ALFRED'S LAST CHANCE.
It happened that on the day succeeding the fire Mr. David Sheldrake
purposely kept away from Soho. He was nettled at the treatment he had
received the previous evening, both from Lily and Lizzie, and he was
determined to show them that he was not to be trifled with. He knew
that Alfred would be uneasy at not seeing him, for a great race--the
City and Suburban--was to be run at Epsom the following week, and
Alfred's hopes hung upon the result. Alfred had begged for another
advance of money, and Mr. Sheldrake had promised to give it to him,
knowing that it would be returned to him through Con Staveley. "He
will be mad at not seeing me," thought Mr. Sheldrake, "and he will set
it down to the manner in which the girls behaved to me last night.
They will be sure to hear of it from him, and it will do them good.
At any rate, it will show them that it is a dangerous game to play
fast-and-loose with me." Mr. Sheldrake's vanity was wounded; he had
never taken so much pains with a girl as he had taken with Lily, and
here he was, after many months' attention and wooing, in the same
position as when he started. Time had been wasted, and money had been
thrown away; not much of the latter certainly--but the result
altogether was unsatisfactory. He would bring the matter to a climax;
he would close on Alfred, and send old Musgrave and Lizzie to the
right-about. He had them all in his power, and fear might accomplish
what fair words failed to do.
He did not hear of the fire until late in the following night. He
hastened to the spot, and found the house in ruins. It was quite
midnight before he ascertained where Lily had found refuge, and when
he learnt that they had gone to live in a house very near to that
occupied by Mr. Musgrave, he smiled complacently. "I could not have
hoped for anything better," he thought. Before noon the next day he
was at the house, overwhelming them with expressions of sympathy and
with offers of assistance, all of which were gently declined by Old
Wheels.
"We want for nothing, thank you," he said smilingly.
"But," urged Mr. Sheldrake somewhat coarsely, "I am told you were
burnt right out, and hadn't time to save a stick."
"You were told right; we did not save a stick."
"Then you want a friend," persisted Mr. Sheldrake.
"We did," said Old Wheels, "and one came--the best of friends."
Burning to know who this best of friends was, Mr. Sheldrake put the
question direct, which Old Wheels parried by saying,
"I don't think he would like us to speak of it, and I shall please
him, I believe, by not mentioning his name."
There were in the room only the old man and Lily and Pollypod, and not
one of these enlightened Mr. Sheldrake. When the old man spoke of this
best of friends, Pollypod chimed in with enthusiastic declarations,
and said, in her childlike way, that he was so good, so good!
"He seems to be a favourite with all of you," observed Mr. Sheldrake.
"He is a wizard," said Pollypod from her corner; "a good wizard.
Father says he's a trump, and mother loves him. So do I, dearly,
dearly. So does Mr. Wheels. So does Lily--don't you, Lily?"
Mr. Sheldrake turned suddenly and sharply upon Lily. A deep rose-tint
had stolen into her face, and, for contrast, a dark cloud overshadowed
Mr. Sheldrake's. Not a motion, not a look, escaped Old Wheels, who
said,
"Yes, we cannot help having an affection for one who has been so kind
to us."
"Of course not, of course not," assented Mr. Sheldrake, concealing his
displeasure, "and I consider myself particularly unfortunate in having
been deprived of the opportunity of standing in his place. Then I
might have had the same claim upon your affection. It is the more
unfortunate because I am so often in the habit of strolling about Soho
during the small hours. Many a time have I walked up and down your
street for an hour at least after midnight. Now what hard fortune was
it that prevented me doing so on this occasion?" He intended these
words to convey a significant declaration of his tender regard for
Lily, and he added, in a low tone, addressed especially to her: "I
went home not very happy because I thought you were angry with me for
what occurred at the theatre. I hope you are not displeased with me
now. Indeed, I was not to blame."
