"And now, my dear old friend, what is it?" Mrs. Rent said quietly. "I see you are in great anxiety about something. I suppose it has to do with money. But, in any case, I am sure you are in no way to blame."
"It has nothing to do with money at all," Mr. Westlake replied. "From that point of view, things were never better. Before I go any further, have you had any news of your son lately? Have you heard this morning? I thought, perhaps, possibly——"
"Indeed, I am not," Westlake protested. "So far as I know, there is nothing wrong with your son, who was perfectly3 well last night. But it is to consult you about Arnold that I have hurried here to-day. I learnt something yesterday and immediately went out to Southampton last night, where my worst suspicions were confirmed. It struck me as strange that a young man in his position should be telegraphing for money, and I heard one or two rumours4 in the early part of the week. You must not be too hard upon the boy, because one never knows what temptations unscrupulous women put in the way of impressionable men. And, if I may be allowed to say it, in worldly matters Arnold is a little lax."
All the colour left Mrs. Rent's cheeks. She sat for a moment with her hand pressed to her heart. Then her dignity and courage came back to her. Her voice was tranquil5 as she spoke6.
"Perhaps you had better begin at the beginning, my dear friend," she said. "A mother is always anxious about her child. She has gloomy moments when she fears the worst. I won't say that Arnold has never given me any anxiety, because that would not be true, but I never dreamt he would so far forget himself as to tarnish7 his good name and honour. Do you mean to say that he allowed himself to get entangled8?"
"That would be hardly fair," Westlake said, with lawyer-like caution. "I am told that the lady is exceedingly beautiful and that she has been very unhappy in her married life. She has been described to me as a sweet saint, a kind of Madonna—just the sort of creature who would be likely to appeal to a chivalrous9, romantic man like your son. I believe that the husband turned his wife out of the house, or that he sold the house over her head, which comes to much the same thing. Unfortunately, Arnold appeared on the scene at that very moment, and that is how the trouble began. At any rate, the mischief10 is done and nothing we can say can alter it. The worst feature is that Arnold's career is seriously checked. He will have to delay matters. He will have to abandon his experiments till this fancy is forgotten. No one would listen to a man who had been god in the car to another man's wife. Of course, this sounds very cruel, but, then, you are always so rational and reasonable that I can speak to you the more freely. Believe me, I would have given half I possess if I could have saved the situation before it was too late."
"I know it," Mrs. Rent said quietly. "My dear Richard Westlake, this is a bitter blow to me. As yet I can hardly realise it. He must have been mad. He must have been carried away by impulsive11 good-heartedness. But we are wasting time. I must see Arnold. I suppose I shall even have to see the woman. I shall have to sit down in the same room with her."
"That is the point I was coming to," Westlake said, almost eagerly. "I want to prevent those misguided people from coming here. That must be avoided at any cost."
"Here!" Mrs. Rent murmured. "Do you mean to say that that woman would have the audacity12 to come to Alton Lee?"
"I think you will find that that will be the programme," Westlake said shrewdly. "Unless I am mistaken, Mrs. Charlock will pose as a martyr13, driven to despair by the brutality14 of a cruel husband. If she gets a footing here the whitewashing15 process will be half complete. It will be held that she has the support and sympathy of so great a lady as Mrs. Rent. And even if the other man takes proceedings16, as he is sure to do, half the people who read the case will come to the conclusion that Mrs. Charlock is an injured woman. She may be a saint, of course. But that is not a synonym17 for a fool."
Mrs. Rent looked despairingly across the park. She was beginning to appreciate the full force of the disaster. Her pride was in arms. The strong side of her character began to show uppermost, and there was a depth and force in her moral nature that few people dreamt of. Her duty was plain. If it wounded her to the heart, she must do that which was right and proper.
"I begin to see my way," she said quietly. "I will go and see my unhappy boy and this woman. I will go up with you to-day. It may be that there are extenuating18 circumstances. Indeed, I shall only be too glad to be able to take a lenient19 view of this disgraceful affair. But if you will give me Arnold's address I will telegraph to him that on no account is he to come here. It would be an outrage20."
