"HE WILL COME RIGHT"
If your eyes look for nothing but evil, you will always
see evil triumphant; but if you have learned to let
your glance rest on sincerity, simpleness, truth, you
will ever discover deep down in all things the silent
overpowering victory of that you love.
--MAETERLINCK
Long afterwards Malcolm compared that night's work to a severe
wrestling-match, and owned that it had taxed his mental and bodily
strength to the utmost. The illustration was singularly apt. The whole
force of his manhood and will were set to rescue this poor lad from the
effects of his own infatuation and folly, but at first he made little
progress.
Saul Jacobi's pernicious influence had done its work, and Malcolm, to
his dismay and disgust, was forced to realise that his baleful and
hated arguments had already poisoned Cedric's mind. More than once he
was revolted by ideas which he knew had been inculcated by Saul Jacobi.
"He has poisoned the wells," Malcolm said to himself
indignantly--"Cedric's fresh young mind has been contaminated by his
odious philosophy," and his heart grew sad as he remembered Dinah's
faith in her boy.
More than once he was so sickened by Cedric's want of restraint and
childish abandon of grief that he was tempted to give up the struggle.
Only Elizabeth's pleading voice was in his ears-"You will bear with
him--you will be patient with him, will you not?" and then again he
would nerve himself to fresh effort.
All at once a thought came to him as an inspiration. Cedric had been
giving way to a perfect paroxysm of despair, and Malcolm had with some
sternness remonstrated with him on his want of manliness and
self-control. "You are making things worse," he said; "why don't you
take your trouble like a man?" But the rebuke only exasperated Cedric.
"Oh, it is all very well for you to talk," he returned angrily, "but if
you were in my place you would not bear it any better. You are so
immaculate, Herrick, you can't make allowance for a poor miserable
devil like me. I don't believe you have ever cared for a woman in your
life. Good heavens!" as he caught sight of Malcolm's face, "do you mean
that you have ever been in love?"
Then it was that the thought came to Malcolm--Cedric should know that
he was a fellow-sufferer.
"I do mean it," he returned steadily, "and I also mean to say that your
love is as water unto wine compared to mine; that is, if we can call
such mad infatuation by so sacred a name." And there was a tone of
contempt in Malcolm's voice that made Cedric wince.
"Don't be so hard on a fellow," he muttered.
"My dear boy, I would not be hard on you for worlds; if I speak of
myself at such a moment, it is only that you may see that I am fully
competent to sympathise with you."
"Won't you tell me more, Herrick?"
"No, dear lad, I think not, except that my case is even more hopeless
than yours, for the only woman I have loved or can love will soon marry
another man," and here Malcolm's face looked gray and worn. "I need not
add," he continued hastily, "that all this is between us both."
"Of course--of course," was the eager answer. "I am awfully sorry--I am
indeed. I wish I had not bullied you so."
Malcolm smiled a little sadly.
"Never mind that now. I only want to say this, we must take our
punishment like men, and not whine like fractious children who want the
moon--the moon is no nearer for all that." He sighed a little bitterly,
for he was tired and depressed; and after that Cedric was more
reasonable, and Malcolm regained some of his lost influence.
It was nearly morning before Malcolm could induce him to lie down on
the couch; he had flatly refused to take possession of Malcolm's bed.
"I could not rest quietly in bed," he said piteously; "let me lie here
while you write your letter;" for it had been arranged between them
that Malcolm should send a note to Dinah by the early post; but long
before the letter was written the worn-out lad was sleeping heavily.
Malcolm covered him up with rugs before he slipped out to the post.
Malcolm did not write a very long letter.
"I found Cedric here on my return home," he wrote. "He was very excited
and unhappy, and I had great difficulty in bringing him to a reasonable
frame of mind; but he is calmer now, and is at present asleep on my
couch. I am going with him to Oxford to-morrow, and shall probably
remain with him for a day or two. It will never do to leave him alone,
or that fellow Jacobi will get hold of him again. I find he has already
lent him money. I have been questioning Cedric, and I find that Saul
Jacobi trumped up a false excuse for him to make to the Dean. Cedric
was a little incoherent on the subject, but I understood him to say
that he had begged for a three days' excuse on account of a sister's
illness."
"As far as I can make out, Jacobi merely intended to have the marriage
ceremony performed, and to allow Cedric to return to Oxford the next
day. He had pacified him by promising to bring down his sister later,
and to take lodgings for a week or two; but it is impossible to guess
what the fellow really meant. As far as I can judge, there will be no
further trouble with the authorities, but Cedric must not be left to
himself."
"I know some excellent lodgings not a stone's throw from St. John's. Do
you not think it would be a good thing if you and your sister were to
take possession of them for a week or two? Cedric is not fit to be
alone, and you will be a comfort to him. It seems to me that there is
nothing else to be done. I cannot possibly remain beyond a night or
two. If you wire I will engage the rooms, and they shall be in
readiness for you." And when this letter was safely in the post,
Malcolm sought the rest he needed so urgently, and was soon sleeping
the heavy sleep of exhaustion.