And again Mr. Sheldrake pressed offers of assistance upon Old Wheels,
which again were firmly declined. The man of the world departed in no
pleasant humour. His jealousy was aroused. Who was this friend, of
whom the child had said that she loved him dearly, dearly, and that
Lily loved him also? He had half a suspicion, and he was determined to
know. Then his thoughts reverted to Lily's behaviour to himself. "Does
she suspect," he mused, in his own elegant vernacular, "that I'm not
acting on the square, and is she holding off on purpose to draw me on?
In one word, David Sheldrake, is the girl a model of simplicity--or
artfulness? Any way, she is a witch, and has set me on fire, I _will_
have her! I could almost make up my mind to marry her." A serious
consideration for such a man as he, who look upon girls merely as the
playthings of an hour, and in whose mind womanly virtue and goodness
are like dead wood in a forest. That, in case he made up his mind to
such a contingency, there would be a doubt of success, was too
manifestly ridiculous to be entertained for a moment. As he mused, he
saw Alfred coming towards him. The young man did not see Mr. Sheldrake
at first, and that gentleman stepped aside to observe Alfred's manner,
in which he seemed to detect something more marked than usual. Alfred
was walking quickly and nervously, looking over his shoulder hurriedly
this way and that, as if some one were dogging him. Once a dog ran,
barking, out of a house, and Alfred turned round swiftly with a white
face and an exclamation of fright. Mr. Sheldrake watched these
symptoms of agitation with remarkable keenness, and as Alfred passed
clapped him on the shoulder. A cry of alarm escaped from Alfred's
trembling lips, for Mr. Sheldrake's salutation was sudden and violent;
seeing who it was, however, Alfred smiled and drew a long breath of
relief.
"Who did you think it was, Alf?" asked Mr. Sheldrake, to whom Alfred's
manner seemed to be in some way a satisfaction.
"I didn't know, you clapped me on the shoulder so suddenly."
"You gave a cry," observed Mr. Sheldrake, with assumed carelessness,
"for all the world as if I were a detective officer. Don't start; I'm
not. That's one comfort, isn't it?"
"I don't see how it is a comfort," said Alfred half sullenly, and yet
with an air which showed that he wished not to offend his companion;
"I'm nervous, that's the fact. Been smoking and drinking a little too
much; I shall be all right next Tuesday, after the City and Suburban's
run."
"Going to Epsom to see the race?"
"Yes; I hope you'll do what you promised."
"We'll talk of that presently. You've got the tip, of course?"
"Yes, and a good one; but there's something else I'm going to do if
you'll stand my friend once more."
"A new system?"
"Well, not exactly that: but a plan which _must_ prevent the chance of
loss."
"That's good enough, Alf," said Mr. Sheldrake in a light tone. "But
come, I want to have a talk with you." They were at the gate of Mr.
Musgrave's house. "Let us turn in here."
Lizzie opened the door, and greeted them with a smile. Mr. Sheldrake
had not seen her since the night they were at the theatre together,
and, remembering how she had spoken to him then, he was somewhat
surprised at her amiability. He was still more surprised when Lizzie
said she hoped he had not taken offence because she spoke so sharply
to him.
"I was so anxious about Lily you see," she said; "and even Alfred had
to put up with my bad temper. Didn't you, Alf?"
"Yes, dear," replied Alfred, pleased with her changed manner towards
his friend.
"Well, well," said Mr. Sheldrake, gaily shaking hands again with
Lizzie, "let byegones be byegones. Is the old man at home?"
"No," replied Lizzie readily; "I don't think he will be back for an
hour."
"We'll go into his room," said Mr. Sheldrake, and he and Alfred went
upstairs to the room where Mr. Musgrave transacted his business, and
which Lizzie had called Bluebeard's room, because she was never
allowed to enter it. Mr. Sheldrake had a private key, and before he
opened the door, he turned to Lizzie, who had accompanied them to the
landing, and tapping her familiarly on the cheek, told her to go down
stairs, that he and Alfred would not keep her long, and that he was
glad she thought better of him.
"Upon my word," he said with blithe significance, "I'm as glad for
Alfred's sake as I am for my own."
