Lalage's Lovers Part 27

Miss Pettigrew smiled and then checked herself. Amus.e.m.e.nt struggled with a certain grimness for expression on her face. In the end she smiled again.

"Lalage has always made me laugh," she said, "ever since she was quite a little girl. That's what makes it so difficult to manage her."

"Why try?" I said. "Lord Thormanby has washed his hands of her. So have I. The Canon wants to. Wouldn't it be simpler if you did too?"

"It would be much simpler," said Miss Pettigrew. "But I'm not going to do it. I have a very strong affection for Lalage."

"We all have," I said. "No one, not even the Canon has a stronger affection than I have; but I don't see how that helps us much. Something more is required. If sincere affection would have saved Lalage from the equivocal position in which she now is----"

Miss Pettigrew looked at me in a curious way which made me feel hot and very uncomfortable even before I imderstood what she was thinking about.

Her eyes twinkled most brilliantly. The smile which had hovered about her lips before broadened. I recollected what the Canon told me the night before. Miss Pettigrew had suggested marriage for Lalage. I had at once thought of Vittie. Miss Pettigrew was not thinking of Vittie. I felt myself getting red in the face as she looked at me.

"I couldn't," I said at last. "This influenza has completely unstrung me. I shouldn't have the nerve. You must admit, Miss Pettigrew, that it would require nerve."

"I'm not suggesting your doing it to-day," said Miss Pettigrew.

"Nor any other day," I said. "I shouldn't be able to screw myself up to the pitch. I'm not that kind of man at all. What you want is some one more of the Young Lochinvar type, or a buccaneer. They're all dashing men who shrink from nothing. Why not advertise for a buccaneer?"

"I don't suppose she'd marry you if you did ask her," said Miss Pettigrew.

"I am sure she wouldn't, so we needn't go on talking about that. Won't you let me ring and get you a cup of tea? They make quite good tea in this hotel!"

"It's too early for tea, and I want to discuss this business of Lalage's seriously. The position has become quite impossible."

"It's been that for more than a week--but it still goes on. That's the worst of impossible positions. n.o.body can ever stop them. t.i.therington said it was impossible the day before he got influenza. You don't know t.i.therington, nor does the Canon. But if you did you'd realize that he's not the kind of man to let an impossible position alone and yet he was baffled. I had letters yesterday morning from Vittie and O'Don-oghue asking me to cooperate with them in suppressing Lalage They see that the position is impossible just as plainly as you do. But they can't do anything. In fact they've gone to bed."

"I'm not going to bed," said Miss Pettigrew. "I'm going to bring Lalage home with me."

"How?"

"I rather hoped," said Miss Pettigrew, "that you might have some suggestion that would help us."

"I made my only suggestion to t.i.therington a week ago and it didn't come off. There's no use my making it again!"

"What was it? Perhaps I could work it out."

"It wasn't much of a suggestion really. It was only Hilda's mother."

"I've wired to her and she'll be here to-morrow. I've no doubt that she'll carry off Hilda, but she has no authority over Lalage."

"n.o.body has," said the Canon despondingly. "I've said that all along."

"What about the Provost of Trinity College?" I said. "He tackled her over the bishops. You might try him."

"He won't interfere," said the Canon. "I asked him."

"Well," I said, "I can do no more. You can see for yourself, Miss Pettigrew, that I'm not in a state to make suggestions. I'm completely exhausted already and any further mental exertion will bring on a relapse. Do let me ring for tea. I want it myself."

The door opened as I spoke. I hoped that my nurse or McMeekin had arrived and would insist on my being left in peace. I was surprised and, in spite of my exhaustion, pleased to see Lalage and Hilda walk in.

"Father," said Lalage, "why didn't you tell me last night that the bishop is dead?"

"I didn't think it would interest you," said the Canon.

"Of course it interests me. When poor old p.u.s.s.y mentioned it to me just now I simply hopped out of my shoes with excitement and delight. So did Hilda."

"Did you hate the bishop that much?" I asked. "Worse than other bishops?"

"Not at all," said Lalage. "I never saw him except once and then I thought he was quite a lamb."

"Hilda," I said, "why did you hop out of your shoes with excitement and delight when you heard of the death of an old gentleman who never did you any harm?"

"We'll have to elect another, won't we?" said Lalage.

A horrible dread turned me quite cold. I glanced at Miss Pettigrew. Her eyes had stopped twinkling. I read fear, actual fear, in the expression of her face. We both shrank from saying anything which might lead to the confirming of our worst antic.i.p.ations. It was the Canon who spoke next.

What he said showed that he was nearly desperate.

"Lalage," he said, "will you come with me for a tour to Brazil? I've booked one berth and I can easily get another!"

"I can't possibly go to Brazil," said Lalage, "and you certainly ought not to think of it till the bishopric election is over."

"I'll take Hilda, too," said the Canon. "I should like to have Hilda.

You and she would have great fun together.

"I'll give Selby-Harrison a present of his ticket," I added, "and pay his hotel expenses. It would be a delightful trip."

"Brazil," said Miss Pettigrew, "is one of the most interesting countries in the world. I can lend you a book on the natural history."

"Hilda's mother wouldn't let her go," said Lalage. "Would she, Hilda?"

"I'm afraid not," said Hilda. "She thinks I ought to be more at home."

"Miss Pettigrew will talk her over," I said. "It's a great chance for Hilda. She oughtn't to miss it."

"And Selby-Harrison has just entered the Divinity School," said Lalage.

"He couldn't possibly afford the time."

"The long days on the steamer," I said, "would be perfectly invaluable to him. He could read theology from morning to night. There'd be nothing, except an occasional albatross, to distract his attention."

"Those South American republics," said Miss Pettigrew, "are continually having revolutions."

Miss Pettigrew is certainly a very clever woman. Her suggestion was the first thing which caused Lalage to waver. A revolution must be very attractive to a girl of her temperament; and revolutions are comparatively rare on this side of the Atlantic. Lalage certainly hesitated.

"What do you think, Hilda?" she asked.

For one moment I dared to hope.

"There's been a lot of gun-running done out there lately," I said, "and I heard of a new submarine on the Amazon."