The Vicar's People Part 53

"Half the distance got over!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "Wheal Carnac is a success."

"Is this keeping your word, Mr Trethick?" said a stern voice; but Geoffrey and Rhoda did not start apart.

"I could not keep back my news, Mr Penwynn," cried Geoffrey, going to the table and seizing the bag.

"News! What news?"

"That you own one of the richest mines in Cornwall, Mr Penwynn," cried Geoffrey. "Look here."

The banker looked at him to see if he was sane; then at the piece of ore that had been brought, which he inspected again and again through his gla.s.ses.

"Very, very rich stuff," he said at last. "But is this from Wheal Carnac?"

"Yes, sir, as I had hoped. We have struck an enormously rich lode. The poor fellows must have been within inches of it years ago when they left off; and, yes, of course," he said, as he recalled the noise of the water heard on the previous night, "they must have been afraid to go any farther on account of the sea."

"And," said Mr Penwynn, whose customary calmness was swept away by the news, "do you mean to tell me, Trethick, that Wheal Carnac is going to turn out a very valuable property?"

"I tell you, Mr Penwynn," said Geoffrey, proudly, "that unless some strange, unforeseen accident occurs to spoil the project, Wheal Carnac _has_ turned out an enormously valuable property."

The banker glanced at the rich ore and then at Geoffrey, who had no hesitation in sitting down to breakfast, and drinking in with the mundane coffee the proud and joyous glances of his love.

Over the meal he told them of Pengelly's researches, and of his announcement on the previous night; then of his visit and careful examination of the gallery.

"There's nothing to fear," he said, "but the water; and I dare say I can guard against that."

The banker became very silent, and sat after Geoffrey had ended, glancing from one to the other, reading as plainly as if it were writ in plain English of his daughter's love for the enterprising, manly young fellow at his table.

Mr Penwynn was weighing matters of the heart in his own mind, just as he would have weighed any business speculation; and when from time to time his matter-of-fact worldliness bade him treat Geoffrey in a plain business-like manner, a look from Rhoda seemed to master him, and he felt as yielding as so much modelling-clay.

"It seems a great folly," he thought. "He is a stranger, an adventurer, and yet his first venture brings me wealth. There," he said to himself, at last, "I'm rich enough, and I'm getting old very fast; let me see her happy if I can."

There was something so frank and friendly in his way of speaking to Geoffrey afterwards that, without a word, Rhoda came to him, laid her hands upon his shoulders and her cheek upon his breast.

She let it lie there for a minute or two, and then, with a glance at him full of affection, she left his side, and, half-timidly, in a way so very different to her usual self, she crossed to Geoffrey and placed her hands in his.

"This is going on fast, Trethick," said Mr Penwynn, smiling, and looking half-perplexed; "but we have only a hint of success yet. I am a man of the world, recollect, and I want to see a big banking balance to the credit of the mine."

"Never fear, sir, that shall follow. Only give me time."

"Well, Trethick," said Mr Penwynn, after a struggle with self, in which, after sordidness and avarice had nearly won the victory, a look from Rhoda's transformed, happy face turned the scale, "what am I to say to you about a share in the prosperity?"

"Let's get the big balance in the bank first, sir," said Geoffrey, laughing. "We will not divide a castle in the air."

"But it would be more business-like and careful if you made your bargain now."

"So I should have thought a month ago, Mr Penwynn," said Geoffrey, holding out his hand. "Our interests ran together then. Now--I think-- I hope--they are one, and I cannot strike bargains with the father of the woman!--"

He stopped and looked at Rhoda, who slowly raised her eyes to his, and then her hands, which he took softly, reverently, and kissed. Then he turned to Mr Penwynn and finished his sentence--"most dearly love."

The banker watched them very thoughtfully, for it seemed hardly real to him. In fact, at times he asked himself if it were not a dream.

He was roused from recollections of his own career, some five-and-twenty years before, by Geoffrey turning to him abruptly.

"Mr Penwynn," he said, "I leave myself in your hands. I am working in our mutual interests."

"And suppose I play false?" said Mr Penwynn.

"You can't, sir," cried Geoffrey, "with Rhoda here. If you treated me hard, you would be behaving ill to your daughter, and that you will not do. Now, good-morning. When will you come down and see the lode?"

"I'm not fond of going down mines," said Mr Penwynn.

"But in this case you will, I think," said Geoffrey.--"I'll answer for your safety. Miss Penwynn--Rhoda?"

"Yes," she cried, answering his unspoken question, "I will come down too. I shall not be afraid, and I want to christen the Rhoda vein."

"To be sure," cried Geoffrey, "the vein that is to bring us all wealth and happiness."

He hurried away, and Rhoda ran to the window to see him pa.s.s; while Mr Penwynn picked up the piece of tin ore, balanced it in his hands, and, recalling certain rumours of tricks that had been played upon mine-owners, he said to himself,--

"Suppose he should play me false?"

And directly after, when he saw Rhoda's hand waved to Trethick, as he glanced back,--

"Suppose he should play her false?" for certain other rumours came to his mind. "Poor girl, it would break her heart."

Just then, bright, flushed, and animated, Rhoda turned to him.

"No," he said to himself, "she has too much pride."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

A BARGAIN.

"What?" roared Tregenna, furiously.

"It'll turn out the richest mine in Cornwall, sir."

"You're a fool! Absurd! Ridiculous!" cried Tregenna, biting his nails, and then making his teeth grit together as he glared at the rough miner before him.

"Dessay I be," said the man, surlily; "but I've been at work in the gallery all day, and I never see such tin ore before."

"And I've let this go for a paltry few hundreds--a thousand or two at most," muttered Tregenna. "But it can't be true. Are you sure?" he said aloud.

"Sure enough, sir, and I thought you'd like to know. I didn't expect to be called a fool for my pains."

"No, no, of course not, Lannoe," said Tregenna, hurriedly. "I was put out. I've heard the gossip all day, but I thought it exaggerated. I'm glad you've come."