Fergus Hume

“ Aileen was both distressed and deeply moved. “Why do you talk in this dreadful way. I know you have troubles, of which I know little: Dr. Slanton who persecutes you to marry him—your health broken down by years of war-work in hospitals—this terrible opium habit, and—and—what else, what else? There is something in your life, which worries you constantly, and which you won’t tell me. Yet if you do, I may be able to help you.”
“Perhaps! Maybe! I don’t know! But——” Edith broke off tremulously and once more her eyes strayed to the trees across the lawn. ”

“ Aileen nodded her satisfaction, “And now go further. The Law——”
“No!” the woman quailed, and again her face became the colour of ashes, “it is impossible for me to appeal to the Law. The only way of escape is to cross the Atlantic.”
“That’s running away: and running away isn’t playing the game.”
“How do you know what game I am playing with Slanton?” demanded Edith, in fierce tones, and her eyes became hard. ”

“ And then—and then——” the woman’s hands rose in trembling despair, and her voice died away in a faint, sorrowful cry.
“Then he died,” whispered the girl, ending the sentence and burying her face in Edith’s lap.
For quite three minutes there was an eloquent silence, the two remaining motionless with over powering emotion. “Yes. He died of—of—his wounds,” whispered Edith in a strained, unnatural voice, “and I was left, a rich woman to face the persecutions of Cuthbert Slanton. Beast!” she cried again, and fiercely, “he has no love for me, for anyone but himself. ”

“ There was no question but that Aileen was delicately lovely with that alluring air of feminine dependence upon masculine strength, which attracts men to protect forlorn beauty. And the girl in her budding womanhood, graciously fresh as a spring flower, had already attracted at least one genuine admirer. “Does Mr. Hustings love you?” asked Edith abruptly, and ignoring the question so vehemently put. ”

“ I can’t stand it; he will drive me crazy.”
“Why don’t you appeal to the police for protection?” asked Aileen, with a flash of anger, for she also detested the doctor fervently.
Miss Danby sank back into the chair with a ghastly look: “I—I—I—daren’t.”
“Has he any hold over you?” demanded the girl, shrewdly.
“No! No! No! Of course he hasn’t. Why—why should you think that?” Edith was now white to the lips, but put the question with an uneasy laugh.
“How can I help thinking it? This is a free country, and men are not allowed to persecute women, as Dr. Slanton is persecuting you. ”

“ She stopped speaking, then stepped forward to face the girl squarely. “If I were a bad, wicked woman, would you stand by me?” she hurled the question almost savagely at Aileen.
“Yes, I would. I don’t believe you are bad,” answered the girl, steadily, “you aren’t greedy over money, or you wouldn’t want to give me, or Father, the income Roderick left you. You are not a society vampire, or you wouldn’t stay here at the Back-of-Beyond. You don’t seem to gain anything by being wicked, therefore, you can’t be wicked, so far as I can see. ”

“ He looks much, but says little. And—and what has he to do with our conversation?”
“Much; as I intend to cross over to America as soon as is possible—alone. And I should like to leave England with the certain knowledge that Mr. ”