The White Virgin Part 25

"After what you have seen to-day, can you doubt it?"

"No," said the Major, after a few moments' thought, "I cannot doubt either you or the mine, Mr Reed, and this evening I shall write to my broker to get me--a--a--few--"

Clive Reed smiled.

"You will write in vain, sir. I doubt very much whether you could get any."

"Indeed! Too late?"

"They never went upon the market, sir, but were distributed amongst a few friends of my father. You might get some, but only at an exorbitant price, which I would not advise you to give; but I could let you have some of mine."

"At what price?" said the Major, with a searching look which was not lost by Clive, and he smiled slightly.

"At par, of course."

"My dear sir, this is very good of you. I--I should much like to hold five hundred shares."

"So many, sir?"

"Yes. You think it a good venture?"

"I believe in it perfectly, sir, and I would not have suggested the matter if I had not possessed perfect faith."

"That is enough, Mr Reed, and I thank you warmly, sir, and beg you to forgive the slightest shade of distrust. Now will you confer one more favour upon me?"

"Certainly, if I can."

"Let the shares be transferred at once, so that I may get the matter off my mind."

"I will," said Clive, smiling. "Is that all?"

"No; I want you to come back with me, and let me give you a cheque."

"You could send it," said Clive, hesitating.

"Ah! yes. You business men who deal with large sums, what a little you think of a few thousands. Can't you favour me, Mr Reed? You have had a long spell of work: a few hours' rest will do you good."

"I'll come," said the young man, rising; but he did not add, "You have broken my day, so I may as well finish it in idleness."

"That's right," cried the Major; "and of course you will stay till morning."

"And turn Miss Gurdon out of her room?"

The Major laughed.

"Oh, dear, no. That is not her room. She occupies it sometimes for--I don't much understand these things--airing purposes, I believe; sometimes our old maid Martha. Don't let that idea get into your head, my dear sir. There! you will come?"

"Yes, I'll come," said Reed again; and, after summoning Sturgess, and giving him a few instructions, which the man received with scowling brow and a surly "Yes," Clive walked away along the tram-rails toward the gateway of the mine gap, turning once to see that Sturgess was watching them off the road; but he forgot the incident directly, and they turned out on the shelf-like path under a projecting rock, which gave a cavern-like aspect to the place; then round the bastion-like spoil heap, to which Clive pointed.

"There, brother shareholder," he said, with a smile, "I believe there is enough ore in that to keep us working for years, and pay a modest dividend."

"I believe there is," said the Major frankly; and then they went chatting on, descending toward the track by the river, with the view increasing in beauty as they pa.s.sed down toward the vale.

"I believe you are right," said Reed suddenly. "I have been working rather too closely. This walk does one good. The air is invigorating, like champagne, and one's spirits rise."

"Yes, it is not good to give all one's thoughts to making money. What do you say to having a try for the trout this evening?"

"No," said Clive thoughtfully; "another time. I must, after all, be back this evening."

"Mr Reed!"

"Yes; excuse me, I must plead business. Let me come for an hour or two's chat in the garden, a cup of tea, and then let me return."

"Of course, if you really wish it."

"I do, this time, sir. We can easily finish the little bit of business first."

"My dear Mr Reed, I wish to treat you as a welcome guest," said the Major; and they went on till he struck out away from the path.

"A short cut," he said, with a nod and a smile; and five minutes later he pointed, smiling, to a figure standing by one of the high ma.s.ses of grit. "Expected, you see," he said.

"Did she know I was coming back?" thought Clive; and, quick as light, thought after thought of his last visit came to him, with the adventure in the night, and his unworthy suspicions about the summons at the window, thoroughly cleared up now by the Major's words.

Two minutes later he was shaking hands, and noting that the object of his thoughts was not so pale. The scared, painful look was gone, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks as she endorsed her father's words that they were glad to see their guest.

"But Mr Reed will not stay the night, my dear, and--What?"

"There is a gentleman here," said Dinah, rather hurriedly.

"A gentleman to see me?"

"No, a stranger. He was crossing the mountain. He has walked from Matlock, and he came up and asked if he might rest and have some refreshment."

The Major laughed.

"Come," he cried, "you are opening up the country, Mr Reed. A visitor to you, I should say. Well, he has had a long walk. You let Martha take in tea, I suppose."

"Yes, dear. Here he is," whispered Dinah, as the visitor came slowly out of the porch, lighting a cigar, and looking round as though in search of something.

The something of which he was in search was within a dozen yards, but not alone, and Clive gave a violent start, for the visitor was slowly approaching him, and now held out his hand.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

SOME ONE IN EDEN.

"Jessop!" cried Clive, in a voice full of astonishment and anger.

"Yes, old fellow, Jessop. How are you? Quite a coincidence; Miss--Miss Gurdon, I think?" said the visitor, turning to Dinah. "I called here by accident on my way to find my brother, and he comes to me. Clive, old fellow, will you introduce me to this gentleman?"