Cursed by a Fortune Part 74

"You will, dear, when some day we meet Kate, and all this mystery about her is at an end."

"Meet Miss Wilton and her husband," he said, bitterly.

"No, dear; if I know anything of women you will never meet Kate Wilton's husband. Pierce, dear, I am your sister, and I have been so lonely lately, ever since we came to London. You have never quite forgiven me all that unhappy business. Don't you think you could if you tried?"

He sat perfectly silent for a few moments, and then reached round, took her in his arms, and kissed her long and lovingly.

In an instant she was clinging to his neck, sobbing wildly, and he had hard work trying to soothe her.

But she changed again just as quickly, and laughed at him through her tears.

"There," she cried, "now I feel ten years younger. Five minutes ago I was quite an old woman. But, Pierce, you will confide in me now, and make me quite as we used to be?"

"Yes," he said.

She wound her arms tightly round his neck, and laid her face to his.

"Then confess to me, dear," she whispered. "You do dearly love Kate Wilton?"

He was silent for some moments, and then slowly and dreamily his words were breathed close to her ear.

"Yes; and I shall never love again."

Jenny turned up her face and kissed him, but hid it, burning, directly after in his breast.

"Pierce dear," she whispered, "I have no one else to talk to like this.

May I confess something now to you?"

"Why not?" he said, gently. "Confidence for confidence."

She was silent in turn for some time. Then she spoke almost in a whisper.

"Will you be very angry, Pierce, if I tell you that I think I am beginning to like Claud Wilton very much?"

"Like--him?" he cried, scornfully.

"I mean love him, Pierce," she said, quietly.

"Jenny! Impossible!"

"That's what I used to think, dear, but it is not."

"You foolish baby, what is there in the fellow that any woman could love?"

"Something I've found out, dear."

"In Heaven's name, what?"

"He loves me with all his heart."

"He has no heart."

"You don't know him as I do, Pierce. He has, and a very warm one."

"Has he dared to make proposals to you again?"

"No, not a word. But he isn't like the same. It was all through you, Pierce. I made him love me, and now he looks up to me as if I were something he ought to worship, and--and I can't help liking him for it."

"Oh, you must not think of it," cried Leigh.

"That's what I've told myself hundreds of times, dear, but it will come, and--and, Pierce, dear, it's very dreadful, but we can't help it when the love comes. Do you think we can?"

She slipped from him, and dashed the tears from her eyes, for her quick senses detected a step, and the next moment a quiet-looking maid-servant announced the dinner.

No more was said, but the manner of sister and brother was warmer than it had been for months; and though he made no allusions, there was a half-reproachful, half-mocking smile on Leigh's lips when his eyes met Jenny's.

The dinner ended, he went into their little plainly-furnished drawing-room to steal half-an-hour's rest before hurrying off to make the call as requested; and he had not left the house ten minutes when there was a hurried ring at the bell.

Jenny clapped her hands, and burst into a merry laugh.

"I am glad," she cried. "No; I ought to be sorry for the poor people.

But how they are finding out what a dear, clever, old fellow Pierce is!

I wonder who this can be?"

She was not kept long in doubt, for the servant came up.

"If you please, ma'am, there's that gentleman again who called to see master."

"What gentleman?" said Jenny, suddenly turning nervous--"Mr Wilton?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Did you tell him your master was out?"

"Yes, ma'am, and he said would you see him just a moment?"

"I'll come down," said Jenny, turning very hard and stiff; and it seemed to be a different personage who descended to Leigh's consulting room, where Claud was walking up and down with his hat on.

"Ah, Miss Leigh!" he cried, excitedly, as he half ran to her, with his hands extended.

But Jenny did not seem to see them; only standing pokeresque, and gazing at the young fellow's hat.

"Eh? What's the matter? Oh, I beg your pardon," he cried, catching it off confusedly; "I'm so excited, I forgot. But I can't stop; I'll come in again by and by and see your brother. Only tell him I've found her."

"Found Kate Wilton?" cried Jenny, dropping her formal manner and catching him by the arm, his hand dropping upon hers directly.

"Yes, I'm as sure as sure. I've been on the scent for some time, and I never could be sure; but I'm about certain now, and I want your brother to come and help me, for he has a better right than I have to be there."