His words had a very different effect upon his two listeners. Old McIntyre leaned back in his chair with a bitter smile upon his lips, his thin face crinkled into a thousand puckers9, and his small eyes shining with envy and greed. His lean yellow hand upon the table was clenched10 until the knuckles11 gleamed white in the lamplight. Laura, on the other hand, leaned forward, her lips parted, drinking in her brother's words with a glow of colour upon either cheek. It seemed to Robert, as he glanced from one to the other of them, that he had never seen his father look so evil, or his sister so beautiful.
“Who is the fellow, then?” asked the old man after a considerable pause. “I hope he got all this in an honest fashion. Five millions in jewels, you say. Good gracious me! Ready to give it away, too, but afraid of pauperising any one. You can tell him, Robert, that you know of one very deserving case which has not the slightest objection to being pauperised.”
“But who can he possibly be, Robert?” cried Laura. “Haw cannot be his real name. He must be some disguised prince, or perhaps a king in exile. Oh, I should have loved to have seen those diamonds and the emeralds! I always think that emeralds suit dark people best. You must tell me again all about that museum, Robert.”
“I don't think that he is anything more than he pretends to be,” her brother answered. “He has the plain, quiet manners of an ordinary middle-class Englishman. There was no particular polish that I could see. He knew a little about books and pictures, just enough to appreciate them, but nothing more. No, I fancy that he is a man quite in our own position of life, who has in some way inherited a vast sum. Of course it is difficult for me to form an estimate, but I should judge that what I saw to-day—house, pictures, jewels, books, and so on—could never have been bought under twenty millions, and I am sure that that figure is entirely12 an under-statement.”
“I never knew but one Haw,” said old McIntyre, drumming his fingers on the table; “he was a foreman in my pin-fire cartridge-case department. But he was an elderly single man. Well, I hope he got it all honestly. I hope the money is clean.”
“And really, really, he is coming to see us!” cried Laura, clapping her hands. “Oh, when do you think he will come, Robert? Do give me warning. Do you think it will be to-morrow?”
“I am sure I cannot say.”
“I should so love to see him. I don't know when I have been so interested.”
“Why, you have a letter there,” remarked Robert. “From Hector, too, by the foreign stamp. How is he?”
“It only came this evening. I have not opened it yet. To tell the truth, I have been so interested in your story that I had forgotten all about it. Poor old Hector! It is from Madeira.” She glanced rapidly over the four pages of straggling writing in the young sailor's bold schoolboyish hand. “Oh, he is all right,” she said. “They had a gale13 on the way out, and that sort of thing, but he is all right now. He thinks he may be back by March. I wonder whether your new friend will come to-morrow—your knight14 of the enchanted15 Castle.”
“Hardly so soon, I should fancy.”
“If he should be looking about for an investment. Robert,” said the father, “you won't forget to tell him what a fine opening there is now in the gun trade. With my knowledge, and a few thousands at my back, I could bring him in his thirty per cent. as regular as the bank. After all, he must lay out his money somehow. He cannot sink it all in books and precious stones. I am sure that I could give him the highest references.”
“It may be a long time before he comes, father,” said Robert coldly; “and when he does I am afraid that I can hardly use his friendship as a means of advancing your interest.”
“We are his equals, father,” cried Laura with spirit. “Would you put us on the footing of beggars? He would think we cared for him only for his money. I wonder that you should think of such a thing.”
“If I had not thought of such things where would your education have been, miss?” retorted the angry old man; and Robert stole quietly away to his room, whence amid his canvases he could still hear the hoarse16 voice and the clear in their never-ending family jangle. More and more sordid17 seemed the surroundings of his life, and more and more to be valued the peace which money can buy.
Breakfast had hardly been cleared in the morning, and Robert had not yet ascended18 to his work, when there came a timid tapping at the door, and there was Raffles Haw on the mat outside. Robert ran out and welcomed him with all cordiality.
“I am afraid that I am a very early visitor,” he said apologetically; “but I often take a walk after breakfast.” He had no traces of work upon him now, but was trim and neat with a dark suit, and carefully brushed hair. “You spoke19 yesterday of your work. Perhaps, early as it is, you would allow me the privilege of looking over your studio?”
