KIT TAKES A KNOCK
Although much rain falls at Netherdale, three or four days after Kit’s
return were fine, and he seized all the opportunity for enjoyment the
good weather gave. When the west wind curled the tarn Evelyn and he
went fishing; when the water shone like glass and motionless silver
clouds dotted the tranquil sky they picnicked in the heather, and Kit
felt he got nearer Evelyn than he had yet got. Sometimes she had
baffled him, and he sensed a reserve he could not break. Now she was
kind and frank.
For all that, he knew his mood was reckless and he doubted if he were
honest. He felt like a gambler betting on a chance he could not
estimate; he risked much, and if he lost he must pay. Moreover, for
him to lose might cost Evelyn something; but he felt she would brace
up. Kit knew she was not altogether romantic; he had remarked in her a
shrewdly practical vein. Anyhow, the splendid days were going, and he
resolved to take all they gave.
In fine weather, tea was served on the lawn at Netherhall, and Kit one
afternoon joined the group round the table under a tree. The soft
patter of the leaves was soothing and one heard the river splash. Kit,
sitting on a mossy bank, languidly looked about. Evelyn’s dress and
shady hat were white, but her hair was black. Kit saw her face in
profile and thought it cut the dark green background like a delicate
cameo. His sister faced him; Agatha’s skin was white and her clothes
were blue. One remarked her calm and quiet dignity. Mrs. Carson’s thin
face was rather pinched, and her clothes were old-fashioned, but
somehow one knew her important. Alan Carson’s red face harmonized with
his rough, belted coat and knickerbockers. He was obviously a country
gentleman; one knew that was all. Jasper and Ledward were in the
shadow, and Kit thought the old fellow exotic; his was another type.
In the background, flower borders, smooth grass, pastures, and shady
woods rolled down the valley to a blue and indistinct sweep of plain.
Kit felt the group and the landscape harmonized. The people were the
sort of people one reckoned to meet at an old-fashioned country house.
All but Jasper were marked by a cultivated serenity, and the serenity
had charm. Yet Kit knew they were not his sort, and he doubted if they
were Jasper’s. On a summer holiday he liked to be at Netherhall, but
his business was where men sweated by the furnaces and engines
throbbed. Then perhaps it was significant that Jasper’s chair was
outside the circle.
“You were not back for lunch, Kit,” said Mrs. Carson. “Were you
fishing?”
“The water was low and I went across the moor to Swinside Pike. At the
cairn I loafed and smoked. The heather was soft, the moor was red and
the sky was very blue. In the distance the sea shone and I thought
about the shipyard. On the whole, I was glad it was a long way off.”
“But you are a shipbuilder and must soon go back.”
Kit smiled. “You don’t indulge me much! At the cairn I tried to see
myself ruling an estate like Netherhall, and the picture was
attractive. After the shipyard, to get up when I wanted and go
shooting would be something fresh.”
“A landlord’s main occupation is to meet his bills,” Alan Carson
remarked. “The politicians sacrifice us to the manufacturers. They
want cheap food and low wages. Our part’s to pay the taxes.”
“Food is not cheap,” said Jasper. “You’re monopolists, and although
you ought to pay, you don’t pay all you ought. When iron goes up,
smelting companies build new furnaces and increased production cuts
the price. When corn goes up you can’t enlarge your farms; at all
events, you don’t. You’d like to stop competition and take your
profit.” He turned and gave Kit a smile. “You’re not the landlord type
and your chance of getting an estate is not good. It looks as if you
must stick to your proper business.”
“I must try, sir, but that’s another thing. Draftsmen are rather
numerous and shipbuilding is slack. Suppose the company lets me down?
Do you think you could get me a Canadian post?”
“It’s possible. Do you expect the company to let you down?”
“One doesn’t know when one’s luck may turn. Then sometimes I’m
ambitious, and ambitious Carsons go to Canada.”
“I don’t think Kit bothers where he goes. So long as he starts, he’s
satisfied,” Evelyn remarked.
“Oh, well,” said Kit, rather moodily, “if you’re resigned to go when
you’re forced to go, it’s something.”
Mrs. Haigh gave him a keen glance, and began to talk, but Kit was
quiet. The afternoon was hot and one got languid. Moreover, the post
would soon arrive, and he was anxious.
