Morley Roberts

“ What would Sir George have told her to do now?
As she stood thinking she looked again at the portrait, and Hector, knowing that she had come to a crisis in her mind, did not speak. He began to understand, very vaguely, or if not to understand, to have a glimmer of dim comprehension. She almost forgot that he was there. She kept her eyes fixed upon the portrait. Once more a little sunlight showed upon it, cloudy sunshine that came and went and gave it an aspect of motion and change. To her eyes the man grew visibly alive, for to it she added her reviving memories. What would he say? ”

“ They all found her amusing, and even Felicia recovered her tongue and chattered freely. But she wondered how things stood between Hector and Lady Anne, and now in her new-found happiness, which was really great the moment it came to her, she was very sorry for Anne, and even tried to believe that she had misjudged and mistaken her. For love is charity, and, when it needs to suffer no more, is very kind indeed. ”

“ And then Lady Hale returned, weeping in a loud voice and very full of Doctor Courtney's virtues.
“I shall say the Nunc Dimittis shortly,” she sobbed. “For dear Felicia owns with tears that she is going to marry him.”
She lifted up her voice again and wept, and then called Felicia, who came in looking as if it were a thing to be ashamed of. But then Hector and Lady Anne were there, and knew things. Nevertheless, they both congratulated her.
“You've got the best man I know,” said Hector. ”

“ She has never suffered, though; never has lived, Anne. There are some who don't, just as there are some who seem born to suffer. I've learned a great deal since yesterday, Anne. I told you I'd ask you nothing, but that won't prevent me saying what I feel. I think you a good and sweet and splendid woman, and I love you better than I ever did. ”

“ Would he ask her anything about the cabinet? For a moment she contemplated betraying Anne. She knew she was a coward. But why should she? It was best to know nothing, to deny everything if he made an accusation. She rose and stared out of the window. Overhead, above the dining-room in which they breakfasted, she heard Lady Hale moving, and talking to her maid.
“I'd better go now,” she said.
As she entered the library Hector, who was seated at the desk, thought she looked absurdly young even now. She moved rather like a sullen schoolgirl expecting a lecture from the master. ”

“ But Felicia had left the room. Hector knew quite well what had happened to her and Courtney in that talk by the window. Perhaps if he suggested it to Lady Hale he might get a little more talk with Anne.
“Don't you know why he nearly squeezed our finger-nails off?” he asked.
“Do I know why?” asked Lady Hale. “Now, how could I know why?”
“Felicia knows,” said Hector; and Lady Hale stared at him. She was very much puzzled.
“Felicia knows?”
“To be sure. Now, when does a man squeeze your hand very hard?” he asked, laughing.
“When he likes you, I imagine,” returned Lady Hale. ”

“ She fairly bolted, and when the door closed behind her Hector went over to Anne.
“You saw it, Anne?”
“Oh, yes, I saw it.”
“Good old Courtney is very happy. And he doesn't know anything.”
Yet, after all, what was there to know? It was tactless of Hector to say such a thing. When men are tactful and women are wise the peace of the thousand years will be at hand. He began to walk up and down the room.
“I'm not going to ask you anything now, Anne,” he said suddenly. “But I'll do the biography. I won't even say I'll do it for you. I'll do it for Lady Hale. She's a perfect and dear old lady.” ”

“ No man could be with Tom Courtney and not discover the best within himself; while as for women, their love is their best, and always must be.
He shook hands again with everybody, and hurt them very much, for he was immensely strong, and went away in a tremendous hurry to save what remained of his waiting patients.
“The doctor is a darling,” said Lady Hale, wringing her hands and making a very wry face, “but I wish his hands were not so strong. Did he hurt you, Anne?”
Anne said that he had hurt her a little, but that she didn't mind in the least.
“And you, Felicia?” ”

“ Most people's charity toward themselves is boundless. And you are not deceiving him now.”
“Had I the right to do it? I meant to.”
Courtney spoke in some agitation.
“I think you had the right. I knew—Sir George, better than he thought; better than most.”
“And—and you liked him?”
It was strange to hear her ask that; but Courtney understood. He almost went beyond his opinion in his answer.
“Could any one help it? He had the power of a drug, let's say.”
“Oh, you understand,” said Anne, staring at him, “you do understand!”
“Even over men, mark me, even over men. ”

“ She would go to Courtney's arms thinking that. Alive he had been splendid, dead he was almost divine.
“We'll never be done with him,” said Hector to himself. “Never, never!” But he spoke cheerfully to Felicia. “Shake hands, my dear, you'll be all right. Listen, here's Lady Hale now coming chattering down-stairs. She'll burst in on us in a moment.”
And indeed the door opened then to let in Lady Hale.
“I'm so sorry to be late, my dear Hector,” she said, and, of course, you've breakfasted? To be sure, you and Felicia. So sad that Lady Anne is still unwell. I've just seen her. ”

“ Now, Felicia——”
He dilated a little on Felicia, Hector listened gravely.
“But when it comes to the brains and the beauty, which every one must recognize, why, Lady Anne is every bit Felicia's equal,” said Courtney generously, “every bit her equal.”
He felt he was doing the thing handsomely,
“No need to tell me she's beautiful,” grunted Hector. “Why, damn it! man, she's acknowledged to be one of the loveliest women in England.”
“Is that so?” asked Courtney, a little absently. Then he woke up again. “And here's a young author and a private secretary making her unhappy.” ”