And with a light laugh he led the way into the room. If he had seen
the change that came over the girl's face when he shut the door upon
her, and if he had seen her clench her little fists, and shake them at
an airy picture of himself which she conjured up, he might have
altered his agreeable tone. His manner also changed directly the door
was closed and locked. An his cordiality vanished as he sat down at
the table and took a pocket-book from his pocket. Alfred watched him
apprehensively.
Everything in this Bluebeard's room betokened order and system. Two
sides of the room were completely covered with pigeon-holes, and the
compartments were nearly filled with documents neatly folded and
ticketed. Although, from the appearance of the room and the shelves, a
large amount of work was evidently gone through, not a loose document
nor a scrap of writing was lying about. This circumstance appeared to
give Mr. Sheldrake much satisfaction, and he nodded his head
approvingly as he looked around. He did not waste time, however, but
proceeded at once to the business before him. Opening his pocket-book,
he selected some papers from it, and laid them on the table.
"Sit down, Alf," he said.
Alfred obeyed. Mr. Sheldrake unfolded the papers, and jotted down some
figures from them; and laying his hand upon them, as if he did not
immediately intend to refer to them said,
"I have been to your new house to-day, Alf."
"I called at your place yesterday," said Alfred, "to tell you about
the fire, and where we had moved to, but you were not at home."
"No; and I kept from Soho purposely. I was angry with Lizzie, and I
was not pleased with your sister. They will have to learn, if they
have not learned already, that I am not to be trifled with."
Alfred had no reply to make to this; he felt that his best plan would
be to listen quietly, and to say as few words as possible.
"By heavens;" exclaimed Mr. Sheldrake, with more passion that he
usually displayed, "I think I have been patient long enough--too
long! No other man but me would have stood it. Every advance that I
make--except," he added with a sneer, "those advances I make to
you--is met as if I were an enemy instead of a friend. It is time for
this to be settled. I'll know very soon whether I'm to be a friend or
foe. I can be as good an enemy as a friend, and that I'll prove. With
you, now, which is it, friend or foe?"
"Which _can_ it be," answered Alfred moodily, "but friend?"
"Out-and-out friend, eh? No half-measures--thorough!"
"Thorough, out-and-out!" responded Alfred a little less despondently.
"No beating about the bush? No concealments, no double-dealing?"
"None."
"And you say this," pursued Mr. Sheldrake with remorseless
tenacity--he had been so goaded that it was necessary he should
revenge himself upon some one--"you say this not because it is for
your interest to say it--not because you are in my debt, and I could
shut you up at any moment I please--but because you believe it,
because you know that I am straightforward, honest-minded,
open-hearted?"
"What other motive can I have for saying it?"
"But say it plainly. You wish me to continue your friend, and to be my
friend, for the reasons that I have given?"
"Yes, for those reasons, and no other." And as Alfred spoke the lie
which was forced from him by fear, Mr. Sheldrake laughed lightly, and
with an open scorn of the avowal, which brought the blood to the
younger man's cheek.
It brought the blood also to the cheek of another person, not in the
room. Crouching outside the door, at the top of the landing, was
Lizzie, listening with beating heart, and hearing every word that
passed. She could see clearly everything in the room, and being in the
dark herself, could not be detected. A small lumber-room, the door of
which she had partly opened, and which swung noiselessly on its
hinges, was ready to afford her the means of concealment should the
suspicions of Mr. Sheldrake be aroused. She saw the insolent
triumphant manner of Mr. Sheldrake, and she thought for a moment that
if she were a man, she would kill him; but she saw also the abject
manner of her lover, and her passion was subdued by fear.
"If I thought you were deceiving me, Alf," said Mr. Sheldrake, "I
should know what to do."
"What makes you speak in this way to me?" Alfred mustered up
sufficient courage to ask. "If you doubt me, try me."
"I will. I was at your house to-day, as I have told you. I offered
your grandfather assistance; he declined it. Both he and Lily were
anything but cordial to me. For the old man I don't care one jot; but
he influences Lily, and has power over her. She follows the cue he
gives her. The old man said they wanted for nothing; that they had a
friend, who had come forward at the nick of time--a friend, said that
railway man's little girl, that they all loved--old man, little girl,
Lily, and all."
