The Laughing Mill and Other Stories Part 14

Arrived at our destination, I followed my trunk to my room, having arranged to take an early dinner with my friends. It was nearly two hours before we met again. The dinner pa.s.sed with the same sort of desultory conversation that we had affected during our walk. Mr.

Birchmore's manner was serious and rather cold. Kate, too, was subdued and grave; not the brilliant laughing Kate of the railway carriage. We were waited upon at table by the saturnine valet whom his master called Slurk--a name that seemed to me to suit him excellently well. He waited on us in perfect silence from the beginning of the meal to the end, though several times peremptorily addressed by his master. There was to me something disagreeably impressive in the fellow's very taciturnity--it seemed to indicate reserved power. Kate, I noticed, was careful never to speak to him, but I saw his glance several times directed fixedly upon her.

"After dinner Mr. Birchmore produced a cigar and said:

"'I must take a droschkey over to our farmhouse. Do you young people care to come, or would you rather stay here?'

"'I think I'll stay, papa, please,' answered Kate.

"'And I, to see that n.o.body runs away with her,' I added with an easy smile.

"'Slurk, get me a carriage,' said Mr. Birchmore; and nodding a good-bye to us he went out.

"'How far is it from here--this farmhouse, Miss Birchmore?' I asked, when we were alone.

"'I believe about two miles.'

"'I should like to know its exact situation.'

"'Why didn't you go with papa, then?'

"'Can't you imagine?'

"She had been absently puckering her handkerchief into folds in her lap.

Now she looked up.

"'Why do you wish to know where we are going?'

"'Because I've taken a great fancy to--to Mr. Slurk, and I can't bear to think of losing sight of him!'

"I had expected her to laugh and perhaps blush; instead of that an expression of something like terror swept over her face, and she laid her finger on her lip.

"'Don't talk of him!' she whispered.

"Her emotion had so surprised me that I could only stare in silence.

Here was another mystery--or stay! could it be that Slurk was at the bottom of all those strange signs and enigmas that I had been puzzling myself over from the first? I was prepared to believe whatever amount of evil concerning the fellow might be required. But what could he have done, or have it in his power to do, that could so affect Miss Birchmore? Had he held her life or fortune at the mercy of a word she could hardly have betrayed more dismay at my jesting satire.

"'It's nothing,' she said, recovering herself after a moment. 'Only I don't like him much, and you--and I wasn't expecting to hear his name just then.'

"'Heaven knows, it is a very different name I should have spoken!'

"'No, no, no. You have amused yourself with me to-day; and to-morrow, you must find someone else to amuse you, that's all!'

"'Amused myself, Miss Birchmore!'

"'Well, Mr. Gainsborough, I'm sorry if I failed to entertain you. I'm sure I tried hard. But it's so difficult to entertain an Englishman!'

"'Upon my word, I believe you've been laughing at me from the beginning!

But however ridiculous I may be, Miss Birchmore, I can have thoughts and feelings that are not ridiculous----'

"'Oh, please--please don't be angry. And I'm sure I never thought you ridiculous, I--oh, anything but that!'

"The tone, the look which accompanied these last words made me forget caution and self-possession for the moment. 'Miss Birchmore--oh Kate! I cannot lose sight of you--I cannot lose you! Do you care--is it nothing to you if we never meet after to-day? Kate, I love you!'

"Had the confession come too soon? Was she offended? She shrank away from me with a searching glance.

"'Do not forget yourself, sir! You are an honourable English gentleman.

What have you said?'

"'I love you--yes, love you!'

"'Love me!' she repeated slowly, and caught her breath; her eyes fixed themselves on me with an inward look, as of intense reverie. 'It must not be--it must not be! but he does love me!' Her hands fell in her lap; there were tears now in her eyes, but a smile quivered over her lips.

"'Why do you say it must not be, Kate? It is! It shall be!' I took her hand, which she scarcely attempted to withdraw; I felt that I had won her, and would hold her against all comers. Just then a knock came at the door; she s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand away and rose to her feet. Mr. Slurk entered.

"'The band is going to play in the court,' he said in German. 'I have kept chairs and a table for the lady and gentleman beneath the trees.'

He made a low obeisance as he spoke, but his malignant glance never swerved from Kate; and she, half turning towards him, seemed impelled by a power stronger than her own will to meet it, though slightly shivering the while with pure aversion. For my own part, I longed with all my heart to kick the varlet into the hall, or throw him out of the window. But prudence warned me to bide my time. If I obtained the footing to which I aspired in Mr. Birchmore's family, I would settle summarily with Mr. Slurk; meanwhile, I should best consult my interests by conducting myself with all due quietness and decorum. I offered Kate my arm to lead her from the room; but with a barely perceptible gesture she declined it, and walked swiftly before me through the doorway, Slurk making another deep obeisance as we pa.s.sed. The fellow had a smooth unimpeachable way of getting the better of one that made my blood boil; I commanded myself not without an effort, and nursed my wrath to keep it warm.

"When we reached the court, the bra.s.s band had established itself in the little paG.o.da erected there for its accommodation, and was just striking up; and there, sure enough, were a table and chairs awaiting us beneath the trees. But neither of us was in a humour to face a crowd of people; and by a tacit agreement we turned to the right, and crossing the little plank bridge which spanned the narrow stream that skirted the hotel grounds, we found ourselves in the high-road leading up the valley.

Along this we walked for some distance, both of us silent; at length the opening of a path presented itself, which climbed by a zigzag route to the summit of the pine-clad hill. Into this we turned, and in a few moments were out of sight of alien eyes amidst the thick-growing hemlocks. The ascent was steep, and at the first turning in the path my beautiful companion paused for breath.

"'Will you take my arm now, Kate?' I said.

"With a faint smile she complied. 'Just for this once,' I heard her murmur, seemingly speaking to herself. 'Never again--but this once I will!'

"'Now, Kate,' I said resolutely, bending forward so as to catch her eye, 'let us have done with mysteries. No more "never-agains" and "just-this-onces," if you please! First, I want you tell me whether you love me?'

"She drew her breath hard. 'I can tell you nothing, Mr.

Gainsborough----'

"'You shall not call me "Mr. Gainsborough." If you can't call me "Tom,"

call me nothing; but I will never be "Mr. Gainsborough" to you again!'

"'I thought we were to have no more "never-agains?"' she rejoined, with a pa.s.sing sparkle of the former playfulness in her air.

"'None of yours, I meant.'

"'I will call you "Tom," if you please, on one condition.'

"'What condition?'

"'That you let it be "just this once!"'

"'Kate, do you love me?'

"'Oh, you are cruel!' she cried, with pa.s.sionate emphasis, slipping her hand from my arm and facing me with glowing looks. 'I wish I could say I hate you! You are a man of the world, and I a poor girl from a convent, who know nothing. I am trying to do right, and you oppose me--you make it hard and bitter to me. If you loved me as I--as I would love if I were a man, you would not press me so. I tell you, it must not be!'

"'What is, shall be, Kate! Dear Kate, we love each other; and who in the world shall prevent it, or forbid our being married?'

"'Hush! hush!' She came a step nearer to me, and caught my sleeve with her little hand, as a timorous child might do; glancing nervously over her shoulder as if something fearful were hidden amongst the trees. 'Did you hear nothing?' she whispered. 'Did not someone call me?'