By and by a servant carrying some letters crossed the grass, and Mrs.
Carson gave Kit an envelope. He knew the company’s stamp, and when he
pulled out the letter his hand shook. Then for a few moments he looked
straight in front.
“Have the shipyard people called you back?” Ledward inquired, and
picked up a slip of paper. “You dropped something; it looks like a
check.”
“Thanks!” said Kit, and pushing the crumpled check into his pocket,
turned to the others. “I’m not going back. The letter states the
directors have no more use for me.”
Although his heart beat he was cool. He saw the blood come to Evelyn’s
skin, and then she turned her head. Agatha’s glance was steady, and
Kit knew her stanch. He thought Mrs. Haigh pondered; Mrs. Carson was
frankly annoyed.
“You’re rather theatrical, Kit, but perhaps you’d like to tell us
something more,” said Jasper, and beckoned Alan. “Let’s go for a
smoke.”
They crossed the grass to another bench, and Kit leaned against a tree
a few yards off. Alan awkwardly stuffed his pipe, and Kit saw he was
disturbed. Jasper’s look was inscrutable, and he gave Kit a cigarette.
Kit gave him the letter, and Jasper nodded.
“The secretary knows the rules. The company does not require your
services and he encloses a check for a month’s pay! Well, the
communication does not carry us very far.”
“There’s his check!” said Kit, and tore the form. “Perhaps I’m
extravagant, but I don’t see myself using their money.”
“Sometimes to let yourself go is expensive,” Jasper remarked.
“However, I imagined you were going to give us your confidence.”
Kit frowned and his pose got stiff. The lines of his athletic body
were youthful, but he faced the others steadily and his look was
stern. Alan was puzzled. He knew Kit’s cheerful carelessness, and had
thought to see him embarrassed, but the lad was marked by something of
Jasper’s calm. In fact, he looked like Jasper. Kit narrated his
interview with Colvin and Meredith. He saw Jasper was interested, but
that was all, and when he stopped the old fellow lighted a cigarette.
“Since it looks as if the company’s competitors copied the boiler, I
rather think Colvin’s annoyance is logical. You declared you had
nothing to do with it?”
“That is so, sir. I was some time at the yard, and I thought Colvin
ought to know me.”
“A big company’s manager does not take much for granted. You were
content with a plain denial? You did not try to indicate who was
accountable?”
Kit hesitated. He had said nothing about Blake and did not mean to do
so, but Jasper was very keen, and Kit saw he noted his hesitation.
“I don’t know, sir. Besides, it’s possible the plans were not copied.”
“Colvin does not seem to doubt,” said Jasper dryly. “You were rather
generous not long since!”
“It looks as if I were rash; but I didn’t reckon on your imagining I
used money I ought not have.”
“I imagined others might argue that a draftsman’s pay was small,”
Jasper rejoined, and gave Alan an ironical smile. “You agree it’s
possible?”
Alan’s face got red, for he knew Mrs. Carson would argue like that.
“I’d bet all I’ve got on Kit’s honesty!”
“Thank you,” said Kit, and gave him a grateful look.
“Well, I expect you have told us all you think it useful for us to
know,” Jasper remarked with some dryness. “In the morning I start for
a steelworks on the coast, and if you like I’ll look up Meredith. I
might induce him to make a fresh inquiry.”
Kit pondered. He had declared his innocence, and since he had engaged
to see Mabel out, he must be satisfied. A fresh inquiry might put
Colvin on Blake’s track. He dared not risk it, but the strain was
getting hard, and he was bothered by Jasper’s searching glance.
“If you want to see Meredith, I am willing; but if he agreed to take
me back, I would not go.”
“Then I suppose you have a plan?”
“That is so,” said Kit, and turned to Alan. “You are kind and trust
me, but others will not, and I mustn’t stay at Netherhall.”
“Netherhall’s your home, Kit. You must stay here until you get a
post.”
Jasper looked up. “You’re stanch, Alan, but perhaps you’re rash. Then
I doubt if Kit would get a post in England.”
“I shall not try,” said Kit. “As soon as I can find out about a boat,
I’ll start for Montreal.”