Mr. Sheldrake bit his lips at the remembrance of the blush which had
come to Lily's cheek when Pollypod asked her if she didn't love this
friend.
"Children talk all sorts of nonsense," said Alfred, "and Polly more
than most children."
"Perhaps; but that isn't the question just now. Who is this friend,
this paragon, this model of goodness, that everybody loves?"
Alfred hesitated for one moment only. Felix asked them, as a
particular favour, not to mention his name as having befriended them,
and they had given him the promise. But Alfred felt that to hesitate
now, and to beat about the bush with Mr. Sheldrake in that gentleman's
present humour, would be fatal to him. So he answered,
"His name is Felix Creamwell. He in an old acquaintance."
"I thought so; the same young cub who interrupted my conversation with
Lily after we came from the theatre. What is the special tie that
binds him to your people?"
This direct questioning of Felix s motive for befriending them
staggered Alfred. It had never occurred to him before; and with the
sudden introduction of the subject came a glimpse of light--a new
revelation--which enabled him but dimly at present to place a possible
correct construction on Lily's unhappiness. Policy impelled him to
reply,
"Friendship for my grandfather, I suppose."
But he stammered over the words, and Mr. Sheldrake said sharply,
"You don't seem quite certain as to his motive, Alf."
"I know that there's a great friendship between him and my
grandfather," said Alfred, and with a fuller consciousness of what was
at stake; "and although I have never asked myself the question, I
should say that what he has done has been prompted by friendship."
"Not by love?"
"Love for whom?" inquired Alfred in his turn, with ready cunning.
"Well, let that pass," replied Mr. Sheldrake, only too willing not to
have his doubts confirmed. "I daresay I can square the account between
us, if we ever come across each other. I _know_ I can make it even
with you. He has a motive, doubtless, and I don't believe in
disinterested friendship. Now we will come to our own business." He
took the papers which he had laid aside, and looked over them. "You
know what these are?"
"I see some of my bills among them."
"Accounts of money you owe me--dishonoured acceptances, and other
documents equally valuable. Here is your bill for sixty pounds, due
three weeks since, dishonoured, and for which you were served with a
writ."
"As a mere matter of form, I understood you to say," put in Alfred,
trembling.
"I have obtained judgment upon it, nevertheless."
"What for?"
"So as to be ready," said Mr. Sheldrake coolly, "in case I find you
are playing the double with me. It will be best for you to understand
at once that I am in serious earnest. Miss Lizzie would not say many
more uncivil things to me if she knew this. I suppose you couldn't say
how much you owe me?"
"I haven't kept an account."
"It being no business of yours. Well, I have, feeling interested in
it, naturally; and what between me and Con Stavely, the debt is as
near three hundred pounds as possible. Is it convenient to you to
settle this small account?"
"You know it isn't," answered Alfred, with a groan; and added
entreatingly, "If you will advance me what you promised for the City
and Suburban, I shall be able to pay you a good lump after the race."
"How if you lose?"
"I can't lose I must win; I must! Even if I didn't do what I am going
to do--even if I trusted entirely to chance--luck must turn. You have
told me so yourself a dozen times. But I don't depend upon that."
"How much do you want?"
"Forty pounds;" and Alfred twined his fingers nervously. Indeed, it
seemed to him, as it had seemed a dozen times in the course of the
year gone by, that the result was a certainty, if he had only the
money to back his opinion. "If I can but once get clear," he thought,
not for the first time, "I'll never back another horse as long as I
live--never, never!"
It was not his debt to Mr. Sheldrake that pressed so heavily upon him;
there was a sharper and more terrible sword hanging over him.
"What horses would you back for this money, Alf?"
Alfred, encouraged by a tinge of the old cordiality in Mr. Sheldrake's
tone, answered confidently:
"I would put ten pounds on Xanthus, and twenty pounds on Kingcraft."
"And the other ten pounds?"
"I want that to speculate with on the race-course on the day of the
race."
"No," said Mr. Sheldrake in a decided tone, "I can't consent to that.
