Garvin

“ Garvin waited until the instant when the negro had planned the final spring, then his fist flashed up from below his knees and the black fell like a thrown sack of grain against the wheel-house.
“By Jove!” said Chanler. “Your man Garvin is really promising, Brack. Ha! The nigger’s no cripple, either.”
Black Sam had come to his feet with a spring. Again began his slow, determined advance upon Garvin, again Garvin’s fist flew out and the negro dropped with a thud. ”

“ It was not Riordan’s nor Garvin’s, nor Wilson’s, yet it had in it a note of authority which did not belong to any of the sailors. I was further puzzled because I seemed to have heard it somewhere before.
“Bring them up, Garvin. Hurry; we’ve got to be up there before it’s light.”
Brack was speaking again in a loud whisper. Garvin’s great bulk slipped past me toward the after deck, his feet shuffling along the deck to make as little noise as possible. He was breathing swiftly and heavily as a man breathes under the stress of great excitement. ”

“ They know that they have left a sane man behind them who can find the way back to the claim; and their only chance was to take Garvin along, keeping him drunk enough to be unsuspicious, and not too drunk to pilot them. Once on the ground ahead of me, and with Garvin in their power, they can do the worst."
Bartrow came alive to the probabilities in the catching of a breath. "Which will be to kill Garvin safely out of the way, post the claim, and snap their fingers at the world. ”

“ Baird said.
"It's Bear Brokaw.... What's he climbing up to Crest Cave for? Not for an afternoon nap, I hope. The old cuss knows there's a better way up than that—he's shinning up that slope just because he enjoys it." Garvin looked interested, amused.
"So he's the honey-tree thief."
"Poof!" Garvin said. "He served Aunt Carlotta right. There's not a stancher, closer-mouthed creature in existence than Bear. He swears by Judith and would do almost anything for me. He taught me to handle a gun—many's the night I've gone coon-catching with him." ”

“ Well, well, what a woman can do!" He looked about him and then at her, and was struck by the fitness of her surroundings to herself. He was a man with an instinctive love of order and simplicity, and the things which spoke of a disciplined and ordered life appealed to him.
Frances, divesting herself of her hat and coat, had taken a chair opposite him, and now waited to hear his reasons for calling upon her, for this, she felt intuitively, was not the mere conventional visit of landlord to tenant; but whatever the importance of his errand might be, Garvin had apparently forgotten it. ”

“ Oh," his eyes falling upon Frances, "excuse me. I'll get my coat."
The woman laughed. "Ain't Walt funny, though? He's got such manners as never was. I tell you what, I like it, just the same. Say——"
But before she could finish her sentence Garvin had reappeared. He drew a chair near to Frances and sat down. His manner was quiet and simple, and struck her favourably.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked.
"Yes, Mr. Garvin. I have recently come to live in Zenith. I am a missionary, you know, and I want a cabin of my own. It isn't convenient for me to live at the Thorn House any longer." ”

“ On the evening when he talked with Ann in a way that made her anxious, he began by saying, "This place an' Westmo' is becomin' too fashionable. All we needs now is a' automobile. Westmo's got one—I seen Garvin scarin' chickens an' niggers all down the Post-Road this mornin', an' that young cool-head who's stayin' at the club an' makin' love to Miss Judith showin' Garvin how to do it. If the president was to travel down the Post-Road in a wheelbarrer, it wouldn't stir up half the sensation Garvin did.... I reckon Edward wanted to give Garvin something to occupy his mind. ”

“ I shall have to satisfy myself with having in town every anti-Garvin man whom I can bring there. Garvin doesn't want a general battle just now. He doesn't want to attract outside clamor. He wants to move in the dark, so I think he will instruct against an outbreak in the streets or court-room. But there is one thing I can do, and that I am arranging. I am held in some respect by the papers of Louisville and Lexington, and I have written a rather full statement of conditions here and asked that reporters be present in the court-room on Wednesday. ”

“ To the censorious, it may have appeared that Carrothers dwelt more upon his transit from one activity to another than upon Lutie's passing from life to death; but Zenith was not disposed to cavil. The double-barrelled oration, the elaborate preparations, the heavily gorgeous ceremonial, all satisfied to the full the village sense of importance. If the eyes of the world were not upon the camp now, they should be, and that reflection was in itself ample cause for pride; but through those wearing days preceding the funeral Frances was conscious of an ever-increasing admiration for Garvin. ”

