i f6c06dd9cf3fe221 by Unknown (100 books to read in a lifetime .txt) 📗

him, anger and fear fighting each other in her face.

The women looked distinctly shocked, and the men indignant. Swinbum stood up and impulsively took a step towards her. Barrington, watching him, thought, I would have done that at one time, and wondered why he did not do so now. His mind was suddenly distracted from the scene before him by steps on the gravel outside the trench window. He was sitting dose to the heavy velvet curtains, and when the sharp rap came on the window he started, as did the rest of those in the room; thankfully, it would seem, as the tension was unbearable.

They all turned towards the window, and Stella, gladly clutching at this distraction, said: "Someone's knocking; who on earth can it be? See who it is, Herbert; but do be careful of the lights. "

Barrington stepped within the dosed curtains and opened the window:

"Who is it?" he asked.

"I want Doctor Swinburn. I've been to his house, and they said he was here. I couldn't find the door, then 1 saw a bit of light," the childish voice floated into the room.

"You'd better come in," said Barrington, 'or the light will show. "

When Annie stepped through the velvet curtain she brought a sense of unreality with her. Everyone, including Rodney, sat or stood perfectly still, looking at her as she stared from one to the other, blinking in the strong light.

"Christ" said the poet to himself.

"What a picture!" He looked at her hair, springing away from the crown of her head and floating down to her waist in sheer silver lines, at the deep fringe which curved inwards just above her dark eyebrows, and at her slanting green eyes, set in skin so delicate as to appear artificial. Here was beauty!

Annie's frightened eyes searched the faces before her, looking for Doctor Swinburn's. They passed over a face that seemed familiar; then darted back to it: "Oh!" she cried, and ran towards Rodney at the same time as he stepped towards her.

"Oh, doctor!" She flung her arms around his waist, and pressed her cheek hard against his waistcoat.

Rodney stroked her hair and held her close, oblivious of the incredulous eyes upon them.

"What is it, Annie?" he asked.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Kate," said Annie, recalling the urgency of her errand and gazing up into his face.

"My gran da hit her with the belt. He hit her and hit her, and the sharp prong stuck in her neck. And it won't stop bleeding, the blood's all over the place. Oh, come quickly!"

For one startled moment Rodney looked down on her face, then turned and hurried out of the room. Annie followed him into the hall, keeping dose on his heels. He was getting into his coat when Swinburn and Stella came out of the drawing-room.

"You're not going!" said Swinburn.

"Surely I'm the person to deal with this."

"Have you gone mad, Rodney?" asked Stella, with deathly calm.

"What will people say? And how dare you place me in the position of having to explain your behaviour to my guests! I think you are out of your mind ... I'm sure you are," she finished.

^

Without a word Rodney buttoned his coat; then slipped into the cloakroom off the hall and filled a small case with necessities from a medicine cupboard. When he returned he said to Swinbum, with studied politeness, "I would like a word with my wife, if you don't mind."

Swinburn, with compressed lips, went into the drawing- room.

Before Rodney could speak Stella said' under her breath, "What is this girl to you? How dare you insult me ... for a maid, a common servant!

You shan't do it, do you hear? I'll have her hounded out of the town."

"Will Barrington and Swinburn go with her?" Rodney asked calmly, as he picked up his hat and took Annie's hand. He felt quite calm now.

It was years since he had uttered a prayer; but when Annie had stepped into the room, she had appeared like an angel sent to stay his hand and calm his mind; and her arms, as they went around him, seemed to extinguish that blaze of hate which had urged him on to Stella's destruction; and he had offered up a silent prayer to a God in whom he had not believed.

Rage flashing from her eyes, Stella gazed at him. That she should be overlooked, in any capacity, tor a maid was unthinkable. She turned her furious glance on the child . that's why he had always liked this child; the mother was his mistress. But for how long? Not so long it couldn't have been. He had been all hers until three years ago, she knew that. Well, he would be hers again. Suddenly she wanted him back, wanted him as she had never done before. His charm, which had been dead to her, sprang to life again, and she saw him as he must appear to other women.

The anger died out of her, and she seemed to melt to a clinging softness before his eyes.

"Darling, don't go," she pleaded.

"Or if you must, hurry back." She touched his arm.

Rodney looked from her changed face to the hand on his arm, and laughed softly.

"Wait," he said to Annie; "I won't be a minute."

Then to Stella: "I have something for you. You'd better have it now, as I don't know when I'll be back."

She watched him take the stairs two at a time, and return, hurrying still, with a box in his hands. She was looking at his face, thinking:

No common slut will get the better of me, so she did not see his gift until he had placed it in her hands.

Slowly the blood drained from her face as she saw the familiar mother-of-pearl box. She raised her