I shall give you no money in hand to play ducks and drakes with."
"Well, then, I'll put it _all_ on Kingcraft and Xanthus--fifteen
pounds on Xanthus, and twenty-five on Kingcraft."
"What makes you fancy Kingcraft? Xanthus I know is good--all the
papers speak up for him."
"Didn't Kingcraft win the Derby?" cried Alfred excitedly. "I'm told
that the horse has come back to his old form, and that he's certain to
win. A man told me who knows all about it. The stable have been
keeping it dark, and they're all going to put their money on. I shall
be able to pay you every penny back, and I shall never know how to
thank you enough. I've told Liz and Lily that no man ever had such a
friend as you are to me, and I'll tell them again. Will you do it for
me?"
"Let me see. The odds about Kingcraft are----"
"Fifteen to one," interposed Alfred eagerly; "and six to one about
Xanthus. I only back Xanthus to save myself. One or other is certain
to pull off the race."
"Very well; Ill give you the odds myself."
"You will! You are a trump, and no mistake. How can I thank you! Are
you making a book on the race?"
"Yes, and it will be better for you that I should take the bet rather
than anybody else; for then," he added with a quiet chuckle, "the
money will be safe."
"Yes, that it will," said Alfred in all sincerity. "Fifteen to one to
twenty-five pounds--that will be three hundred and seventy-five pounds
if I win on Kingcraft, and ninety pounds, if Xanthus wins."
He felt as if he had the larger sum already in his pocket, and the
despair which filled him but a few minutes since was swallowed up in
the false hope.
"I will send you the vouchers to-morrow, and now I want _your_ voucher
for this money that I am going to lend you."
Always willing enough to give his signature, Alfred waited, pen in
hand, while Mr. Sheldrake drew up the paper. It was to the effect that
Alfred had borrowed of him forty pounds, with which he had backed two
horses named for the City and Suburban Race, to be run at Epsom on
Tuesday 23rd of April, and that he promised to pay back the money the
Saturday after the race.
Alfred read it carelessly, and remarked, as he signed it,
"This is differently worded to any of the other things I have signed."
"I have a purpose in drawing it up in this way," said Mr. Sheldrake,
as he folded the paper and placed it in his pocket-book. "This
document and the protested bills would be awkward things to take to
your employers, Messrs. Tickle and Flint, in case you didn't pay, or
in case I found that you were playing me false--or in case of other
contingencies I need not mention just now. It might induce them to
make an mediate examination of the vouchers and books in your care.
You are cashier there, I believe, Alf. A tempting thing is the
handling of other people's money, Alf--a devilish tempting thing--when
one is in debt and wants to get rich too quick."
"What do you mean?" cried Alfred, with such terror in his face and in
his voice that Lizzie on the outside of the door was compelled to
cling to the baluster for support. "For God's sake!----"
"Don't agitate yourself, Alf. I am only putting an extreme case. I
hope I may not be driven to such a course. It depends more on others
than on yourself. And now I think our little conference is ended.
Anything more to say? No? Well, you shall have your vouchers
to-morrow."
Lizzie glided down-stairs noiselessly, and when, a few moments
afterwards, Mr. Sheldrake came down and shook hands with her, she
accompanied him to the gate and wished him good-bye with a smile on
her lips, although her hand was like ice in his grasp.
"You've tamed that little devil, David," he mused as he walked along;
"she'll be twice as civil and polite the next time you meet her. Now
if Kingcraft pull off the City and Suburban---- Well, Con Staveley can
give the odds. I'll tell Alfred that my book is full, and that, as I
can't lay any more, I got Con to take his bets. And Con Staveley
needn't pay if the horse wins."
Lizzie went back to Alfred, and found him racked by despair one
moment, buoyed up by hope another. She went up to him and kissed him,
saying cheerfully,
"Am I not a good girl, Alf, for behaving so well to Mr. Sheldrake?"
"Yes, dear Liz, you are; I wish I were as good."
"Nonsense, dear; you're not strong-minded, that's all. And I don't
think you love me enough."
"You mustn't say that, Liz. I love no other."
