Laura nodded from within her tearful handkerchief.'It was because of my anomalous position in being privately married to him,'she sobbed,'that I was unhappy at home--and--and I didn't like him so well as I did at first--and I wished I could get out of the mess Iwas in!And then I saw you a few times,and when you said,"We'll run off,"I thought I saw a way out of it all,and then I agreed to come with you--oo-oo!'
'Well!well!well!And is this true?'murmured the bewildered old nobleman,staring from James to Laura,and from Laura to James,as if he fancied they might be figments of the imagination.'Is this,then,James,the secret of your kindness to your old uncle in helping him to find his daughter?Good Heavens!What further depths of duplicity are there left for a man to learn!'
'I have married her,Uncle Quantock,as I said,'answered James coolly.'The deed is done,and can't be undone by talking here.'
'Where were you married?'
'At St.Mary's,Toneborough.'
'When?'
'On the 29th of September,during the time she was visiting there.'
'Who married you?'
'I don't know.One of the curates--we were quite strangers to the place.So,instead of my assisting you to recover her,you may as well assist me.'
'Never!never!'said Lord Quantock.'Madam,and sir,I beg to tell you that I wash my hands of the whole affair!If you are man and wife,as it seems you are,get reconciled as best you may.I have no more to say or do with either of you.I leave you,Laura,in the hands of your husband,and much joy may you bring him;though the situation,I own,is not encouraging.'
Saying this,the indignant speaker pushed back his chair against the table with such force that the candlesticks rocked on their bases,and left the room.
Laura's wet eyes roved from one of the young men to the other,who now stood glaring face to face,and,being much frightened at their aspect,slipped out of the room after her father.Him,however,she could hear going out of the front door,and,not knowing where to take shelter,she crept into the darkness of an adjoining bedroom,and there awaited events with a palpitating heart.
Meanwhile the two men remaining in the sitting-room drew nearer to each other,and the opera-singer broke the silence by saying,'How could you insult me in the way you did,calling me a fellow,and accusing me of poisoning her mind toward you,when you knew very well I was as ignorant of your relation to her as an unborn babe?'
'Oh yes,you were quite ignorant;I can believe that readily,'
sneered Laura's husband.
'I here call Heaven to witness that I never knew!'
'Recitativo--the rhythm excellent,and the tone well sustained.Is it likely that any man could win the confidence of a young fool her age,and not get that out of her?Preposterous!Tell it to the most improved new pit-stalls.'
'Captain Northbrook,your insinuations are as despicable as your wretched person!'cried the baritone,losing all patience.And springing forward he slapped the captain in the face with the palm of his hand.
Northbrook flinched but slightly,and calmly using his handkerchief to learn if his nose was bleeding,said,'I quite expected this insult,so I came prepared.'And he drew forth from a black valise which he carried in his hand a small case of pistols.
The baritone started at the unexpected sight,but recovering from his surprise said,'Very well,as you will,'though perhaps his tone showed a slight want of confidence.
'Now,'continued the husband,quite confidingly,'we want no parade,no nonsense,you know.Therefore we'll dispense with seconds?'
The signor slightly nodded.
'Do you know this part of the country well?'Cousin James went on,in the same cool and still manner.'If you don't,I do.Quite at the bottom of the rocks out there,just beyond the stream which falls over them to the shore,is a smooth sandy space,not so much shut in as to be out of the moonlight;and the way down to it from this side is over steps cut in the cliff;and we can find our way down without trouble.We--we two--will find our way down;but only one of us will find his way up,you understand?'
'Quite.'
'Then suppose we start;the sooner it is over the better.We can order supper before we go out--supper for two;for though we are three at present--'
'Three?'
'Yes;you and I and she--'
'Oh yes.'
'--We shall be only two by and by;so that,as I say,we will order supper for two;for the lady and a gentleman.Whichever comes back alive will tap at her door,and call her in to share the repast with him--she's not off the premises.But we must not alarm her now;and above all things we must not let the inn-people see us go out;it would look so odd for two to go out,and only one come in.Ha!ha!'
'Ha!ha!exactly.'
'Are you ready?'
'Oh--quite.'
'Then I'll lead the way.'
He went softly to the door and downstairs,ordering supper to be ready in an hour,as he had said;then making a feint of returning to the room again,he beckoned to the singer,and together they slipped out of the house by a side door.
The sky was now quite clear,and the wheelmarks of the brougham which had borne away Laura's father,Lord Quantock,remained distinctly visible.Soon the verge of the down was reached,the captain leading the way,and the baritone following silently,casting furtive glances at his companion,and beyond him at the scene ahead.In due course they arrived at the chasm in the cliff which formed the waterfall.The outlook here was wild and picturesque in the extreme,and fully justified the many praises,paintings,and photographic views to which the spot had given birth.
What in summer was charmingly green and gray,was now rendered weird and fantastic by the snow.
