按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
blotter open； and its leaves still bearing the marks of her own
handwriting。 So complete to her mind was the idea of her own
tenancy in this bachelor's mansion； that she looked around with a
half indignant alarm for the photograph or portrait of herself that
might further indicate it。 But there was no other exposition。 The
only thing that had been added was a gilt legend on the satin case
of the blotter；〃Los Osos； August 20； 186…；〃 the day she had
occupied the room。
She was pleased； astonished； but more than all； disturbed。 The
only man who might claim a right to this figurative possession
of her tastes and habits was the one whom she had quietly；
reflectively； and understandingly half accepted as her lover； and
on whose account she had come to consult Rushbrook。 But Somers was
not a sentimentalist； in fact； as a young girl； forced by her
independent position to somewhat critically scrutinize masculine
weaknesses； this had always been a point in his favor； yet even if
he had joined with his friend Rushbrook to perpetuate the memory of
their first acquaintanceship； his taste merely would not have
selected a chambre de garcon in Mr。 Rushbrook's home for its
exhibition。 Her conception of the opposite characters of the two
men was singularly distinct and real； and this momentary confusion
of them was disagreeable to her woman's sense。 But at this moment
James came to release her and conduct her to Rushbrook's study；
where he would join her at once。 Everything had been arranged as
she had wished。
Even a more practical man than Rushbrook might have lingered over
the picture of the tall； graceful figure of Miss Nevil； quietly
enthroned in a large armchair by the fire； her scarlet； satin…lined
cloak thrown over its back； and her chin resting on her hand。 But
the millionaire walked directly towards her with his usual
frankness of conscious but restrained power； and she felt； as she
always did； perfectly at her ease in his presence。 Even as she
took his outstretched hand； its straightforward grasp seemed to
endow her with its own confidence。
〃You'll excuse my coming here so abruptly；〃 she smiled； 〃but I
wanted to get before Mr。 Leyton； who； I believe； wishes to see you
on the same business as myself。〃
〃He is here already； and dining with me；〃 said Rushbrook。
〃Ah！ does he know I am here？〃 asked the girl； quietly。
〃No； as he said you had thought of coming with him and didn't； I
presumed you didn't care to have him know you had come alone。〃
〃Not exactly that； Mr。 Rushbrook；〃 she said； fixing her beautiful
eyes on him in bright and trustful confidence； 〃but I happen to
have a fuller knowledge of this business than he has； and yet； as
it is not altogether my own secret； I was not permitted to divulge
it to him。 Nor would I tell it to you； only I cannot bear that you
should think that I had anything to do with this wretched
inquisition into Mr。 Somers's prospects。 Knowing as well as you do
how perfectly independent I am； you would think it strange；
wouldn't you？ But you would think it still more surprising when
you found out that I and my uncle already know how liberally and
generously you had provided for Mr。 Somers in the future。〃
〃How I had provided for Mr。 Somers in the future？〃 repeated Mr。
Rushbrook； looking at the fire； 〃eh？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the young girl； indifferently； 〃how you were to put him
in to succeed you in the Water Front Trust； and all that。 He told
it to me and my uncle at the outset of our acquaintance；
confidentially； of course； and I dare say with an honorable
delicacy that was like him； butI suppose now you will think me
foolishall the while I'd rather he had not。〃
〃You'd rather he had not；〃 repeated Mr。 Rushbrook； slowly。
〃Yes；〃 continued Grace； leaning forward with her rounded elbows on
her knees； and her slim； arched feet on the fender。 〃Now you are
going to laugh at me； Mr。 Rushbrook； but all this seemed to me to
spoil any spontaneous feeling I might have towards him； and limit
my independence in a thing that should be a matter of free will
alone。 It seemed too much like a business proposition！ There； my
kind friend！〃 she added； looking up and trying to read his face
with a half girlish pout； followed； however； by a maturer sigh；
〃I'm bothering you with a woman's foolishness instead of talking
