'But whatever made you do it, dearest?'
These words were addressed to Annie Emery on the glorious summer
evening which closed that glorious summer day, and they were addressed
to her by no other person than Powell Liversage. The pair were in the
garden of the house in Trafalgar Road occupied by Mr Liversage and his
mother, and they looked westwards over the distant ridge of Hillport,
where the moon was setting.
'Whatever made me do it!' repeated Annie, and the twinkle in her eye
had that charming cruelty which John had missed. 'Did they not deserve
it? Of course, I can talk to you now with perfect freedom, can't I?
Well, what do you THINK of it? Here for ten years neither one nor the
other does more than recognize me in the street, and then all of a
sudden they come down on me like that--simply because there's a
question of money. I couldn't have believed men could be so stupid--no,
I really couldn't! They're friends of yours, Powell, I know,
but--however, that's no matter. But it was too ridiculously easy to
lead them on! They'd swallow any flattery. I just did it to see what
they'd do, and I think I arranged it pretty well. I quite expected they
would call about the same time, and then shouldn't I have given them my
mind! Unfortunately they met outside, and got very hot--I saw them from
the bedroom window--and went away.'
'You mustn't forget, my dear girl,' said Liversage, 'that it was you
they quarrelled about. I don't want to defend 'em for a minute, but it
wasn't altogether the money that sent them to you; it was more that the
money gave them an excuse for coming!'
'It was a very bad excuse, then!' said Annie.
'Agreed!' Liversage murmured.
The moon was extremely lovely and romantic against the distant spire of
Hillport Church, and its effect on the couple was just what might have
been anticipated.
'Perhaps I'm sorry,' Annie admitted at length, with a charming grimace.
'Oh! I don't think there's anything to be SORRY about,' said Liversage.
'But of course they'll think I've had a hand in it. You see, I've never
breathed a word to them about--about my feelings towards you.'
'No?'
'No. It would have been rather a delicate subject, you see, with them.
And I'm sure they'll be staggered when they know that we got engaged
last night. They'll certainly say I've--er--been after you for the--No,
they won't. They're decent chaps, really; very decent.'
'Anyhow, you may be sure, dear,' said Annie stiffly, 'that _I_ shan't
rob them of their vile money! Nothing would induce me to touch it!'
'Of course not, dearest!' said Liversage--or, rather the finer part of
him said it; the baser part somewhat regretted that vile twelve
thousand or so. (I must be truthful.)
He took her hand again.
At the same moment old Mrs Liversage came hastening down the garden,
and Liversage dropped the hand.
'Powell,' she said. 'Here's John Hessian, and he wants to see you!'
'The dickens!' exclaimed Liversage, glancing at Annie.
'I must go,' said Annie. 'I shall go by the fields. Good night, dear
Mrs Liversage.'
'Wait ten seconds,' Liversage pleaded, 'and I'll be with you.' And he
ran off.
John, haggard and undone, was awaiting him in the drawing-room.
'Pow,' said he, 'I've had a fearful row with Bob, and I can't possibly
sleep in our house tonight. Don't talk to me. But let me have one of
the beds in your spare room, will you? There's a good chap.'
'Why, of course, Johnnie,' said Liversage. 'Of course.'
'And I'll go right to bed now,' said John.
An hour later, after Powell Liversage had seen his affianced to her
abode and returned home, and after his mother had gone to bed, there
was a knock at the front door, and Liversage opened to Robert Hessian.
'Look here, Pow,' said Robert, whose condition was deplorable, 'I want
to sleep here tonight. Do you mind? Fact is, I've had a devil of a
shindy with Jack, and Maggie's run off, and, anyhow, I couldn't
possibly stop in the same house with Jack tonight.'
'But what--?'
'See here,' said Robert. 'I can't talk. Just let me have a bed in your
spare room. I'm sure you mother won't mind.'
'Why, certainly,' said Liversage.
He lit a candle, escorted Robert upstairs, opened the door of the spare
room, gave the candle to Robert, pushed him in, said 'Good night,' and
shut the door.
What a night!