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！
to say that the proteges and parasites of Maecenas deserted him in
a body； nay； they openly alleged that it was the true artistic
nature and refinement of Somers that had always attracted them； and
that a man like Rushbrook； who bought pictures by the yard；
equally of the unknown struggling artist and the famous masters；
was no true patron of Art。 Rushbrook made no attempt to recover
his lost prestige； and once； when squeezed into a tight 〃corner；〃
and forced to realize on his treasures； he put them up at auction
and the people called them 〃daubs；〃 their rage knew no bounds。 It
was then that an unfettered press discovered that Rushbrook never
was a Maecenas at all； grimly deprecated his assumption of that
title； and even doubted if he were truly a millionaire。 It was at
this time that a few stood by himnotably； the mill inventor from
Siskyou； grown plethoric with success； but eventually ground
between the upper and nether millstone of the Somers and Rushbrook
party。 Miss Nevil had returned to the Atlantic States with Mrs。
Leyton。 While rumors had played freely with the relations of
Somers and the Signora as the possible cause of the rupture between
him and Rushbrook； no mention had ever been made of the name of
Miss Nevil。
It was raining heavily one afternoon； when Mr。 Rushbrook drove from
his office to his San Francisco house。 The fierce struggle in
which he was engaged left him little time for hospitality； and for
the last two weeks his house had been comparatively deserted。 He
passed through the empty rooms； changed in little except the
absence of some valuable monstrosities which had gone to replenish
his capital。 When he reached his bedroom； he paused a moment at
the open door。
〃James！〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said James； appearing out of the shadow。
〃What are you waiting for？〃
〃I thought you might be wanting something； sir。〃
〃You were waiting there this morning； you were in the ante…room of
my study while I was writing。 You were outside the blue room while
I sat at breakfast。 You were at my elbow in the drawing…room late
last night。 Now； James；〃 continued Mr。 Rushbrook； with his usual
grave directness； 〃I don't intend to commit suicide； I can't afford
it； so keep your time and your rest for yourselfyou want it
that's a good fellow。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃James！〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Rushbrook extended his hand。 There was that faint； rare smile on
his handsome mouth； for which James would at any time have laid
down his life。 But he only silently grasped his master's hand； and
the two men remained looking into each other's eyes without a word。
Then Mr。 Rushbrook entered his room； lay down； and went to sleep；
and James vanished in the shadow。
At the end of an hour Mr。 Rushbrook awoke refreshed； and even
James； who came to call him； appeared to have brightened in the
interval。 〃I have ordered a fire； sir； in the reserved room； the
one fitted up from Los Osos； as your study has had no chance of
being cleaned these two weeks。 It will be a change for you； sir。
I hope you'll excuse my not waking you to consult you about it。〃
Rushbrook remained so silent that James； fancying he had not heard
him； was about to repeat himself when his master said quickly；
〃Very well； come for me there when dinner is ready；〃 and entered
the passage leading to the room。 James did not follow him； and
when Mr。 Rushbrook； opening the door； started back with an
exclamation； no one but the inmate heard the word that rose to his
lips。
For there； seated before the glow of the blazing fire； was Miss
Grace Nevil。 She had evidently just arrived； for her mantle was
barely loosened around her neck； and upon the fringe of brown hair
between her bonnet and her broad； low forehead a few drops of rain
still sparkled。 As she lifted her long lashes quickly towards the
door； it seemed as if they； too； had caught a little of that
moisture。 Rushbrook moved impatiently forward； and then stopped。
Grace rose unhesitatingly to her feet； and met him half…way with
frankly outstretched hands。 〃First of all；〃 she said； with a half
nervous laugh； 〃don't scold James； it's all my fault； I forbade him
to announce me； lest you should drive me away； for I heard that
during this excitement you came here for rest； and saw no one。
Even the intrusion into this room is all my own。 I confess now
that I saw it the last night I was here； I was anxious to know if
it was unchanged； and made James bring me here。 I did not
understand it then。 I do nowandthank you。〃
Her face must have shown that she was conscious that he was still
holding her hand； for he suddenly released it。 With a heightened
color and a half girlish naivete； that was the more charming for
its contrast with her tall figure and air of thoroughbred repose；
she turned back to her chair； and lightly motioned him to take the
one before her。 〃I am here on BUSINESS； otherwise I should not
have dared to look in upon you at all。〃
She stopped； drew off her gloves with a provoking deliberation；
which was none the less fascinating that it implied a demure
consciousness of inducing some impatience in the breast of her
companion； stretched them out carefully by the fingers； laid them
down neatly on the table； placed her elbows on her knees； slightly
clasped her hands together； and bending forward； lifted her honest；
handsome eyes to the man before her。
〃Mr。 Rushbrook； I have got between four and five hundred thousand
dollars that I have no use for； I can control securities which can
be converted； if necessary； into a hundred thousand more in ten
days。 I am free and my own mistress。 It is generally considered
that I know what I am aboutyou admitted as much when I was your
pupil。 I have come here to place this sum in your hands； at your
free disposal。 You know why and for what purpose。〃
〃But what do you know of my affairs？〃 asked Rushbrook； quickly。
〃Everything； and I know YOU； which is better。 Call it an
investment if you likefor I know you will succeedand let me
share your profits。 Call itif you pleaserestitution； for I am
the miserable cause of your rupture with that man。 Or call it
revenge if you like；〃 she said with a faint smile； 〃and let me
fight at your side against our common enemy！ Please； Mr。
Rushbrook； don't deny me this。 I have come three thousand miles
for it； I could have sent it to youor writtenbut I feared you
would not understand it。 You are smilingyou will take it？〃
〃I cannot；〃 said Rushbrook； gravely。
〃Then you force me to go into the Stock Market myself； and fight
for you； and； unaided by YOUR genius； perhaps lose it without
benefiting you。〃
Rushbrook did not reply。
〃At least； then； tell me why you 'cannot。'〃
Rushbrook rose； and looking into her face； said quietly with his
old directness：
〃Because I love you； Miss Nevil。〃
A sudden instinct to rise and move away； a greater one to remain
and hear him speak again； and a still greater one to keep back the
blood that she felt was returning all too quickly to her cheek
after the first shock； kept her silent。 But she dropped her eyes。
〃I loved you ever since I first saw you at Los Osos；〃 he went on
quickly； 〃I said to myself even then； that if there was a woman
that would fill my life； and make me what she wished me to be； it
was you。 I even fancied that day that you understood me better
than any woman； or even any man； that I had ever met before。 I
loved you through all that miserable business with that man； even
when my failure to make you happy with another brought me no nearer
to you。 I have loved you always。 I shall love you always。 I love
you more for this foolish kindness that brings YOU beneath my roof
once more； and gives me a chance to speak my heart to you； if only
once and for the last time； than all the fortune that you could put
at my disposal。 But I could not accept what you would offer me
from any woman who was not my wifeand I could not marry any woman
that did not love me。 I am perhaps past the age when I could
inspire a young girl's affection； but I have not reached the age
when I would accept anything less。〃 He stopped abruptly。 Grace
did not look up。 There was a tear glistening upon her long
eyelashes； albeit a faint smile played upon her lips。
〃Do you call this business； Mr。 Rushbrook？〃 she said softly。
〃Business？〃
〃To assume a proposal declined before it has been offered。〃
〃Gracemy darlingtell meis it possible？〃
It was too late for her to rise now； as his hands held both hers；
and his handsome mouth was smiling level with her own。 So it
really seemed to a dispassionate spectator that it WAS possible；
and before she had left the room； it even appeared to be the most
probable thing in the world。
。 。 。 。 。 。
The union of Grace Nevil and Robert