The Mynns' Mystery Part 12

"That anything like it, gentlemen?" said the young man, unb.u.t.toning his vest, and throwing open the flannel shirt he wore, to show, plainly marked upon his white skin, the figure described.

"Like it, sir?--yes," said the old lawyer. "Mr George Harrington, welcome home, sir, and I hope we may be the best of friends."

"And I add my congratulations, and the same wish, Mr George Harrington," said the doctor, shaking one hand as his colleague shook the other; "but," he added to himself, "as to the friendship, I have my doubts."

"And now it is my turn, Cousin George," said Saul Harrington, advancing with extended hand. "I apologise for playing the British bulldog to you, but you were a stranger, and you will be the last to blame me for showing a bold front in defence of your patrimony."

"To be sure, Cousin Saul. How are you, old fellow? Stop and let's all dine together. No more business to-day, I hope. Let's have a gla.s.s of wine--champagne--and, Cousin Saul, suppose you and I have a good long talk over a cigar."

"We will," said Saul, as they stood hand in hand, eye gazing into eye, and, singularly enough, with similar thoughts agitating each breast.

For the successor to the estate left by the original of the picture on the wall said to himself:

"If we were out in some parts of the West, Saul Harrington, any office would find it a bad spec to insure your life."

And Saul thought:

"If this man had not come back, I was master here--of the house, of the money, and of--"

He stopped and gazed hard across the room, for at that moment, looking flushed and handsome, Gertrude stood hesitating at the doorway, as if asking if she might come in.

"Yes," said Saul to himself, and as if in conclusion of his unfinished thought, "and of you, too."

CHAPTER TEN.

TWO WARNINGS.

Time soon slips by.

"Nonsense, my dear! why should we study the world? You know what my grandfather said."

"Yes, George," said Gertrude, with a peculiarly troubled look in her eyes.

"And very wisely; and as soon as you like to say you are ready, why, I am, and the world may go and hang itself."

The troubled look in Gertrude's eyes deepened, for the free and easy manner of her betrothed shocked her.

"You don't dislike me, Gertie?" he said, laughing.

"No; oh, no," she replied, looking at him wistfully.

"I know," he cried, taking her hand. "You have only, as we may say, known me a month, and you think me too rough and ready to show so much of the American camp-life; but that will soon wear off. You are such a good, gentle little thing, you'll soften me, and it will be all right."

"Going out, George?"

"Yes; I promised to run down to Greenwich with Saul Harrington. Not a bad fellow when you know him better. I say, how long are Mr and Mrs Hampton going to stay here?"

"I don't know, George."

"It's to play propriety, I suppose."

"Mrs Hampton has always been very kind to me, and I know it inconveniences her to be here."

"Then let her go."

"She has asked me to go and stay with her, George."

"Then don't go. I see: let her stay here. I'm rather sick of all this prudery, though. Better name the day, Gertie, and let's get it over."

"No, no; not yet, George. Give me a little time."

"Well, well, I won't be hard upon you, and I do want to see a little London life before that comes off."

He left the room, and Mrs Hampton, a tall, severe-looking lady in black silk, came slowly in, gazing at the dreamy-eyed girl, who did not seem to note her presence, as she took up some work, sat down in an easy-chair, and began to knit.

"Young, an enormous fortune, but I pity her," said the elderly lady to herself.

At the same moment Gertrude was pitying herself, and struggling against her own wishes.

"I have read too much, I suppose," she said to herself, "and have formed romantic ideas, and consequently George seems so different from what I pictured him to be. He is so rough and common in his ways; but what could I have expected, after the life he has led? But don't be afraid, uncle, dearest," she murmured. "I am going to be your dutiful child--I am going to be his wife; and I shall try so hard to wean him from anything that is not nice, and we shall be very happy, I am sure. Does he love me?"

Gertrude had a hard riddle to solve there, and she sat gazing thoughtfully before her for some time.

"I think so. He is always very gentle and kind to me, and he seems to wish for our marriage to take place soon; but somehow or other he cares more for Saul Harrington's company than mine. It seems strange--very strange," he said thoughtfully. "Saul Harrington is always coming here, too, now, and it does not seem as if he were attracted by me, but to be always with George; and I mistrust him--I mistrust him."

Gertrude's thoughts were interrupted by her companion, who, after watching her in a fidgety manner for some time, suddenly dropped her work in her lap, raised a great knitting-pin in a menacing way as if to defend herself against attack, and said, in a harsh, strident voice:

"And he told me I was an old goose."

"Mrs Hampton! Who did?"

"Mr Hampton, my dear; last night, when we went to bed."

"Mr Hampton!"

"Ah, you don't understand, my dear; but I have been thinking it all over, and it's my duty and I will. Mr Hampton said I was not to interfere--that I was to stay here as long as you wished, and then that you had better come and stay with us."

"It is very kind of you, Mrs Hampton," faltered Gertrude.

"Nonsense, child--only civility; and, of course, I want to do what's right by you. As I told Hampton, it wasn't right for you to be alone here in the house, and only Denton with you. A very good old woman, but only Mrs Denton; so of course we came, and I know you've always looked upon me as an incubus."

"Indeed, you do not think so."

"Well, p'r'aps not, my dear; but I'm a very pernickerty body, and not always pleasant to deal with. However, that's neither here nor there.

Like Doctor Lawrence does, Mr Hampton and I feel a kind of parental interest in you, my dear, and we want to see you happy."