“ It's about all I care for. I'm a pretty busy man. I've got a lot of interests that require almost constant looking after; but I've got to read, I suppose," with a smile, "that I take my reading as some men do drugs. Well," rising reluctantly, "I must go."
"And I will see Mrs. Garvin this afternoon soon after two."
"Thank you," he said again. "Good-bye."
After he had closed the door behind him Frances sat with her chin on her hand, looking rather vaguely before her. The first time she had seen Garvin she had regarded him as a man with a strong, plain face. Strong it assuredly was ”

“ Oh, what a lot of good we can do."
"To yourselves?" inquired Jarwin dryly.
"And to others also," said Lambert gravely. "God has been so good to us that we must be good to others."
"Then be good to me, Lord Garvington," said the solicitor, putting away the will in his bag, "for I am dying of hunger. A little luncheon—"
"A very big one."
"I am no great eater," said Jarwin, and walked toward the door, "a wash and brush-up and a plate of soup will satisfy me. And I will say again what I said before to both of you, that you thoroughly deserve your good fortune. ”

“ Garvington, thinking that there was no time to lose, since his cousin might be beforehand in denouncing the guilty woman, hurried on his fur overcoat, and after leaving a lying statement with the butler that he had gone to bed, he went out by the useful blue door. In a few minutes he was trotting along the well-known path making up his mind what to say to Silver. ”

“ Davenant stammered, and fidgeted speechlessly.
“Ah!” said Lady Bell, quickly, in the same low tone. “You think I’m rude and ill-bred. They all do when I ask a simple question, or show the slightest interest in anything.” She glanced at Una lingeringly: “I mustn’t ask, I suppose?”
“I—I—she is new to London,” said Mrs. Davenant. “It is her first day——”
“Her first day!” echoed Lady Bell, her eyes twinkling. “Do you mean that she was never in London before? How I envy her; I who am sick and weary of it! Yes, the glamour is on her; I can see it in her eyes—on her face. ”

“ Davenant, I count upon you.”
“But—but I cannot go out, Lady Earlsley—I am in mourning.”
Lady Bell sighed impatiently.
“I am so sorry! I have never set my heart upon anything so much in my life,” she said. “Something tells me that we shall be great friends! Are you fond of jewels, lace, books?—what are you specially fond of?” And she seemed to dazzle Una with her smile. “You shall see them all—everything. Yes, let her come, and I will take such care of her as if she were something too precious to be touched; she shall not leave my side all the evening. Let her come, Mrs. Davenant!” ”

“ Davenant started. The question, so unusual and so strange, bewildered her by its suddenness and its frankness.
“Rich, my dear?” she said. “Yes—I suppose I am rich.”
“And he is rich?”
“He will be, perhaps; we do not know until his uncle’s will is read.”
“I know what a will is,” said Una, with a smile. “It is the paper which a man leaves when he dies, saying to whom he wishes his money to go. And Stephen——”
“You should say Mr. Stephen, or Mr. Davenant, my dear,” she said. “I don’t mind your calling him Stephen, but—but——” She looked round in despair. ”

“ Davenant flushed nervously.
“I—meant to brush your hair and tie your ribbons—as she does mine; but it does not matter if you would rather not have her.”
“I should not like to trouble her,” said Una.
“And how long have you been up, my dear?”
“Since five,” said Una, quietly.
Mrs. Davenant stared aghast, and Jane nearly dropped the hair-brush.
“Since five! My dear child! Ah! I see, you—you have been used to rising early. I am afraid you will soon lose that good habit. We Londoners don’t rise with the lark.” ”

“ Davenant regarded her with a smile, and evaded the frank, open eyes. Was it possible that the girl was ignorant of her marvelous beauty?
“People in London always stare, my dear Una,” she replied, “and they see that you are strange.”
“It is my dress,” said Una, who had been looking out of the window at some of the fashionably-attired ladies. “It is different to theirs. See—look at that lady! Why does she wear so long a dress? she has to hold it up with one hand.” ”