“ She cried a little, now, and looked up at him through her tears.
“You're a very kind man,” she said.
“You've done me a service, too,” he answered seriously. “I'm very fond of Felicia.”
“I don't believe any woman is good enough for a good man,” said Anne thoughtfully.
“I'd like to find a good man, in the technical moral sense, and I'd kill the monster,” laughed Courtney. “Even the best of us are only good for periods. ”

“ He found Hector at the desk, with a lot of papers in front of him.
“Working, old chap?” he asked cheerfully.
“I can't say I'm doing much,” replied Hector. “How did you find Lady Anne?”
Courtney pursed up his lips.
“I can't quite make her out. These women folks will tell everything but the real thing. That's our trouble with them. But the truth is, she's very unhappy, if I know one woman from another in broad daylight.”
Aye! she must be unhappy. Hector knew that. ”

“ She had no weak point in her whole physiology.
“Oh, certainly, certainly,” she cried. “Last time you said it was normal or abnormal, or something, and I was really a little alarmed, you know. You'll go into the library, Anne? There's no one there but Hector.”
The doctor caught Lady Anne's eye and saw how troubled she was. He smiled at her, and gave her a little encouragement.
“And you can come to my room, doctor,” said Lady Hale. She and Courtney went up-stairs together, and Lady Anne opened the library door. She found Hector standing by the desk. He was hardly less pale than she. ”

“ Hale had been no poor creature like Paris and she like no Brieis to any Achilles. Even Achilles proved vulnerable at last, but death itself had hardly wounded Hale. One cannot hate earthquakes or glaciers or volcanoes. ”

“ Cheer up, old chap. You're all right. If I come across Lady Anne on the stairs I'll say you want to see her before you go out. You've got an appointment with the prime minister, eh? That will do. Till to-night, old chap?”
As he went, he heard Lady Hale's voice outside, and he said to himself:
“He thinks she won't marry him because he knows. He wishes he didn't know, poor chap. I wonder if he's right, after all.”
Courtney understood all women but Felicia, and would some day understand her, too.
He found Lady Hale and Anne in the hall. Anne was very white. ”

“ This attitude enlightened him at once. Whatever had happened, she was not to be reckoned among those who had been sacrificed, even though she had been marked for the slaughter. There was something too childish about her even at the age of twenty-three. Hector felt strangely relieved. He spoke with an air of detachment, though with some gravity.
“Among Sir George's papers, Felicia, I found a packet marked with your initials. As it is sealed, I don't know what it contains, but there are no directions as to what I am to do with it. Do you know?” ”

“ She was the first down-stairs, and the very first thing she did was to go to the library and try the drawer in which Anne had so hastily thrust the letters. It was now locked.
“He has seen them, then,” said Felicia. She set her mouth a little as she spoke. Then she said: “Well, I don't care. But I'm glad to be going away soon. I wish it was the morning train instead of the afternoon one.”
They were going by the two-twenty train from Charing Cross, and would stay the night in Paris. Felicia felt that if she were only abroad nothing mattered. But to see Hector was certainly unpleasant. ”

“ Felicia was hardly equal to the situation, though Anne rose to it. She was a much better color; so much better, indeed, that Lady Hale presently noticed it.
“You look ever so much better, my dear,” she declared.
“I told you so,” said Courtney. He glanced at Hector. “Do you think I should have permitted Lady Anne to get up if she was not going to do credit to my decision?”
“I am very much better,” said Anne. Her eyes met Courtney's, and fell again.
“The locksmith is down-stairs, my lady,” said Benton.
“Then let him come up,” replied Lady Hale. “Oh, dear me. ”

“ Shall I try and keep Lady Hale away?”
Hector nodded. “Yes, do. Can't you go over her heart or sound her lungs, or something?”
“I might,” said Courtney, “but I never can hear anything for her talking. However, she's as sound as a roach. Why should a roach be sound, by the way? ”

“ And Hector gave him the five shillings. The locksmith retired in triumph.
“But 'ow that key got into my bag fair beats me,” he said, as he went down Park Street.
Lady Hale said he was evidently a very clever man, and to that Hector agreed dryly.
“He had considerable self-possession,” said Hector. “I'll say that for him.”
Then Courtney declared that he must go.
“You won't stay for lunch!” exclaimed Lady Hale, as if a doctor had nothing else to do.
“I wish I could,” he said, “but I believe I have five people waiting for me.” ”

“ Who's this Hector, now? Bless my heart, I'll swear he's no better than he should be.”
“I'm sure he's not as good as you,” said Anne.
“Felicia will know better some day, I hope. Now, do you feel better?”
Anne nodded.
“A little—but I'm a coward.”
“A woman, you mean. Good-by-or shall I stay in the house till you come down? I'll stay, if you like, just to help you through, if I can.”
“Stay, then,” said Anne.
And Courtney went down-stairs humming. He met Lady Hale in the passage.
“How is she?” she asked anxiously.
“A bit shaken, a bit shaken,” said Courtney. ”

“ Even the 'ardest—and we make 'em very 'ard—can be got over by tender, careful 'andling, and time given, same as persuading of any one to do something. Now, I dare say, the gent as locked this thought it uncommon safe! ”