“Your plan’s a good one,” Jasper agreed. “I expect my engineering
friends in the Dominion would help——”
“You mustn’t ask them, sir. In the circumstances, all I want is for my
relations to leave me alone.”
Jasper shrugged. “Very well. I like your pluck.”
“My pluck’s not all you think,” said Kit and, turning to Alan, smiled,
a rather dreary smile. “I don’t dare face the others, and you might
inform my aunt. Then I think Mrs. Haigh ought to know.”
He went to the house. By and by he must enlighten Evelyn, but so long
as the others were about he could not talk to her, and he frankly
shrank from the interview. Although he could take a knock, to hurt
Evelyn was another thing.
Alan returned to the tea-table. When he arrived Evelyn and Agatha were
gone and Ledward went off. As a rule Ledward used some tact. Alan was
embarrassed, and he awkwardly narrated all he knew. In the meantime,
Mrs. Haigh saw Jasper in the shady path; he went slowly and his brows
were knit. Mrs. Haigh was keen, and she had some grounds to think the
grim old fellow would support his nephew. For all that, she imagined
Kit and the others doubted. Jasper Carson was rather baffling.
“I admit I am not very much surprised,” Mrs. Carson remarked when her
husband stopped. “Since Kit was called to the office, he has been
restless and moody, and I thought him anxious. Then, although he jokes
about his poverty, his presents were extravagant. One speculated where
he got the sum——”
“Do you imply my nephew took a bribe to cheat his employers?” Alan
asked.
Mrs. Carson smiled, a rather scornful smile. She was jealous, and she
had not wanted Kit at Netherhall.
“The company was cheated; but perhaps Kit has accounted for his
extravagance?”
“He got better pay.”
“I imagine the company pays when the pay is earned, and Kit’s money
melts.”
Mrs. Haigh looked up. She acknowledged Mrs. Carson’s importance, but
she had pondered, and she saw her part.
“One must not condemn Kit on the evidence we have,” she said.
“Besides, he declares he is innocent, and his word goes. I am
persuaded the company is not just, and I feel Kit’s friends ought to
support him.”
“If Kit will take my support, it’s his,” said Alan firmly.
Mrs. Carson colored and looked at Mrs. Haigh with annoyed surprise.
Mrs. Haigh got up and smiled.
“Frankness has some advantages, and now you know my point of view. But
Evelyn has gone, and I expect you and Mr. Carson have much to talk
about.”
She went off, and Mrs. Carson mused.
“I wonder——” she said. “All the same, if Marion allows Evelyn to be
entangled, she is a fool.”
Some time afterwards, Agatha came to Kit’s room. Kit stood by the
window, and when he turned his head she saw his forehead was wrinkled
and his mouth was tight. Agatha gave him a sympathetic glance.
“Of course, you did not sell the plans; but I suppose you cannot clear
yourself?” she said.
“There is no use in trying. Colvin’s determined to punish somebody,
and I admit it looks as if he had the proper man.”
“You have not yet told Evelyn. Are you afraid?”
Kit frowned. He knew Agatha did not want to hurt him, and as a rule
she had an object for her remarks. Yet she did hurt. Now he was broken
and done for, he acknowledged Evelyn was not for him, but he hated to
think his disgrace would daunt her.
“Evelyn is ruled by Mrs. Haigh, and her line is plain,” he replied.
“Yours is plain, Kit.”
“My part’s the conventional part, and I must play up. All the same, I
see another; to face the risks and take the plunge. However, there’s
no use in talking. I must think for Evelyn——”
“Sometimes a rash plunge pays; but I doubt if it would pay with
Evelyn. Evelyn is a charming girl, but she is not the sort to run much
risk. You must give her up, Kit.”
“I’ll try,” said Kit. “It’s going to be hard.”
Agatha touched him gently. “For you to see you were selfish and your
selfishness cost Evelyn much would be harder. You must take the knock.
There is no other plan.”
She went off, and Kit brooded. He thought Agatha did not urge him to
be generous because, in the circumstances, generosity, so to speak,
was conventional. Agatha did not follow old-fashioned rules, and she
was not daunted by a risk. She wanted him to give up Evelyn, but not
because others might think he ought. Agatha thought he ought. Well,
Kit agreed, and he tried for resignation.