“ For him? No, for me! And—yes, for him too. What right has he to pretend to be invincible? Do you think I shall succeed?”
Una looked at her with an aching heart.
“Yes,” she answered; “I think you will succeed.”
“What a flatterer it is!” said Lady Bell, playfully. “Hush! here he comes; half tamed already. Now for the first lesson,” and, to Una’s surprise she glided from the recess and was instantly lost in the crowd. A moment after Una saw her dancing with the duke.
She drew back into the shadow and watched Jack. ”

“ She turned her head, and looked at her questioningly, with a weary, uninterested gaze.
“Una, he—Stephen has told me. Oh, my darling, I hope you will be happy!”
Una smiled—a cold, mechanical smile.
“Happy? Yes, he says I shall be happy. Do you think,” and she looked calmly at the anxious, nervous face, “do you think I shall be happy?”
Mrs. Davenant drew her toward her.
“My dear, you frighten me. You—you are so—so strange and cold. Cold! Your hands are like ice. Oh, Una, do you know what it means—this that you are going to do? It is not too late. Think, Una. You know how I love you, dear. ”

“ To get her shawl and make her way down the staircase was the work of a few moments, and [165] the brougham was rolling away toward Walmington Square before Jack had got down to the hall.
“Well, my dear,” said Mrs. Davenant, “have you enjoyed yourself? You look pale and tired.”
Una shrunk into her corner.
“I am rather tired,” she said, in a low voice, “it was all so new and strange.”
“And was Lady Bell kind?”
“Very kind,” answered Una, with a sigh. “How beautiful she is!”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Davenant, “she is a very fortunate girl. Youth and beauty and wealth, she has much to make her happy. ”

“ Davenant?”
“By the door, Lady Earlsley, which was open. Mother, you will lose all your plate some day.”
“And what public meeting have you come from now?” asked Lady Bell, with a smile.
“I have been walking in the park,” said Stephen, “and am at your ladyship’s service.”
“I am glad of it,” said Lady Bell, quickly, “for I want you—all of you to come and dine with me tonight.”
“Tonight!” echoed Jack.
“Tonight! Why not? You have plenty of time to dress. Come, it will be charity—there’s an argument for you, Mr. Davenant—for Mrs. Fellowes and I are all alone ”

“ Davenant uttered a little moan.
“And—and have you quite forgotten?”
Una looked at her calmly, but with a faint shadow in her eyes and a touch of pain on her lips.
“Forgotten! No, I shall not forget until I am dead; perhaps not then; who knows?” and the dreamy look came back. “But that cannot matter. He, Stephen, is content; I have told him all, and he is content. He is easily satisfied.” And for the first time a smile of bitterness crossed her lips. “Why should he love me so?” she said, curtly. “Why should he be so anxious to make me his wife? ”

“ Lady Bell laughed and flushed a little.
“Never mind, child,” she said. “One who doesn’t care a farthing about it, at any rate. But look, do you see that tall lady there, dancing with the short man with whiskers? She is the Countess of Pierrepoint, and he is the Duke of Garnum——”
“A duke?” said Una, surprised.
“You expected to see a man seven feet high in his ducal robes?” she said. “See those two men who have just come in? The dark one is Sir Arkroyd Hetley, the other, the boy—the baby they call him—is a marquis, the Marquis of Dalrymple. They are always together. ”

“ Davenant’s name, he bowed, and took them into a small room at the side, which was Lady Bell’s boudoir.
“I will tell her ladyship,” he said.
Una had scarcely time to take in the exquisite beauty of the room, with its antique furniture and costly knicknacks, when the door opened and Lady Bell entered. She was exquisitely dressed; diamonds—the diamonds Una had seen at the jeweler’s—glittering in her hair and on her neck and on her arms, and seemed to Una like some vision which at a breath would vanish and leave the room to its subdued twilight again. ”

“ Davenant and Jane entered into a consultation as to what Una should wear, Una standing by with a quiet smile.
At last they decided that a dainty-figured satin should be honored; and both of them, notwithstanding Una’s protests, insisted upon assisting at her toilet.
They could not have chosen anything more suited to her fresh, virginal beauty than the simple, delicate dress; and when Jane had brushed the soft, silken hair until it shone and flashed like strands of golden haze, and coiled it into a knot, Mrs. Davenant could not suppress an exclamation of satisfaction and admiration. ”