“Pray step in, Mr. Haw,” cried Robert, all in a flutter at this advance from so munificent20 a patron of art; “I should be only too happy to show you such little work as I have on hand, though, indeed, I am almost afraid when I think how familiar you are with some of the greatest masterpieces. Allow me to introduce you to my father and to my sister Laura.”
Old McIntyre bowed low and rubbed his thin hands together; but the young lady gave a gasp21 of surprise, and stared with widely-opened eyes at the millionaire. Maw stepped forward, however, and shook her quietly by the hand,
“I expected to find that it was you,” he said. “I have already met your sister, Mr. McIntyre, on the very first day that I came here. We took shelter in a shed from a snowstorm, and had quite a pleasant little chat.”
“I had no notion that I was speaking to the owner of the Hall,” said Laura in some confusion. “How funnily things turn out, to be sure!”
“I had often wondered who it was that I spoke to, but it was only yesterday that I discovered. What a sweet little place you have here! It must be charming in summer. Why, if it were not for this hill my windows would look straight across at yours.”
“Yes, and we should see all your beautiful plantations,” said Laura, standing22 beside him in the window. “I was wishing only yesterday that the hill was not there.”
“Really! I shall be happy to have it removed for you if you would like it.”
“Good gracious!” cried Laura. “Why, where would you put it?”
“Oh, they could run it along the line and dump it anywhere. It is not much of a hill. A few thousand men with proper machinery23, and a line of rails brought right up to them could easily dispose of it in a few months.”
“And the poor vicar's house?” Laura asked, laughing.
“I think that might be got over. We could run him up a facsimile, which would, perhaps, be more convenient to him. Your brother will tell you that I am quite an expert at the designing of houses. But, seriously, if you think it would be an improvement I will see what can be done.”
“Not for the world, Mr. Haw. Why, I should be a traitor24 to the whole village if I were to encourage such a scheme. The hill is the one thing which gives Tamfield the slightest individuality. It would be the height of selfishness to sacrifice it in order to improve the view from Elmdene.”
“It is a little box of a place this, Mr. Haw,” said old McIntyre. “I should think you must feel quite stifled25 in it after your grand mansion26, of which my son tells me such wonders. But we were not always accustomed to this sort of thing, Mr. Haw. Humble27 as I stand here, there was a time, and not so long ago, when I could write as many figures on a cheque as any gunmaker in Birmingham. It was—”
“He is a dear discontented old papa,” cried Laura, throwing her arm round him in a caressing28 manner. He gave a sharp squeak29 and a grimace30 of pain, which he endeavoured to hide by an outbreak of painfully artificial coughing.
“Shall we go upstairs?” said Robert hurriedly, anxious to divert his guest's attention from this little domestic incident. “My studio is the real atelier, for it is right up under the tiles. I shall lead the way, if you will have the kindness to follow me.”
Leaving Laura and Mr. McIntyre, they went up together to the workroom. Mr. Haw stood long in front of the “Signing of Magna Charta,” and the “Murder of Thomas a Becket,” screwing up his eyes and twitching31 nervously32 at his beard, while Robert stood by in anxious expectancy33.
“And how much are these?” asked Raffles Haw at last.
“I priced them at a hundred apiece when I sent them to London.”
“Then the best I can wish you is that the day may come when you would gladly give ten times the sum to have them back again. I am sure that there are great possibilities in you, and I see that in grouping and in boldness of design you have already achieved much. But your drawing, if you will excuse my saying so, is just a little crude, and your colouring perhaps a trifle thin. Now, I will make a bargain with you, Mr. McIntyre, if you will consent to it. I know that money has no charms for you, but still, as you said when I first met you, a man must live. I shall buy these two canvases from you at the price which you name, subject to the condition that you may always have them back again by repaying the same sum.”
“You are really very kind.” Robert hardly knew whether to be delighted at having sold his pictures or humiliated34 at the frank criticism of the buyer.
“May I write a cheque at once?” said Raffles Haw. “Here is pen and ink. So! I shall send a couple of footmen down for them in the afternoon. Well, I shall keep them in trust for you. I dare say that when you are famous they will be of value as specimens35 of your early manner.”
