Cursed by a Fortune Read online

  CHAPTER TEN.

  "I say, guv'nor, when's old Garstang going?"

  "Oh, very soon, now, boy," said James Wilton testily.

  "But you said that a week ago, and he seems to be settling down as ifthe place belonged to him."

  The father uttered a deep, long-drawn sigh.

  "It's no use for you to snort, dad; that doesn't do any good. Why don'tyou tell him to be off?"

  "No, no; impossible; and mind what you are about; be civil to him."

  "Well, I am. Can't help it; he's so jolly smooth with a fellow, and hassuch good cigars--I say, guv'nor, rather different to yourseventeen-and-six-penny boxes of weeds. I wouldn't mind, only he's inthe way so. Puts a stop to, you know what. I never get a chance withher alone; here are you two shut up all the morning over the parchments,and she don't come down; and when she does he carries me off with him.Then at night you're all there."

  "Never mind! he will soon go now; we have nearly done."

  "I'm jolly glad of it. I've been thinking that if it's going on muchlonger I'd better do without the four greys."

  "Eh?"

  "Oh, you know, guv'nor; toddle off to Gretna Green, or wherever they dothe business, and get it over."

  "No, no, no, no. There must be no nonsense, my boy," said Wilton,uneasily. "Don't do anything rash."

  "Oh, no, I won't do anything rash," said Claud, with an unpleasant grin;"only one must make one's hay when the sun shines, guv'nor."

  "There's one thing about his visit," said Wilton hurriedly; "it has doneher a great deal of good; she isn't like the same girl."

  "No; she has come out jolly. Makes it a little more bearable."

  "Eh, what, sir?--bearable?"

  "Yes. Fellow wants the prospect of some sugar or jam afterwards, totake such a sickly dose as she promised to be."

  "Oh, nonsense, nonsense. But--er--mind what you're about; nothingrash."

  "I've got my head screwed on right, guv'nor. I can manage a girl. Isay, though, she has quite taken to old Garstang; he has got such a waywith him. He can be wonderfully jolly when he likes."

  "Yes, wonderfully," said Wilton, with a groan.

  "You've no idea how he can go when we're out. He's full of capitalstories, and as larky when we're fishing or shooting as if he were onlyas old as I am. Ever seen him jump?"

  "What, run and jump?"

  "Yah! When he is mounted. He rides splendidly. Took Brown Charleyover hedge after hedge yesterday like a bird. Understands a horse aswell as I do. I like him, and we get on swimming together; but we don'twant him here now."

  "Well, well, it won't be long before he has gone," said Wilton, hurryingsome papers away over which he and Garstang had been busy all themorning. "Where are you going this afternoon?"

  "Ride. He wants to see the Cross Green farm."

  "Eh?" said Wilton, looking up sharply, and with an anxious gleam in hiseyes. "Did he say that?"

  "Yes; and we're off directly after lunch. I say, though, what was thatletter about?"

  "What letter?" said Wilton, starting nervously.

  "Oh, I say; don't jump as if you thought the bailiffs were coming in. Imeant the one brought over from the station half-an-hour ago."

  "I had no letter."

  "Sam said one came. It must have been for old Garstang then."

  "Am I intruding? Business?" said Garstang, suddenly appearing at thedoor.

  "Eh? No; come in. We were only talking about ordinary things. Sitdown. Lunch must be nearly due. Want to speak to me?"

  All this in a nervous, hurried way.

  "Never mind lunch," said Garstang quietly; "I want you to oblige me, mydear James, by ordering that brown horse round."

  Wilton uttered a sigh of relief, and his face, which had been turningghastly, slowly resumed its natural tint.

  "But I understood from Claud here that you were both going out afterlunch."

  "I've had a particular letter sent down in a packet, and I must rideover and telegraph back at some length."

  "We'll send Tom over for you," said Claud; and then he felt as if hewould have given anything to withdraw the words.

  "It's very good of you," said Garstang, smiling pleasantly, "but thebusiness is important. Oblige me by ordering the horse at once."

  "Oh, I'll run round. Have Brown Charley here in five minutes."

  "Thank you, Claud; and perhaps you'll give me a glass of sherry and abiscuit, James?"

  "Yes, yes, of course; but you'll be back to dinner?"

  "Of course. We must finish what we are about."

  "Yes, we must finish what we are about," said Wilton, with a dismallook; and he rang the bell, just as Claud passed the window on the wayto the stables.

  A quarter of an hour later Garstang was cantering down the avenue, justas the lunch-bell was ringing; and Claud winked at his father as theycrossed to the drawing-room, where his mother and Kate were seated, andchuckled to himself as he thought of the long afternoon he meant tohave.

  "Oh, I say, guv'nor, it's my turn now," he cried, as Wilton crossedsmiling to his niece, and offered her his arm.