Elizabeth was at the Manor House when Dinah received her letter, but
she answered it and sent off her telegram without an hour's delay.
"I told him to take the rooms, Betty," she said, as she handed the
letter to her sister the next day. "I have packed my things and shall
go to-morrow. Of course, you will do as you like about coming too."
Elizabeth considered the matter.
"If one could only have breathing-time," she murmured; "but to-morrow
gives me so little time. Could you wait until the afternoon, Die?" she
continued, "and then I could go across to Rotherwood and have a talk
with David and his father. You see, dear, I am anxious to be with
Cedric, and to settle you in comfortably, and I should also like to
tell Mr. Herrick the result of my visit to the Manor House." Then Dinah
rather reluctantly consented to put off her journey until the
afternoon. Elizabeth, preoccupied and anxious, hardly realised what the
sacrifice of those few hours was to Dinah, who could literally hardly
sleep or eat for her longing to comfort her darling.
Perhaps Elizabeth's thoughts were engrossed by the recollection of her
conversation with Leah, for she spoke of little else that night; but
just before they separated she asked to read Malcolm's letter again,
and when she laid it down there was the old puzzled look in her eyes.
"Why does he always think of the right thing?" she said slowly. "What
makes him so thoughtful and understanding? He leaves no margin for
other people. This Oxford plan is just splendid. You will be such a
comfort to the poor boy, Die. You will be there waiting and watching
for him, and ready to fuss over him like a mother hen, and the sly old
fox will not be able to get at him;" and she laughed, and bade her
sister good-night. But when she was in her own room the thoughtful look
returned. "He is always so wise and right," she said to herself. "He
has only made one mistake--only one," and her face was very grave; for
no one, not even her chosen lover, knew how the thought of Malcolm
Herrick's patient sorrow oppressed Elizabeth's tender heart.
Dinah had good reason to regret their postponed journey, for they
arrived at Oxford too late to see Cedric that night; but Malcolm was at
the station to receive them, and accompanied them to their lodgings.
"I am glad you made up your mind to come," he said, as they drove from
the station, "for I shall be obliged to go up to town to-morrow, and I
feel happier to leave you in possession. I think Cedric likes the idea
of having you. He is not looking well, but one must expect that; he has
had rather a rough time of it. Oh, I forgot to say that he cannot
possibly be with you until nearly twelve o'clock." Dinah tried not to
give her sister a reproachful look when Malcolm said this. Malcolm only
waited to hear how they liked the rooms he had taken before he went
back to his hotel; but at their earnest request he promised to have
breakfast with them the following morning, and also to take a later
train, that they might have time for a good talk.
He kept his appointment punctually, and the conversation of course
turned first on Cedric, but Malcolm was somewhat reticent on the
subject of that stormy interview in Cheyne Walk.
"One must make allowances under such circumstances, and he was hardly
himself that night," was all he said, but they fully understood him.
"Do you think he will get over it?" asked Dinah anxiously.
"Oh yes, he will get over it--he is so young;" but Malcolm avoided
Elizabeth's eyes as he spoke; "youth has immense advantages. But you
must give him time. If you will take my advice, dear Miss Templeton,
you will not watch him too closely, or trouble if you find him a little
altered, and not quite the old Cedric. He will come right by-and-by."
"Oh, if I could believe that," wistfully.
"You must make yourself believe it. Of course he will give you plenty
of trouble at first. He will have his bad days, and try to make you as
miserable as he is himself, but you must prepare yourself for that.
Think what a boon it will be to him to turn in here and find some one
ready to listen to his jeremiad." Then Dinah smiled faintly.
"I hope you intend to remain with your sister," he continued, turning
rather abruptly to Elizabeth. She coloured and hesitated.
"I am afraid I can only remain a week, but I shall come down again
later on. You need not fear that Dinah will be dull, Mr. Herrick; if
she can only be sure of seeing her boy for an hour in the day, she will
be perfectly happy. I always tell her that she is cut out for a hermit,
she loves her own company so much. I am far more gregarious in my
tastes--the society of my fellow-creatures is absolutely necessary to
me."
Malcolm was quite aware of this, but he listened gravely. "I hope you
mean to let me know your opinion of Leah Jacobi before I go," he
observed presently. To his surprise she gave an embarrassed laugh.
"I have been dreading that question all breakfast time; I am so afraid
I shall shock you. It is wicked of me, of course, but indeed I am only
too ready to sympathise with poor old Cedric, for I have fallen in love
with her myself."
"Do you know, I am not at all surprised to hear you say that," observed
Malcolm.
"You were aware of my impulsive disposition," returned Elizabeth with
another laugh. "But she is simply the most beautiful creature I ever
saw in my life. All the time I was listening to her I thought of all
those fair women the old patriarchs loved--Sarah and Rebekah and
Rachel; but I think she is most like Rebekah."