business。 And〃another sigh〃I suppose it IS business for my
uncle； who has； it seems； bought into this Trust on these possible
contingencies； has； perhaps； been asking questions of Mr。 Leyton。
But I don't want you to think that I approve of them； or advise
your answering them。 But you are not listening。〃
〃I had forgotten something；〃 said Rushbrook； with an odd
preoccupation。 〃Excuse me a momentI will return at once。〃
He left the room quite as abstractedly； and when he reached the
passage； he apparently could not remember what he had forgotten； as
he walked deliberately to the end window； where； with his arms
folded behind his back； he remained looking out into the street。 A
passer…by； glancing up； might have said he had seen the pale； stern
ghost of Mr。 Rushbrook； framed like a stony portrait in the window。
But he presently turned away； and re…entered the room； going up to
Grace； who was still sitting by the fire； in his usual strong and
direct fashion。
〃Well！ Now let me see what you want。 I think this would do。〃
He took a seat at his open desk； and rapidly wrote a few lines。
〃There；〃 he continued； 〃when you write to your uncle； inclose
that。〃
Grace took it； and read：
DEAR MISS NEVIL；Pray assure your uncle from me that I am quite
ready to guarantee； in any form that he may require； the
undertaking represented to him by Mr。 John Somers。 Yours very
truly；
ROBERT RUSHBROOK。
A quick flush mounted to the young girl's cheeks。 〃But this is a
SECURITY； Mr。 Rushbrook；〃 she said proudly； handing him back the
paper； 〃and my uncle does not require that。 Nor shall I insult him
or you by sending it。〃
〃It is BUSINESS； Miss Nevil；〃 said Rushbrook； gravely。 He stopped；
and fixed his eyes upon her animated face and sparkling eyes。 〃You
can send it to him or not； as you like。 But〃a rare smile came to
his handsome mouth〃as this is a letter to YOU； you must not
insult ME by not accepting it。〃
Replying to his smile rather than the words that accompanied it；
Miss Nevil smiled； too。 Nevertheless； she was uneasy and
disturbed。 The interview； whatever she might have vaguely expected
from it； had resolved itself simply into a business indorsement of
her lover； which she had not sought； and which gave her no
satisfaction。 Yet there was the same potent and indefinably
protecting presence before her which she had sought； but whose
omniscience and whose help she seemed to have lost the spell and
courage to put to the test。 He relieved her in his abrupt but not
unkindly fashion。 〃Well； when is it to be？〃
〃It？〃
〃Your marriage。〃
〃Oh； not for some time。 There's no hurry。〃
It might have struck the practical Mr。 Rushbrook that； even
considered as a desirable business affair； the prospective
completion of this contract provoked neither frank satisfaction nor
conventional dissimulation on the part of the young lady； for he
regarded her calm but slightly wearied expression fixedly。 But he
only said： 〃Then I shall say nothing of this interview to Mr。
Leyton？〃
〃As you please。 It really matters little。 Indeed； I suppose I was
rather foolish in coming at all； and wasting your valuable time for
nothing。〃
She had risen； as if taking his last question in the significance
of a parting suggestion； and was straightening her tall figure；
preparatory to putting on her cloak。 As she reached it； he stepped
forward； and lifted it from the chair to assist her。 The act was
so unprecedented； as Mr。 Rushbrook never indulged in those minor
masculine courtesies； that she was momentarily as confused as a
younger girl at the gallantry of a younger man。 In their previous
friendship he had seldom drawn near her except to shake her hand
a circumstance that had always recurred to her when his free and
familiar life had been the subject of gossip。 But she now had a
more frightened consciousness that her nerves were strangely
responding to his powerful propinquity； and she involuntarily
contracted her pretty shoulders as he gently laid the cloak upon
them。 Yet even when the act was completed； she had a superstitious
instinct that the significance of this rare courtesy was that it
was final； and that he had helped her to interpose something that
shut him out from her forever。
She was turning away with a heightened color； when the sound of
light； hurried footsteps； and the rustle of a woman's dress was
heard in the hall。 A swift recollection of her companion's
infelicitous reputation now returned to her； and G