  "All in good time, my boy; all in good time. You bring in your mother.I don't see why I'm always to be left in the background. Come along,Kate, my dear; you must have me to-day."

  "Why, where is John Garstang?" cried Mrs Wilton.

  "Off on the horse, mother," said Claud, with a grin. "Gone over to thestation to wire."

  "Gone without saying good-bye?"

  "Oh, he's coming back again, mother; but we can do without him for oncein the way. I say, Kate, I want you to give me this afternoon for thatlesson in riding."

  "Riding, my dear?"

  "Yes, mother, riding. I'm going to give Kitty some lessons on thelittle mare."

  "No, no; not this afternoon," said the girl nervously, as they enteredthe dining-room.

  "Yes, this afternoon. You've got to make the plunge, and the sooner youdo it the better."

  "Thank you; you're very good, but I was going to read to aunt."

  "Oh, never mind me, my dear; you go with Claud. It's going to be alovely afternoon."

  "I should prefer not to begin yet," said Kate, decisively.

  "Get out," cried Claud. "What a girl you are. You'll come."

  "I'm sure Claud will take the greatest care of you, my darling."

  "Yes, aunt, I am sure he would; but the lessons must wait for a while."

  "All right, Kitty. Come for a drive, then. I'll take you a goodround."

  "I should prefer to stay at home this afternoon, Claud."

  "Very well, then, we'll go on the big pond, and I'll teach you how totroll."

  She turned to speak to her uncle, to conceal her annoyance, but Claudpersevered.

  "You will come, won't you?" he said.

  "Don't worry your cousin, Claud, my dear, if she would rather not," saidMrs Wilton.

  "Who's worrying her?" said Claud, testily. "I say, Kate, say you'llcome."

  "I would rather not to-day," she said, quietly.

  "There now, you're beginning to mope again, and I mean to stop it. Itell you what; we'll have out the guns, and I'll take you along by thefir plantation."

  "No, no, my boy," said Wilton, interposing. "Kate isn't a boy."

  "Who said she was?" said the young man, gruffly. "Can't a woman pull atrigger if she likes?"

  "I daresay she could, my dear," said Mrs Wilton; "but I'm sure Ishouldn't like to. I've often heard your papa say how badly gunskicked."

  "So do donkeys, mother," said Claud, sulkily; "but I shouldn't put heron one that did. You'll come, won't you, dear?"

  "No, Claud," said Kate, very quietly and firmly. "I could not find anypleasure in trying to destroy the life of a beautiful bird."

  "Ha, ha! I say, we are nice. Don't you eat any pheasant at dinner,then. There's a brace for to-night. Old Garstang shot 'em--a cruelwretch."

  Kate looked at him indignantly, and then began conversing with heruncle, while
her cousin relapsed into sulky silence, and began to eat asif he were preparing for a famine to come, his mother shaking her headat him reproachfully every time she caught his eye.

  The lunch at an end, Kate took her uncle's arm and went out into theveranda with him for a few minutes as the sun was shining, and as soonas they were out of hearing Claud turned fiercely upon his mother.

  "What were you shaking your head at me like that for?" he cried. "Youlooked like some jolly old Chinese figure."

  "For shame, my dear. Don't talk to me like that, or I shall be very,very cross with you. And look here, Claud, you mustn't be rough withyour cousin. Girls don't like it."

  "Oh, don't they? Deal you know about it."

  "And there's another thing I want to say to you. If you want to win heryou must not be so attentive to that Miss Leigh."

  "Who's attentive to Miss Leigh?" said the young man, savagely.

  "You are, my dear; you quite flirted with her when she was here with herbrother last night, and I heard from one of the servants that you wereseen talking to her in Lower Lane on Monday."

  "Then it was a lie," he cried, sharply. "Tell 'em to mind their ownbusiness. Now, look here, mother, you want me to marry Katey, don'tyou?"

  "Of course, my dear."

  "Then you keep your tongue still and your eyes shut. The guv'nor 'll beoff directly, and you'll be taking her into the drawing-room."

  "Yes, my dear."

  "Well, I'm not going out; I'm going to have it over with her thisafternoon, so you slip off and leave me to my chance while there is one.I'm tired of waiting for old Garstang to be out of the way."

  "But I don't think I ought to, my dear."

  "Then I do. Look here, she knows what's coming, and that's why shewouldn't come out with me, you know. It's all gammon, to lead me on.She means it. You know what girls are. I mean to strike while theiron's hot."

  "But suppose--"

  "I shan't suppose anything of the kind. She only pretends. Weunderstand one another with our eyes. I know what girls are; and yougive me my chance this afternoon, and she's mine. She's only holdingoff a bit, I tell you."

  "Perhaps you are right, my dear; but don't hurt her feelings by beingtoo premature."

  "Too gammon! You do what I say, and soon. I don't want old Garstangback before we've got it all over. Keep dark; here they come."

  Kate entered with her uncle as soon as he had spoken, and Claud attackedher directly.

