"Of course you are pretty. And that's why you are lost--like many other
poor girls. Unfortunate is the word for you."
She said: "It may be. Perhaps it is the right word; but listen, papa. I
mean to be honest."
He began to exhale more speeches.
"Just the sort of man to get tired and then leave you and go off with his
beastly ship. And anyway you can never be happy with him. Look at his
face. I want to save you. You see I was not perhaps a very good husband
to your poor mother. She would have done better to have left me long
before she died. I have been thinking it all over. I won't have you
unhappy."
He ran his eyes over her with an attention which was surprisingly
noticeable. Then said, "H'm! Yes. Let's clear out before it is too
late. Quietly, you and I."
She said as if inspired and with that calmness which despair often gives:
"There is no money to go away with, papa."
He rose up straightening himself as though he were a hinged figure. She
said decisively: "And of course you wouldn't think of deserting me, papa?"
"Of course not," sounded his subdued tone. And he left her, gliding away
with his walk which Mr. Powell described to me as being as level and wary
as his voice. He walked as if he were carrying a glass full of water on
his head.
Flora naturally said nothing to Anthony of that edifying conversation.
His generosity might have taken alarm at it and she did not want to be
left behind to manage her father alone. And moreover she was too honest.
She would be honest at whatever cost. She would not be the first to
speak. Never. And the thought came into her head: "I am indeed an
unfortunate creature!"
It was by the merest coincidence that Anthony coming for the afternoon
two days later had a talk with Mr. Smith in the orchard. Flora for some
reason or other had left them for a moment; and Anthony took that
opportunity to be frank with Mr. Smith. He said: "It seems to me, sir,
that you think Flora has not done very well for herself. Well, as to
that I can't say anything. All I want you to know is that I have tried
to do the right thing." And then he explained that he had willed
everything he was possessed of to her. "She didn't tell you, I suppose?"