Cursed by a Fortune Part 58

"I was not," she cried, angrily now. "I tell you I was quite taken by surprise. I was horrified and frightened, and I was glad when I saw you coming, for I wanted you to punish him for daring to come."

Leigh looked at his sister in anger and disgust.

"If I can read a woman's countenance," he said, mockingly, "you were gratified by every word he said to me."

"I don't know--I can't tell how it was," she faltered with her pale cheeks beginning to flame again, "but I'm afraid I was pleased, dear."

"I thought so," he cried, mockingly.

"I couldn't help liking the manly, brave way in which he spoke up. It sounded so true."

"Yes, very. Brave words such as he has said in a dozen silly girls'

ears. And he told you before I came that he loved you?"

"Yes, dear."

"And you told him that his ardent pa.s.sion was returned," he sneered.

"I did not. I could have told him I hated him, but I could not help feeling sorry, for I have behaved very badly, flirting with him as I did."

"And pity is near akin to love, Jenny," cried Leigh, with a harsh laugh, "and very soon I may have the opportunity of welcoming this uncouth oaf for a brother-in-law, I suppose. Oh, what weak, pitiful creatures women are! People cannot write worse of them than they prove."

Jenny was silent, but she looked her brother bravely in the face till his brows knit with anger and self-reproach.

"What do you mean by that?" he cried, angrily.

"I was only thinking of the reason why you speak so bitterly, Pierce."

"Pis.h.!.+" he exclaimed; and there was another silence.

"Mrs Wilton came this afternoon and brought me a chicken and some wine and grapes," said Jenny, at last.

"Like her insolence. Send them back."

"No. She was very kind and nice, Pierce. She was full of self-reproach for the way in which poor Kate Wilton was treated."

"Bah! What is that to us?"

"A great deal, dear. She is half broken-hearted about it, and says it was all the Squire's doing, and that she was obliged. He wished his son to marry Kate."

"The old villain!"

"And she says that poor Kate is lying drowned in the lake."

Leigh started violently, and his eyes looked wild with horror, but it was a mere flash.

"Pis.h.!.+" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, "a silly woman's fancy. The ladder at the window contradicted that. It was an elopement and that scoundrel who was here just now was somehow at the bottom of it. He helped."

"No," said Jenny, quietly, "he was not, I am sure. There is some mystery there that you ought to probe to the bottom."

"That will do," he said, sharply, and she noticed that there was a peculiar startled look in her brother's eyes. "Now listen to me. You will pack up your things. Begin to-night. Everything must be ready by mid-day to-morrow."

"Yes, dear," she said, meekly. "Are you going to send me away?"

"No, I am going to take you away. I cannot bear this life any longer."

"Then we leave here?"

"Yes, at once."

"Have you sold the place?"

"Bah! Who could buy it?"

"But your patients, Pierce?"

"There is another man within two miles. There, don't talk to me."

"Won't you confide in me, Pierce?" said Jenny, quickly. "I can't believe that we are going because of what has just happened. You must have heard some news."

He frowned, and was silent.

"Very well, dear," she said, meekly. "I am glad we are going, for I believe you will try and trace out poor Kate."

"A fly will be here at mid-day," he said, without appearing to hear her words, and her eyes flashed, for all told her that she was right and that the sudden departure was not due to the encounter with Claud. But that meeting had sealed his lips in anger, just when he had reached home full of eagerness to confide in his sister that he had at last obtained a slight clew to Kate's whereabouts.

For he had been summoned to the village inn to attend a fly-driver, who had been kicked by his horse. The man was a stranger, and the injury was so slight that he was able to drive himself back to his place, miles away. But in the course of conversation, while his leg was being dressed, he had told the Doctor that he once had a curious fare in that village, and he detailed Garstang's proceedings, ending by asking Leigh if he knew who the lady was.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

"Here! Hi! Hold hard!"

Pierce Leigh paid no heed to the hails which reached his ears as he was crossing Bedford Square one morning; but he stopped short and turned angrily when a hand was laid heavily upon his shoulder, to find himself face to face with Claud Wilton, who stood holding out his hand.

"I saw you staring up at Uncle Robert's old house, but it's of no use to look there."

"What do you mean, sir?" said Leigh sternly.

"Get out! You know. Well, aren't you going to shake hands?"

There was something so frank and open in the young man's look and manner that Leigh involuntarily raised his hand, and before a flash of recollection could telegraph his second intent it was seized and wrung, vigorously.

"That's better, Doctor," cried Claud. "How are you?"

"Oh, very well," said Pierce shortly.