Sir Hilton's Sin Part 22

"Certainly not. Go on."

"Mark said he thought they were going over to the races, but he was not sure."

"H'm!" sighed Lady Lisle, and then to herself: "Tilborough--the telegram--an excuse."

Jane backed towards the door, and had already taken the handle, when, after a fierce internal struggle with the jealous rage within her, Lady Lisle said in a slow, would-be careless way: "Did anyone call while I was out?"

"Yes, my lady; Dr Granton."

"That was while I was away with the pony-carriage, Jane. I returned and saw him."

"Of course; so you did, my lady."

"I meant since."

"Yes, my lady; after you'd gone in the b'rouche. Lady Tilborough came on horseback."

"To call on me?"

"She asked for Sir Hilton, my lady."

"Ha!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the jealous woman, through the envelope.

"But she said something, my lady," cried Jane, womanlike, grasping her mistress's feelings and eager to put matters right. "Ah, what did she say?" came like lightning.

"She said you wasn't at home, my lady, for she met you in the road."

"The brazen deception!" said Lady Lisle to herself. "A cloak of cunning to try and hide her sin."

"She did not stop very long, my lady, but went off before I could get to the door. I think she wanted to see Dr Granton."

"Of course," cried her mistress, with the calm envelope now rent to tatters, and the agony of pa.s.sion carrying all before it. "And what then?"

Jane was silent.

"I said what then? Speak out, girl; I command you!"

"I beg pardon, my lady," stammered the girl, growing fluttered before the fierce gaze and losing her presence of mind completely, and wildly misconstruing the stern question.

For maddened by her feelings, Lady Lisle took three or four quick steps towards the girl and caught her by the wrist. "You are keeping something back," she cried. "How dare you! Answer me at once, and tell me all you know."

Jane burst out sobbing. "Don't, my lady; don't," she cried. "You hurt my arm."

"Then speak out--at once."

"But I don't like to, my lady. I'm very sorry for you; I am, indeed, but--but--but pr'aps it mayn't be so bad as you think, and--and--and--I don't like to make mischief."

The girl's genuine suffering had a peculiar effect upon Lady Lisle.

"Thank you, Jane," she said sadly. "I have always tried to be a good mistress to you."

"You have, my lady, though you've always been a bit 'aughty," cried Jane, through her sobs and tears, "and I'd do anything to help you now you're in such grief."

"Tell me, then, all--all, my good girl."

"Well, my lady, I was in the room over here--the blue room, my lady."

"Yes, yes; go on."

"And I happened to be at the window, when I saw, as I thought, a boy come up quick on his bicycle, slip in through the gate, and come up."

"To the front door. Yes, yes, with another telegraphic message?"

"No, my lady; that's what I thought, but he--he only come to the window here, and got in."

"Got in?"

"Yes, my lady; for I reached out and there was the bicycle leaning up against the creepers and the roses, and I could hear voices, and someone sobbing, and--and--"

Jane's mouth shut with a snap.

"Why do you stop?" said Lady Lisle, excitedly.

"I don't--don't like to tell you any more, my lady. I don't--I don't indeed."

"Jane!"

"Pray don't make me tell, my lady," sobbed the girl; "it will hurt you so."

"I must bear it, Jane," said the poor woman, hoa.r.s.ely. "I must know the truth."

Jane gave a gulp, as if she was swallowing something, and her voice changed almost to a whisper, as she went on: "I could hear whispering, my lady, and--and--and--Oh! don't make me tell, my lady."

"I must know, Jane," cried the quavering questioner, in a tone which completely mastered all further hesitation.

"There was kissing, my lady, quite plain, and she--"

"_She_?"

"Yes, my lady--began sobbing and crying, and him whispering to her not to make such a noise or she'd be heard, and calling her dear and darling, I think, but it was all so low."

Lady Lisle groaned.

"And it went on ever so long, my lady," continued Jane, whose hesitation was turned now in her excitement to volubility; "and then, as I stood there at the window listening, she jumped out, and I drew my head in; but I peeped out once more and she--"

"She?" gasped Lady Lisle, again.

"Oh, yes, my lady, it was a she, of course, for I just caught sight of her face as she turned to hold the gate back when she went through on her bicycle. It was a girl in national costume"--Jane meant rational--"and she was very little and very pretty and one side of her hair had come half down."