grimy comer which he had longed to leave, till he could
guarantee that his friend's back was turned. When that moment arrived he
jumped with alacrity to the platform and hurried to report himself.
"Ah, here you are, Rayner--thought you were going to cheat us too! My
wife and I are awfully sorry Mrs. Rayner's heart failed her at the last
moment. Carrie has been making great moan about her disappointment since
your letter came. Stupid of me not to have caught sight of you before! I
thought I searched every carriage!"
"Oh, I think I was at the far end. But here I am, precious glad to be
out of that beastly train."
"Sorry you haven't been comfortable. Carrie and I thought we were in the
lap of luxury on our trip to Bombay. We thought the carriages most grand
and comfortable, but you always were a fastidious chap, Rayner! I only
hope you'll deign to be satisfied with our humble abode. I warn you it's
up two pairs of stairs, good enough rooms when one reaches them, that of
course is a necessity out here. But I hope before long we may be able
to transfer ourselves to a house with a compound," said the young
husband, with a cheerful smile.
"Doing a roaring trade, no doubt, Melford? Wish I'd gone in for being a
merchant. Law is poor pay and no pudding!"
"Not in your case evidently, Rayner. Tresham was telling me what a
palatial residence you have in Madras, and what fine entertainments you
give--and of your equipages galore. Our one buggy is all we've been able
to muster as yet. But I'm saving up for an evening carriage for Carrie.
I think I may see my way to that before the hot weather fairly sets in.
But you and Mrs. Rayner will be taking flight to the Neilgherries soon,
I suppose?"
"Yes, Ooty will see us before long no doubt. My wife is feeling the heat
badly already. Her English roses that Madras has raved about all the
season are vanishing."
"Oh, yes, I heard about those said roses from Tresham. He reported that
Mrs. Rayner is quite the prettiest woman in Madras, and charming
besides. You can imagine how eager Carrie and I were to see her, and
what a disappointment your wire and then your letter was!"
"Yes, I couldn't give details in my wire, but the fact is my wife is
devoted to a certain Mrs. Fellowes, the wife of Colonel Fellowes who
commands the Native Infantry Battalion in Madras just now. There's
nothing she loves so much as a visit to those people. She helps Mrs.
Fellowes with girls' meetings and things of that sort."
"Oh, does she! That would have been another bond with my wife. She has
got involved in good works, visits the Zenanas, and does what she
can----"
"Thankless business, I say, but it serves to keep our ladies out of
mischief, perhaps," said Rayner, with a shrug of his shoulders.
The gharry had now reached Ballygunge Road and drew up before the wide
entrance door of the Melford's flat.
"Think of being condemned to climb those horrid stairs when one comes
home dead beat!" muttered Mr. Rayner to himself, as he followed his host
up the long flight of steps.
The home of the Melfords, when reached, however, appeared, even to his
fastidious eyes, ample and even elegant. Its young mistress, though
without Hester's grace and beauty, was a sweet comely young matron with
the glow of health and happiness in her eyes. Her guest could discern
that her expression of regret over his wife's absence was genuine. A
twinge of remorse visited him when he recalled his action in the matter,
and it was quickened by the recollection of the discreditable record of
his days in Bombay. He winced to think of the follies for which he had
bartered his wife's chance of a pleasant holiday with this kind host and
hostess, and resolved that he would proceed with all haste to make the
most of his opportunities with Truelove Brothers, and try to secure a
larger share of their profits so that he might have more luxury to
shower upon her.
On confiding his hopes and plans to his host over a cheroot after
dinner, he was assured by him that the firm in question was an excellent
one.
"As sound as the Bank, by Jove! I think I'll leave the Madras High Court
and become a merchant!" exclaimed Mr. Rayner, his eyes dancing with
pleasure as he listened to the praise of Messrs. Truelove.
"I wonder you never thought of that open door before, Rayner," said Mr.
Melford between the puffs of his pipe.
"Be you sure I did. But that I should be a Madras barrister seemed the
goal of my aunt's ambition. She brought me up, you know. I fell into the
trap, being young and foolish; moreover, she always assured me that the
reigning partner, Mr. Fyson, was as hard as a nail, and that he would
never give me a bite of the plum."
"I've always thought Fyson a very good sort--straight man to deal with,"
remarked Melford musingly.
"Well, I shall have an opportunity of testing him to-morrow. I'm rather
looking forward to it," returned Rayner, brushing the ash from his
cheroot.
"So you're bent on business at once? I thought you might have come to my
office first, and then Carrie has a project for the afternoon--an
invitation to go up the Hoogly in a steam launch with friends. She
accepted for you, thinking you would enjoy it. I may manage to get off
for the afternoon too, and make one of the party. You're sure to enjoy a
trip on the river, Rayner."
"Yes, but business must come before pleasure! I certainly hope to do the
Calcutta sights later but Truelove Brothers call me first. But I won't
be the whole day with them. I hope I may be able to join the pleasure
trip in the afternoon."
"Of course you will! You can meet me at my office and we'll drive home
to tiffin together. My place isn't far from Truelove's. A tikka-gharry
will fetch you. You look a bit tired, Rayner! Suppose we turn in? Carrie
and I keep early hours."
"Thanks, I shan't object! I want to be fresh to-morrow. I say, Melford,
if I present a good front don't you think they may be so enamoured of me
that they will conclude the bargain at once, and the indenture of
partnership go forward without a hitch?"
"Not such an easy matter, Rayner," replied his host, shaking his head.
He being chief assistant in a good mercantile firm hoped one day if
fortune favoured him to become a small partner, but he knew too well the
obstacles to be overcome to be able to assure his friend of a speedy
success. He acknowledged that Rayner's close relationship with the
well-known firm put him on a favourable footing; and certainly Alfred
Rayner had an assertive air, the humble man meekly acknowledged, which
sometimes spelt success.