i f6c06dd9cf3fe221 Unknown (pride and prejudice read .TXT) 📖

managed dying mothers and wives got twenty-four hours! I had my business to set in order.... Which reminds me, darling. Come, sit down here; if I hold you I can't talk sensibly, and there is something I want to say to you.... Oh, wait...." He again drew her to him.

"You're too sweet, you're too ... Oh, I can't bear it! ..."

The dark desolate station vanished, together with the cold and the falling snow.

"Oh, dearest; I'm sorry; I'm quite mad. You're like a heady wine....

Come, sit down!"

They sat close together on the station seat. Her eyes moved over his face as he spoke, and her heart cried out, "Don't go tonight. Don't!

Don't! I'm mad, too. "

"It's about money, dearest," he was saying.

"If anything happens to me, you'll be all right; I've seen to that. But it's money for you to carry on with that I want to talk about. I'm going to make you an allowance, through my bank.... I wanted to write to you about it, but it's so difficult to put these things into a letter. I've wondered how on earth you've managed this last year."

Money! He was offering her money 1 An allowance. Money would buy coal and food, and extras for her mother, and clothes for Annie, who was growing so quickly that her things had to be lengthened and she had to cut down her own for her. Her own stock of clothes was rapidly diminishing. Soon there would be none to're make, which had worried her. But now, an allowance! The dreadful, soul-destroying burden of poverty would be lifted. No! What was she thinking? She couldn't take money from him. Money 1 That was the term in which the women of the fifteen streets thought; you gave so much and you got so much!

This was the only lovely thing in her life. She couldn't, she wouldn't bring it down to the level of their thinking.

"Please! Please, Rodney, I can't! Don't talk about it."

"Why not, darling?"

"I can't explain. Only don't, please!"

"Don't be silly; you must! I have more money than I know what to do with; a great-uncle died some years ago, leaving me shares in a steel works. And now, with the war, the money's simply piling up.... So, darling, you must let me do this."

"No, Rodney. No! Oh, don't let us waste these precious minutes talking about it.... You see, it's because I don't want to spoil this our oh, I can't explain.... Dar ling, don't you see?"

"No I don't. I only know that you must be in need of money and that you're being silly. I'll send it to you 165 whether you give me leave or not."

"No, don't do that.... Promise me you won't do that 1 How could I explain from where the money was coming? My mother ... everyone would think that I..." She shrugged.

"Well, what does it really matter what they think? It's what I think that matters. No, Rodney; whatever our relationship, I'll never be able to take money from you."

"That's utterly ridiculous! ... Dearest'--he held her hands tight against his breast" --I want to buy you things . clothes, furs . "

"Furs!" Kate broke in.

"Oh, Rodney, I forgot to tell you. Someone ... a lady, was enquiring for you in the booking- hall, just before you came. Talking of furs reminded me."

"Enquiring for me?" Rodney's mind flew to Stella. He hadn't seen her, shed been out when he arrived; she was, he understood from Mary, on various committees. No letters had passed between them during the months he had been away, so it was hardly likely she had come to see him off.

"What was she like?" he asked.

"Tall and pale, with very large eyes. She had a chauffeur with her ...

he had a clubfoot."

"Good God!" Rodney exclaimed.

"That woman! to come to the station enquiring tor me!"

"You know her?" Kate asked.

"Know her! She's a nightmare! She's Lady Cuthbert Harris."

He went on to tell Kate briefly about her.

"Why did the chauffeur lie, I wonder?" said Kate.

"Oh, Henderson knows how to manage her, and he's devoted to her, poor fellow. She's a dreadful woman, really. I should like to know, though, how she knew I was leaving here at this time...." He suddenly thought of Swinburn, who, besides the Davidsons, was the only other person who had known. But why should he tell her? What was his motive? Devilment, perhaps. It would need thinking about later. There would be time enough for that. But now:

"Don't let's talk about her. Look'--he pointed to his illuminated watch--'we've only fifteen minutes, my dear, and I've so much to say."

"Shall I come to Newcastle with you?" Kate asked eagerly.

He paused for a moment.

"You know I would like nothing better. But Peter and Peggy Davidson are meeting the train at J arrow. They were determined to see me off I could hardly say no;

they have been such wonderful friends to me. But if you wouldn't mind come, darling. They guess about you, anyway, I think. "

Kate shook her head: T won't come . I'd better not. "

For some seconds they sat quietly, peering at each other in the dimness, each aware of the other's sadness.

"You'll write often?" Rodney asked.

She nodded dumbly.

"Oh, I want to ask you such a lot of silly things ... such as, that you won't look at another fellow, or ever forget me."

"You don't need to ask me," she said.

"But you're so lovely, and good. I'm afraid. Oh, I'm afraid.... Put your arms tight round my neck and kiss me," he suddenly demanded.

She laughed softly, and, as her lips touched