Mr. Paget was most careful that the full contents of the cable did not
go to his daughter at Jewsbury-on-the-Wold. He read it three or four
times, then he took up a telegraph form and wired to her as follows:--
"_Esperance_ arrived safely. Delay caused by injury to machinery."
This telegram caused intense rejoicing at the rectory, and Mr. Paget
had his gloomy part to himself. He conned that part over and over.
A serious accident. To whom? About whom? What a fool that Jellyby was
not to have given him more particulars. Why did that part of the
cablegram fill him with consternation? Why should he feel so certain
that the accident in question referred to his son-in-law? Well, he must
wait over a month for news, and during that month he must collect
together eighty thousand pounds. Surely he had enough to think of. Why
should his thoughts revert to Wyndham with an ever-increasing dread?
"Wyndham is safe enough," he said. "Jolly enough, too, I make no doubt.
His money waits for him at Ballarat. Of course bad news will come, but
_I_ shall see through it. Oh, yes, _I_ shall see through it fast
enough."
Days of suspense are hard days--long and weary days. As these days
crept one by one away Mr. Paget became by no means an easy person to
live with. His temper grew morose, he was irritable, manifestly ill at
ease, and he would often for hours scarcely utter a word.
The 17th of July passed. Mr. Carmichael again called for his money. A
part was paid to him, the balance the head of the great shipping firm
assured the young man could not possibly be forthcoming for another
month or six weeks.
"I am sorry," Mr. Paget said, "extremely sorry not to be able to fulfil
my word to the letter. But I must have time to realize such a large
sum, and I greatly fear I must claim it."
Mr. Carmichael had a cheque in his hand for ten thousand pounds. He
could scarcely feel discontented at such a moment, and took his
departure grumbling but elated.
"Helps," said Mr. Paget, "I have taken that ten thousand pounds out of
the business, and it can ill afford to lose it. If news does not come
soon we are undone, and all our plotting and planning won't save the
old place nor the honor of the old house."
"No fear," muttered Helps. "The news will come. I have bad dreams at
night. The house will be saved. Don't you fret, Mr. Paget."
He went out of the room looking as morose and ugly as possible, and
Mortimer Paget hurled no blessings after him.
The next day was fraught with tidings. A thick packet lay on the
chief's desk, bearing the imprint of the _Esperance_ on it. By the side
of the packet was a telegram. He opened the telegram first:--
Jewsbury-on-the-Wold, 10 a.m.
"Valentine had a son this morning. Both doing well."
The tears absolutely sprang to Mr. Paget's eyes. His hands trembled; he
looked round furtively; there was no one by. Then he raised the
telegram to his lips and kissed it. Valentine had a son--he had a
grandson. Another head of the old house had arisen on the horizon.
He rang his electric bell; he was so excited that he could not keep
these tidings to himself.
"I have sent for you to receive your congratulations, Helps," he said;
"and--and here's a cheque for ten pounds. You must go home early and
have a good supper--champagne and all that sort of thing. Not a word,
Helps, my good fellow, you deserve it. You quite deserve it!"
"May I ask what for, Mr. Paget? Forgive me, sir. I see that the packet
from the _Esperance_ has come."
"So it has. It can wait. Take your money, Helps, and drink my
grandson's health. He arrived this morning, bless him--my daughter had
a son this morning."
"Indeed, sir. It's a pity the father isn't there. It would have been
pretty to have seen Mr. Wyndham as a father. Yes, sir. I'm glad your
young lady is doing well. Babes come with trouble, and it seems to me
they mostly go with trouble. All the same, we make a fuss of them--and
the world's too full as it is."
"This child supplies a long felt need," replied the baby's grandfather,
frowning. "He is the future head of the house."
"Poor innocent. Yes, sir, I congratulate you as in duty bound. You'll
soon read that packet, won't you, sir. It seems a sort of a coincidence
like, getting news of the father and the babe in one breath."
"I'll read the packet presently," said Mr. Paget. "Go away now, Helps;
don't disturb me."
Left alone, the pleased man spread out the pink sheet of paper in such
a position that his eye could constantly rest on it. Then he broke the
seal of Captain Jellyby's yarn, and began to read.