"I daresay you are right there," replied Malcolm coolly--"I can imagine
myself that Leah Jacobi would be equally clever at deception."
"For shame, Mr. Herrick!" in an indignant tone; "you know I did not
mean that. I was thinking of the young Rebekah at the well at Damascus."
"It was too bad of me," he returned apologetically; "but of course I
understood what you meant. There is a strange fascination about Miss
Jacobi. It is not only her beauty, though that is undeniable."
"No, indeed," exclaimed Elizabeth eagerly; "but one can hardly say
where the charm lies; but the moment I saw her deep-set, melancholy
eyes, and heard her low, vibrating voice, I seemed to lose my heart to
her. Poor dear Cedric, how could he help loving her?--how could any man
resist her?" But Elizabeth checked herself as she became aware of
Malcolm's keen, penetrating glance.
"You surely do not wish him to marry her?" he asked in a low voice.
Then Elizabeth looked quite shocked.
"Mr. Herrick-our brother-Cedric; no, a thousand times no; neither would
she marry him now. But oh, how my heart aches for her!"
"You need not tell me that."
"We were up half the night talking," she went on, "and she told me
everything--everything," and here Elizabeth positively shuddered. "Oh,
why are such things allowed? What a mystery life is! Mrs. Godfrey was
with us at first, and then the Colonel carried her off; but I heard the
clock strike three before I left Leah's room, and then I could not
sleep a wink for thinking over some of the horrible scenes she had
described."
"I wish she had not told you," murmured Malcolm. Elizabeth smiled a
little sadly.
"It will not hurt me, and I shall be able to help her better. Mr.
Herrick, Dinah agrees with me that we must never lose sight of her. I
told Mrs. Godfrey so. Oh, that was a masterly stroke of policy, taking
the poor thing to the Manor House. Mrs. Godfrey is so clever--she has
an idea already. Did you ever see Mrs. Richardson, who lives in the red
house on the road to Combe--Sandy Hollow, I think they call it?"
"Do you mean that very eccentric old lady whom Mrs. Godfrey always
calls Mother Quixote, who is so rich, and always travels with a white
Persian cat? Of course I have seen her at church. She is stout, rather
addicted to gorgeous raiment, and wears a gold pince-nez."
"That is the very person!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "Oh yes, she is
excessively rich, has not a relative in the world, gives half her
income away, and, as dear Mrs. Godfrey expresses it, spends a good deal
of her time in trying to wash her black sheep white, and weeping over
her failures."
"And I am afraid does more harm than good in the long run," observed
Malcolm; but Elizabeth would not allow this.
"She is the drollest old dear in the world," she went on, "and is quite
a Mrs. Malaprop in some of her sayings, but she has the best and
kindest heart in the world. Mrs. Godfrey means to enlist her sympathies
on Leah's behalf, and we have no fear of the result."
"And you think this good lady will be able to help Miss Jacobi?"
"We are quite sure of it. Mrs. Richardson has a weak chest, and she
always winters abroad, and she has been in the habit of engaging some
young lady to accompany her as a travelling companion. Her maid is
rather a crotchety old person, and very uneducated; besides, the cat
gives her sufficient employment. I forgot to say he is blind, and
rejoices in the name of Sir Charles Grandison. Mrs. Richardson is a
descendant of the novelist, and always carries Clarissa Harlowe and Sir
Charles Grandison about with her. She is full of amusing fads and
fancies."
"And you mean Miss Jacobi to be her travelling companion?"
"Mrs. Godfrey means it--it is her idea. Anyhow, she promised to go
round to Sandy Hollow the next day and give the old lady a full
description of Leah, and if possible to arrange a meeting."
"I think it a very good idea," chimed in Dinah, her soft voice breaking
the silence for the first time--she was always willing to leave the
conversation in Elizabeth's hands. "Miss Jacobi seems very willing to
do anything, poor thing, that will make her independent of her brother."
"Yes, indeed, she is terribly afraid of him," returned Elizabeth. "She
has reason to dread his violence, I can see that. Once or twice he has
treated her with absolute cruelty, but then she owned he had been
drinking. You see," appealing to Malcolm, "it would be such a relief to
us all to know she was abroad, and in such kind hands; and then, as
Mrs. Godfrey says, she is so exactly fitted for the post. She is very
accomplished, speaks French, German, and Italian fluently, and is a
good reader. Oh, must you go?" as Malcolm looked at his watch with some
significance.
"I am afraid I must not lose this train," he replied hastily, "but I
shall hope to run down again in a week or two. You will let me know how
things go on," addressing Dinah, "and if there be anything I can do for
you?" and then he shook hands with Elizabeth rather hurriedly and went
off to secure his luggage.
"I hope we did not keep him too long," observed Elizabeth anxiously,
"for he is running as though he were late." But Dinah did not hear her;
she had already taken up her position by the window, and was looking
out for Cedric.