第47章 CHAPTER XXI(2)

"That's a natural question enough,"he admitted."Well,first,Ionly came across a letter Monty wrote with the address of those lawyers a few days ago,and,secondly,the Bekwando Mine and Land Company has only just boomed,and you see that made me feel that I'd like to give a lift up to any one belonging to poor old Monty I could find.I've a mind to go on with the thing myself and find out somehow who this young lady is!""Who were the lawyers?""Cuthbert and Cuthbert.""They are most respectable people,"she said."I know Mr.Cuthbert and their standing is very high.If Mr.Cuthbert told you that the young lady wished to remain unknown to you,I am quite sure that you may believe him.""That's all right,"Trent said,"but here's what puzzles me.The girl may be small enough and mean enough to decline to have anything to say to me because her father was a bad lot,and she doesn't want to be reminded of him,but for that very reason can you imagine her virtually refusing a large sum of money?I told old Cuthbert all about it.There was 10,000pounds worth of shares waiting for her and no need for any fuss.Can you understand that?""It seems very odd,"she said."Perhaps the girl objects to being given money.It is a large sum to take as a present from a stranger.""If she is that sort of girl,"he said decidedly,"she would at least want to meet and talk with the man who saw the last of her father.No,there's something else in it,and I think that I ought to find her.Don't you?"She hesitated.

"I'm afraid I can't advise you,"she said;"only if she has taken so much pains to remain unknown,I am not sure -I think that if Iwere you I would assume that she has good reason for it.""I can see no good reason,"he said,"and there is a mystery behind it which I fancy would be better cleared up.Some day I will tell you more about it."Evidently Ernestine was weary of the subject,for she suddenly changed it.She led him on to talk of other things.When at last he glanced at the clock he was horrified to see how long he had stayed.

"You'll remember,I hope,Miss Wendermott,"he said,"that this is the first afternoon call I've ever paid.I've no idea how long Iought to have stayed,but certainly not two hours.""The time has passed quickly,"she said,smiling upon him,so that his momentary discomfort passed away."I have been very interested in the stories of your past,Mr.Trent,but do you know I am quite as much interested,more so even,in your future.""Tell me what you mean,"he asked.

"You have so much before you,so many possibilities.There is so much that you may gain,so much that you may miss."He looked puzzled.

"I have a lot of money,"he said."That's all!I haven't any friends nor any education worth speaking of.I don't see quite where the possibilities come in."She crossed the room and came over close to his side,resting her arm upon the mantelpiece.She was still wearing her walking-dress,prim and straight in its folds about her tall,graceful figure,and her hair,save for the slight waviness about the forehead,was plainly dressed.There were none of the cheap arts about her to which Trent had become accustomed in women who sought to attract.

Yet,as she stood looking down at him,a faint smile,half humorous,half satirical,playing about the corners of her shapely mouth,he felt his heart beat faster than ever it had done in any African jungle.It was the nervous and emotional side of the man to which she appealed.He felt unlike himself,undergoing a new phase of development.There was something stirring within him which he could not understand.

"You haven't any friends,"she said softly,"nor any education,but you are a millionaire!That is quite sufficient.You are a veritable Caesar with undiscovered worlds before you.""I wish I knew what you meant,"he said,with some hesitation.

She laughed softly.

"Don't you understand,"she said,"that you are the fashion?Last year it was Indian Potentates,the year before it was actors,this year it is millionaires.You have only to announce yourself and you may take any place you choose in society.You have arrived at the most auspicious moment.I can assure you that before many months are past you will know more people than ever you have spoken to in your life before -men whose names have been household words to you and nothing else will be calling you 'old chap'and wanting to sell you horses,and women,who last week would look at you through lorgnettes as though you were a denizen of some unknown world,will be lavishing upon you their choicest smiles and whispering in your ear their 'not at home'afternoon.Oh,it's lucky I'm able to prepare you a little for it,or you would be taken quite by storm.

He was unmoved.He looked at her with a grim tightening of the lips.

"I want to ask you this,"he said."What should I be the better for it all?What use have I for friends who only gather round me because I am rich?Shouldn't I be better off to have nothing to do with them,to live my own life,and make my own pleasures?"She shrugged her shoulders.

"These people,"she said,"of whom I have been speaking are masters of the situation.You can't enjoy money alone!You want to race,hunt,entertain,shoot,join in the revels of country houses!You must be one of them or you can enjoy nothing."Monty's words were ringing back in his ears.After all,pleasures could be bought -but happiness!

"And you,"he said,"you too think that these things you have mentioned are the things most to be desired in life?"A certain restraint crept into her manner.

"Yes,"she answered simply.

"I have been told,"he said,"that you have given up these things to live your life differently.That you choose to be a worker.

You have rich relations -you could be rich yourself!"She looked him steadily in the face.

"You are wrong,"she said,"I have no money.I have not chosen a profession willingly -only because I am poor!""Ah!"The monosyllable was mysterious to her.But for the wild improbability of the thing she would have wondered whether indeed he knew her secret.She brushed the idea away.It was impossible.

"At least,"he said,"you belong to these people.""Yes,"she answered,"I am one of the poor young women of society.""And you would like,"he continued,"to be one of the rich ones -to take your place amongst them on equal terms.That is what you are looking forward to in life!"She laughed gaily.

"Of course I am!If there was the least little chance of it Ishould be delighted.You mustn't think that I'm different from other girls in that respect because I'm more independent.In this country there's only one way of enjoying life thoroughly,and that you will find out for yourself very soon."He rose and held out his hand.

"Thank you very much,"he said,"for letting me come.May I -""You may come,"she said quietly,"as often as you like."