“I am sure that I am extremely obliged to you, Mr. Haw,” said the young artist, placing the cheque in his notebook. He glanced at it as he folded it up, in the vague hope that perhaps this man of whims36 had assessed his pictures at a higher rate than he had named. The figures, however, were exact. Robert began dimly to perceive that there were drawbacks as well as advantages to the reputation of a money-scorner, which he had gained by a few chance words, prompted rather by the reaction against his father's than by his own real convictions.
“I hope, Miss McIntyre,” said Raffles Haw, when they had descended37 to the sitting-room38 once more, “that you will do me the honour of coming to see the little curiosities which I have gathered together. Your brother will, I am sure, escort you up; or perhaps Mr. McIntyre would care to come?”
“I shall be delighted to come, Mr. Haw,” cried Laura, with her sweetest smile. “A good deal of my time just now is taken up in looking after the poor people, who find the cold weather very trying.” Robert raised his eyebrows39, for it was the first he had heard of his sister's missions of mercy, but Mr. Raffles Haw nodded approvingly. “Robert was telling us of your wonderful hot-houses. I am sure I wish I could transport the whole parish into one of them, and give them a good warm.”
“Nothing would be easier, but I am afraid that they might find it a little trying when they came out again. I have one house which is only just finished. Your brother has not seen it yet, but I think it is the best of them all. It represents an Indian jungle, and is hot enough in all conscience.”
“I shall so look forward to seeing it,” cried Laura, clasping her hands. “It has been one of the dreams of my life to see India. I have read so much of it, the temples, the forests, the great rivers, and the tigers. Why, you would hardly believe it, but I have never seen a tiger except in a picture.”
“That can easily be set right,” said Raffles Haw, with his quiet smile. “Would you care to see one?”
“Oh, immensely.”
“I will have one sent down. Let me see, it is nearly twelve o'clock. I can get a wire to Liverpool by one. There is a man there who deals in such things. I should think he would be due to-morrow morning. Well, I shall look forward to seeing you all before very long. I have rather outstayed my time, for I am a man of routine, and I always put in a certain number of hours in my laboratory.” He shook hands cordially with them all, and lighting40 his pipe at the doorstep, strolled off upon his way.
“Well, what do you think of him now?” asked Robert, as they watched his black figure against the white snow.
“I think that he is no more fit to be trusted with all that money than a child,” cried the old man. “It made me positively41 sick to hear him talk of moving hills and buying tigers, and such-like nonsense, when there are honest men without a business, and great businesses starving for a little capital. It's unchristian—that's what I call it.”
“I think he is most delightful42, Robert,” said Laura. “Remember, you have promised to take us up to the Hall. And he evidently wishes us to go soon. Don't you think we might go this afternoon?”
“I hardly think that, Laura. You leave it in my hands, and I will arrange it all. And now I must get to work, for the light is so very short on these winter days.”
That night Robert McIntyre had gone to bed, and was dozing43 off when a hand plucked at his shoulder, and he started up to find his sister in some white drapery, with a shawl thrown over her shoulders, standing beside him in the moonlight.
“Robert, dear,” she whispered, stooping over him, “there was something I wanted to ask you, but papa was always in the way. You will do something to please me, won't you, Robert?”
“Of course, Laura. What is it?”
“I do so hate having my affairs talked over, dear. If Mr. Raffles Haw says anything to you about me, or asks any questions, please don't say anything about Hector. You won't, will you, Robert, for the sake of your little sister?”
“No; not unless you wish it.”
“There is a dear good brother.” She stooped over him and kissed him tenderly.
It was a rare thing for Laura to show any emotion, and her brother marvelled44 sleepily over it until he relapsed into his interrupted doze45.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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5
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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7
lavishness
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| n.浪费，过度 | |
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8
raffles
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| n.抽彩售物( raffle的名词复数 )v.以抽彩方式售（物）( raffle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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puckers
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的第三人称单数 ) | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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12
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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18
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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munificent
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| adj.慷慨的，大方的 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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26
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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28
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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29
squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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35
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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37
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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38
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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39
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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40
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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41
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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42
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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43
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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44
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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