"I don't think you do, Alf; but if you loved me as well as I love you,
you would not keep secrets from me."
He looked at her with sudden alarm.
"Secrets, Liz! Who told you I had secrets?"
"My heart," she replied, with a yearning look, and then, at sight of
his troubled face, altered her tone as if she were schooling herself,
and said archly, "Girls are artful guessers. And I'm jealous."
"Of whom?"
"Of Mr. Sheldrake. You have been talking secrets with him up-stairs;
and I have a better right than he to share them with you. I hate that
man!" she exclaimed, with flashing eyes. "There's nothing mean that he
wouldn't do; he has a false heart, and his smooth words can't hide his
bad thoughts. I saw in his face to-day what seems to be hidden from
you. O, how I wish you had never known him!"
"It's of no use wishing, Liz. Perhaps it will all turn out for the
best. Don't worry me, there's a dear! I want cheering up badly."
He laid his head upon the table wearily; his folly had made life very
bitter to him. One of its sweetest blessings was his, and he had set
it far below worthless things. As Lizzie's arms stole tenderly round
his neck, and as her sweet words fell upon his ears, he was conscious
that he had never rightly appreciated her love. He thought now how
happy his life might be if he had been contented and honest, and if he
had not yielded to temptation.
"Lizzie," he said with his face hidden, "I have not acted rightly to
you. If I could commence over again----"
"Nonsense, Alf," she interposed, in as cheerful a tone as she could
command, for his remark, with the meaning it conveyed, brought the
tears to her eyes; "I'll not allow you to speak like that. I should be
satisfied if I could see you happier in your mind. You have some grief
that you will not let me share, and that pains me. You seem to be
frightened of something that you cannot see. I have noticed that you
have often been unconscious of what is passing, and that you seem to
be listening---- There! as you are now!"
He had risen to his feet with wild eyes, and was listening, with a
terrible expression of fear in his face, to the sound of loud voices
in the street. The speakers had stopped outside the house, and Alfred
crept softly to the window. They passed away presently, and Alfred,
with a sigh of relief, returned to Lizzie's side.
"What's the meaning of this, Alf?" she asked, with a fainting heart.
"I have a right to know. Tell me."
"Not now," he replied, taking her cold hand and placing it on his
forehead. "I dare not. If you love me, don't ask me questions. I have
been foolish, and have not taken care of myself. It will be all right
after next Tuesday, and we'll be happy again as we used to be. Come,"
he cried, with an attempt at gaiety, facing her with his hands on her
shoulders, "if you want to do me good, wish me luck next Tuesday."
"I wish you luck, dear, with all my heart."
"That's right, Liz; and when you go to bed, pray that I may be lucky,
my dear. For if I am, all this trouble will be over, and we'll
commence a happy life--you, and I, and Lily. And we'll tell our
secret then--our own secret, dearest, that no one knows but you and
me."
He drew her towards him, and she laid her head upon his shoulder.
Something in his words made him the consoler now.
"It will have to be told soon, Alf dear, or it will tell itself," she
said, in a tone in which joy and pain were subtly mingled.
"I know it, darling; and I've been working, and trying to get money
for you and me and Lil, and bad fortune has pursued me so steadily
that I have been driven almost mad. Ah, Liz, I love you! You'll see
how I love you when all this trouble comes to an end. And it _will_
come to an end now that you've wished me luck, and will pray for it."
She pressed him in her arms, grateful for his calmer and tenderer
mood.
"May I say something to you, dear?" she asked.
"Anything, darling; kiss me first."
She kissed him, and he said softly.
"What a pity it is that time will not stand still, isn't it, Liz? Now,
if we could be like this for a long, long time, what happiness it
would be! I almost feel as if I should like to die now, with you in my
arms. What is it you want to say, darling?"
"Something about Lily."
"Dear Lily! Go on."
"Have you noticed that Mr. Sheldrake has been paying her a great deal
of attention?"
"I think he likes her, Liz."
"You think! You know, you mean. But, Alf, if I had a sister that I
loved as you love Lily, and who loved me as Lily loves you, I would
rather see her in her grave than see her placed as Lily is now."
