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Anna the Adventuress

Page 102

Lady Ferringhall made room for him on the sofa by her side. She was

wearing a becoming tea-gown, and it was quite certain that Sir John

would not be home for several hours at least.

"I am delighted to see you, Mr. Ennison," she said, letting her

fingers rest in his. "Do come and cheer me up. I am bored to

distraction."

He took a seat by her side. He was looking pale and ill. There were

shadows under his eyes. He returned her impressive greeting almost

mechanically.

"But you yourself," she exclaimed, glancing into his face, "you too

look tired. You poor man, what have you been doing to yourself?"

"Nothing except travelling all night," he answered. "I am just back

from Paris. I am bothered. I have come to you for sympathy, perhaps

for help."

"You may be sure of the one," she murmured. "The other too if it is

within my power."

"It is within yours--if anybody's," he answered. "It is about your

sister, Lady Ferringhall."

Annabel gave a little gasp. The colour slowly left her cheeks, the

lines of her mouth hardened. The change in her face was not a pleasant

one.

"About my sister," she repeated slowly.

Her tone should have warned him, but he was too much in earnest to

regard it.

"Yes. You remember that you saw us at the Savoy a few evenings ago?"

"Yes."

"And you knew, of course, that we were old friends?"

"Indeed!"

"Lady Ferringhall, I love your sister."

"You what?" she repeated incredulously.

"I love your sister."

Lady Ferringhall sat with half closed eyes and clenched teeth. Brute!

Fool! To have come to her on such an errand. She felt a hysterical

desire to strike him, to burst out crying, to blurt out the whole

miserable truth. The effort to maintain her self-control was almost

superhuman.

"But--your people!" she gasped. "Surely Lady Ennison would object,

even if it were possible. And the Duke, too--I heard him say that a

married secretary would be worse than useless to him."

"The difficulties on my own side I can deal with," he answered. "I am

not dependent upon any one. I have plenty of money, and the Duke will

not be in the next Cabinet. My trouble is with your sister."

Lady Ferringhall was conscious of some relief.

"She has refused to listen to you?"

"She has behaved in a most extraordinary manner," he answered. "We

parted--that night the best of friends. She knew that I cared for her,

she had admitted that she cared for me. I suppose I was a little

idiotic--I don't think we either of us mentioned the future, but it

was arranged that I should go the next afternoon and have tea with

her. When I went I was refused admittance. I have since received a

most extraordinary letter from her. She offers me no explanation,

permits me absolutely no hope. She simply refuses to see or hear from

me again. I went to the theatre that night. I waited for her at the

back. She saw me, and, Lady Ferringhall, I shall never forget her look

as long as I live. It was horrible. She looked at me as though I were

some unclean thing, as though my soul were weighted with every sin in

the calendar. I could not have spoken to her. It took my breath away.

By the time I had recovered myself she had gone. My letters are

returned unopened, her maid will not even allow me across the

doorstep."

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