"To tell the truth," Westlake confessed, "I have already taken the liberty of sending a telegram in your name. I did it directly I got the news. You see, there was no time to be lost, and they might already be on their way."
"Quite right," Mrs. Rent murmured. "By the way, what did you say was the name of this woman? It sounded familiar."
"Charlock," Westlake explained. "I believe her husband is an artist, or something of that kind."
"I wonder if he is any relation to the Charlock?" Mrs. Rent mused21. "I have been in correspondence with him. But I suppose that is out of the question, especially as there are two or three Charlocks who are artists."
Westlake glanced at the speaker. She was taking the blow with far greater resignation and courage than he had expected. The colour had crept back into her cheeks. Her face was strong and resolute22. Come what might, she would do the right and proper thing; she would vindicate23 the honour of the family. She rose now and suggested that it was time for tea.
"It seems strange to mention the meal," she said, "but I suppose the world will go on the same, even though this black disgrace has fallen on the family. But fancy having to tell Ethel! My heart sinks at the mere24 thought of it. And the servants, too, every one of whom was born on the estate. But the thing will have to be done, bitterly as one resents it. Everybody must know. There shall be no attempt at deceit or prevarication25. As soon as we have had tea you had better decide to take a stroll in the garden and smoke a cigar. I shall not be able to rest till Ethel knows the story. Now give me your arm."
In silence they passed between the rose-bushes, across the velvet26 lawns to the drawing-room. The light was subdued27, and Mrs. Rent was grateful for it. She had no desire to be under the scrutiny28 of Ethel's keen eyes. The girl came forward from behind a bank of roses and fern. Something suggested suppressed excitement in her manner.
"Well, are all the secrets told?" she asked gaily29. "Or has Mr. Westlake got a surprise in store for us? But, whether he has or not, I have a surprise for you. You know you were talking just now of a famous artist who was to paint my portrait. What would you say if I told you that Mr. John Charlock is in the library at the present moment?"
"The husband," he murmured. "The husband, for a million. Now, what on earth is the fellow doing here?"
There was a startled expression on Mrs. Rent's face.
"This had not occurred to me," she murmured. "Strange that I had failed to notice it. Fancy a thing like this happening in so quiet and respectable a house as Alton Lee! It reminds one of those dreadful plays where extraordinary events take place in the most unexpected quarters. Who could have foreseen the elements of such a drama four-and-twenty hours ago? I should have said this would be the last house in the world to entertain anything like this. But perhaps the misfortune will prove to be a blessing31 in disguise. Don't you think we might settle matters, now that Mr. Charlock is here, in such a way that there shall be no scandal? I cannot possibly believe that my son is——"
"An ordinary human being," Westlake said cynically32. "My dear madam, when a young man comes in contact with a beautiful woman who is cold-blooded and playing entirely33 for her own hand, nobody knows what will take place. Believe me, this is not the time for weakness or compromise. It may be that your son is acting34 from the highest possible motives35. It may be that his soul is full of chivalry36 and all that kind of thing. Nevertheless, I should like to hear what you have to suggest."
Mrs. Rent pondered the matter for a moment.
"Cannot you think of anything?" she asked timidly. "Oh, I don't know how to act. I can't think what to do for the best. And yet it seems as if this were a direct intervention37 of Providence38. On the other hand, you may say that it would be far better if Mr. Charlock left the house without delay."
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1
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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2
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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3
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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4
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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5
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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6
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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7
tarnish
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| n.晦暗，污点；vt.使失去光泽；玷污 | |
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8
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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10
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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11
impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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12
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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13
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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14
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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15
whitewashing
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的现在分词 )； 喷浆 | |
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16
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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17
synonym
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| n.同义词，换喻词 | |
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18
extenuating
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| adj.使减轻的，情有可原的v.（用偏袒的辩解或借口）减轻( extenuate的现在分词 )；低估，藐视 | |
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19
lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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21
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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22
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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23
vindicate
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| v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确 | |
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24
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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25
prevarication
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| n.支吾；搪塞；说谎；有枝有叶 | |
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26
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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27
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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28
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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29
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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30
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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31
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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32
cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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33
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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34
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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35
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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36
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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37
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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38
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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