"Lizzie!"
"I mean what I say, Alf, and you ought to have seen it more clearly
before. Do you believe that Mr. Sheldrake has any honourable
intentions in his open admiration for Lily?"
"If I thought otherwise----" cried Alfred hotly.
"What would you do?" interrupted Lizzie; "what _could_ you do, placed
as you are with that man? He has been working for this, Alf dear, and
you haven't seen it. So deep and true is Lily's love for you, that if
he were to say to her, 'I have your brother in my power, and I can
bring misery and shame upon him, and will, if you are cold to me!'--if
he were to say this to Lily in his own bad way, and work upon her
loving heart in his own bad way----O, Alfred, I could almost pray that
somebody would kill him!--if he were to do all this, as he may, I
tremble to think what Lily would do."
"What would she do?" The words came faintly from a throat parched by
remorse.
"Can you ask, Alf? What would _I_ do for you? To secure your
happiness, is there any sacrifice that I would not make? Lily's love
for you, although it is the love of a sister, is not less strong than
mine. But I have learnt harder lessons than Lily has had to learn, and
I should not be so easily led as she would be. A bad, calculating man,
as Mr. Sheldrake is, could work upon such a simple nature as hers more
easily than upon mine. I should be strong where she, through innocence
and simplicity, would be weak. And when she felt, as she would feel,
that any sacrifice of happiness which she would be called upon to make
would be made to secure the happiness of a beloved brother----"
"Stop, Lizzie!" cried Alfred, rising in his agitation, and turning
from her. "Stop, for God's sake! I have been blind."
Yes, he had been blind; and blindly had walked, step by step, to the
terrible abyss which lay before him now, deliberately taking with him
a pure devoted girl, whom, despite all his selfishness, he loved next
in the world to Lizzie. All the sweet memories of his life, until he
met Lizzie, were of his sister, and he had conspired against her
happiness. He was powerless now to undo the past; but he might atone
for it. He silently swore that if he were fortunate on Tuesday he
would become a better man.
"I have something else to tell you, Alfred," said Lizzie, after a long
pause. "Lily is in love."
"In love! Ah, I see more clearly now, dear Lizzie. With Felix?"
"Yes, a happy life is before her, with that true man, if happily they
come together."
"And he?"
"Loves her."
"Has he told you?"
"No; but there are things that need no telling. We women know. He has
not spoken to her, because, because----"
"Go on, Lizzie."
"Because he sees what you have been blind to, and out of the nobleness
of his heart will not add to her distress."
"It would have been better for her," groaned Alfred, "and for you, if
I had never been born."
"Nay," remonstrated Lizzie, in a gentle loving tone, "we must not
repine: we must try to do better. Promise--and I will help you, with
all my strength, and so will Lily and Felix--ah, you don't know what a
heart he has! And your grandfather, Alfred, that good old man----"
"I know what you would say about him, Lizzie. I am punished enough
already."
Indeed, he was very humble and repentant; and, when he went home, he
knocked at his grandfather's door. It was dusk, and they could but
dimly see each other's faces.
"I have come to ask your forgiveness, sir," said Alfred.
Old Wheels started to his feet, in joyful agitation. He understood it
all immediately.
"My dear boy," he said, with a sob, taking Alfred's hand, "Not another
word; not another word."
He pressed the young man to his heart and kissed him. Lily, hearing
the voices, came into the passage.
"Come here, Lily," cried Old Wheels. "Come hear, dear child."
Lily flew into the room, and after the joy that this glad meeting
brought to them, they settled down quietly, and talked, and thought,
and hoped, while the evening shadows deepened. The tender movements
she made towards Alfred and her grandfather, the expressions of
exquisite happiness she uttered, almost unconsciously, every now and
then, the loving caresses, the musical little laughs, the words, "O, I
am so happy now! so happy!" that escaped again and again, like music
from her lips, delighted the old man.
"We want Lizzie here," said Old Wheels tenderly.
"And Felix," thought Lily. This reunion seemed to bring Felix nearer
to her.