For a s.p.a.ce there was silence between them.

On Bennet Eversleigh's last words had made a certain impression, and he was asking himself if, after all, his scheme would not work: he felt not the least pity or compa.s.sion; but what if he had indeed set Eversleigh a task beyond his powers to accomplish? As he conversed with Eversleigh, he saw that what in his own home the previous evening had seemed a simple enough thing, was not simple at all. He saw that if Eversleigh, at his bidding, told the lovers that the match must be broken off, it did not at all follow they would consent--unless they were told that in this way, and this only, Eversleigh would be delivered from some great and imminent danger. "Well," he thought, "that is what Eversleigh must do, and for the same reason Kitty must be brought to consent to marry me."

"You will speak to your son and Miss Thornton to-night?" Bennet said aloud.

"To-night!"

"Why not? The sooner the better, surely!"

"Harry," said Eversleigh, making a last effort, "just consider the position."

"What else am I doing?" Bennet broke out rudely.

"Have patience a moment, if not for my sake, then for your own. You wish me to tell Gilbert, whom by the way I shall not see to-night, that he must have his engagement with Miss Thornton cancelled. Gilbert knows perfectly that his marriage with Miss Thornton is the thing next my heart, and he will require from me an explanation. Am I to tell him the truth? And it is the same in Miss Thornton's case. Am I to tell her the truth also?"

"Certainly. Why not, pray?" asked Bennet, ruthlessly.

"I do not believe Gilbert will consent."

"He will, fast enough, to save you; for in saving you is he not saving himself and his career?"

"But Miss Thornton," argued Eversleigh, "is not my child. She is of age.

She is her own mistress. I have no power over her. How can I compel her to marry you?"

Bennet stood in sullen silence.

"She would marry me to save you from a convict's cell," he said at last.

"But as I understand you to mean that you will not speak to her on this matter, I tell you what I'll do. I shall go to her myself, and tell her all I know. If she consents to marry me, then I shall spare you; if she refuses--you can guess for yourself what will take place. And this is my last word," added Bennet, and stalked out of the room.

CHAPTER XXII

On leaving Francis Eversleigh, whose feelings at the turn events had taken were poignant beyond description, Harry Bennet went as fast and as straight to Surbiton as the train could carry him. As he neared Ivydene, he was visited by some slight compunctions, but these he soon overcame and thrust out of his mind.

On inquiring if Miss Thornton was at home, he was told by the maid, to whom Bennet was no stranger, that Miss Thornton and Miss Helen Eversleigh were out, but were expected in very shortly. Mrs. Eversleigh, however, was in; would he not come in and see her? But Bennet, who had no wish to see Mrs. Eversleigh, excused himself and withdrew. He did not go far away, but hung about the house waiting till the two young ladies should appear. And presently, when they came into view, Bennet at once went to meet them.

When the girls saw him, they beheld him with very different emotions.

There was a smile of welcome on Helen's face, which showed she was glad to see him again, and that perhaps also she still, in her heart, was not ill disposed towards him; at the same time, she wondered why he had not been near Ivydene for so long a time, and this imparted a certain eagerness to her greeting of him. But Kitty received him coldly. Both the girls were in deep mourning, and Bennet thought he had never seen Kitty look better. The coldness of his reception he put down to the grief she must be feeling for her father, and for an instant he was inclined to doubt if this were the proper time to speak to her on the subject which had brought him to Surbiton, but his hesitation was soon over.

There was something strange and unnatural in Bennet's manner as he saluted the girls. So marked was it that even Helen Eversleigh could not help noticing it. Kitty observed it instantly, and she drew an augury of evil from it. Since her rejection of the young man she had almost forgotten his existence, so much had happened in the interval. Now, as she looked at him, her distrust of him returned.

Yet his first words somewhat disarmed her, though the tone in which they were uttered was hardly what she would have expected. She saw he was labouring under some strong excitement.

"I have not seen you, Miss Thornton," he said, hoa.r.s.ely, "for some time, and I had meant to write you a note of sympathy, but--but--I was so----"

"I understand," said Kitty, as Bennet paused, embarra.s.sed.

"It was very sad for you," remarked Bennet.

"Yes," said Kitty, simply.

The three were now close to Ivydene, and Helen Eversleigh invited him to come in. Bennet stopped in the road, and did not at once reply; the others stopped, too, regarding him curiously.

Then, to the surprise of the girls, Bennet said, addressing Helen Eversleigh--

"Would you mind leaving us, Miss Eversleigh; there is something I wish to say to Miss Thornton?" Then he turned to Kitty and observed, gruffly, "It is something very important. Miss Thornton, or I should not trouble you. Indeed, I have come on purpose to tell you of it."

Kitty bowed gravely, and Helen, greatly astonished, retired to the house, saying as she went--

"Come in when you have had your talk. You won't be long, I suppose."

But neither of the others answered.

"Is it something you have to tell me about my father?" asked Kitty, who at once supposed that Bennet had in some way or other obtained information respecting Morris Thornton.

"No, Miss Thornton," answered Bennet, bluntly. "It is about something quite different that I wish to speak to you."

"But if I do not wish to listen to you?" asked Kitty, suddenly alarmed.

"You must," insisted Bennet.

"Must!" cried Kitty. "You take a very strange tone. I shall not listen to you, Mr. Bennet."

And she moved a step from him.

He strode beside her, and put his hand roughly on her arm.

"I am in earnest," he said, his eyes gleaming balefully. "You must hear me unless you wish the worst to happen to those people in there."

He waved his hand toward Ivydene.

"Miss Thornton," Bennet went on, more calmly when he saw the girl gave heed to him, "it is in your power, and in yours alone, to save your friends, the Eversleighs, from the gravest disaster."

Kitty stared at him, thinking the man must have gone mad.

"I repeat," Bennet continued, "that it is in your power. Miss Thornton--do you understand?--in your power, to avert a great danger, a terrible disaster, from the Eversleighs."

"I do not understand you in the least," said Kitty. "Will you please explain yourself?"

"You will listen, then?" asked Bennet, tauntingly. "And you will do well to listen, if you have any regard for these people."

"Will you explain, please?" asked Kitty, impatiently.

"Yes; but I shall have to trouble you to hear rather a long story, but without it you would not understand."