  "Altered your mind?" he said.

  "No, Claud; you must excuse me, please," was the reply.

  "All right. Off, father?"

  "Yes, my boy. In about half an hour or so; I have two or three lettersto write."

  "Two or three letters to write!" muttered the young man, as he went outinto the veranda, to light his pipe, and keep on the watch for thecoveted opportunity; "haven't you any brains in your head?"

  But James Wilton's half-hour proved to be an hour, and when, afterseeing him off, the son returned to the hall, he heard voices in thedrawing-room, and gave a vicious snarl.

  "Why the devil don't she go?" he muttered.

  There were steps the next moment, and he drew back into the dining-roomto listen, the conversation telling him that his mother and cousin weregoing into the library to get some particular book.

  There, to the young man's great disgust, they stayed, and he waited forquite half an hour trying to control his temper, and devise some planfor trying to get his mother away.

  At last she appeared, saying loudly as she looked back, "I shall be backdirectly, my dear," and closed the door.

  Claud appeared at once, and with a meaning smile at his mother, shecrossed to the stairs, while as she ascended to her room the son wentstraight to the library and entered.

  As he threw open the door he found himself face to face with his cousin,who, book in hand, was coming out of the room.

  "Hallo!" he cried, with a peculiar laugh; "Where's the old lady?"

  "She has just gone to her room, Claud," said Kate, quietly.

  "Here, don't be in such a hurry, little one," he cried, pushing to thedoor. "What's the matter?"

  "Nothing," she said, quietly, though her heart was throbbing heavily; "Iwas going to take my book into the drawing-room."

  "Oh, bother the old books!" he cried, snatching hers away, and catchingher by the wrist; "come and sit down; I want to talk to you."

  "You can talk to me in the drawing-room," she said, trying hard to befirm.

  "No, I can't; it's better here. I say, Kitty, when shall it be?"

  "When shall what be?"

  "Our wedding. You know."

  "Never," she said, gravely, fixing her eyes upon his.

  "What?" he cried. "What nonsense! You know how I love you. I do, 'ponmy soul. I never saw anyone who took my fancy so before."

  "Do your mother and father know that you are talking to me in this madway?--you, my own cousin?" she said, firmly.

  "What do I care whether they do or no?" he said, with a laugh; "I'vebeen weaned for a long time. I say, don't hold me off; don't play witha fellow like silly girls do. I love you ever so, and I'm alwaysthinking about your beautiful eyes till I can't sleep of a night. It'squite right for you to hold me off for a bit, but there's been enough ofit, and I know you like me."

  "I have tried to like you as my cousin," she said, gravely.

  "That'll do for a beginning," he replied, laughingly; "but let's get alittle farther on now, I say. Kitty, you are beautiful, you know, andwhenever I see you my heart goes pumping away tremendously. I can'ttalk like some fellows do, but I can love a girl with the best of them,and I want you to pitch over all shilly-shally nonsense, and let's go onnow like engaged people."

  "You are talking at random and of what is unnatural and impossible.Please never to speak to me again like this, Claud; and now loose mywrist, and let me go."

  "Likely, when I've got you alone at last I say, don't hold me off likethis; it's so silly."

  She made a brave effort to hide the alarm she felt; and with a suddensnatch she freed her wrist and darted across the room.

  The flight of the hunted always gives courage to the hunter, and in thiscase he sprang after her, and the next minute had clasped her round thewaist.

  "Got you!" he said, laughingly; "no use to struggle; I'm twice as strongas you."

  "Claud! How dare you?" she cried, with her eyes flashing.

  "'Cause I love you, darling."

  "Let go. It is an insult. It is a shame to me. Do you know what youare doing?"

  "Yes; getting tighter hold of you, so as to kiss those pretty lips andcheeks and eyes--There, and there, and there!"

  "If my uncle knew that you insulted me like this--"

  "Call him; he isn't above two miles off."

  "Aunt--aunt!" cried the girl, excitedly, and with the hot, indignanttears rising to her eyes.

  "Gone to lie down, while I have a good long loving talk with you,darling. Ah, it's of no use to struggle. Don't be so foolish. There,you've fought long enough. All girls do the same, because it is theirnature to fool it. There! now I'm master; give me a nice, pretty, longkiss, little wifie-to-be. I say, Kitty, you are a beauty. Let's bemarried soon. You don't know how happy I shall make you."

  Half mad now with indignation and fear, she wrested herself once morefree, and, scorning to call for help, she ran toward the fire place.But before she could reach the bell he struck her hand on one side,caught her closely now in his arms, and covered her face once more withkisses.

  This time a loud cry escaped her as she struggled hard, to be consciousthe next moment of some one rushing into the room, feeling herselfdragged away, and as the word "Hound!" fell fiercely upon her ear therewas the sound of a heavy blow, a scuffling noise, and a loud crash ofbreaking wood and glass.