I knocked up the landlord of the ‘White Hart,’ and, turning into bed, slept my first peaceful sleep since my trouble.

To escape awkward questions, I did not in the morning take back the keys to Shales’s house myself, but sent them, and walking to Dullingham took the train to London.

X

BEHIND THE VEIL

I

When I met my mother at the solicitor’s office next day, she was astonished at my cheerfulness and at the general change in me.  As we left the office together, she said,

’Everything is now arranged:  your aunt and I have decided to accept Lord Sleaford’s invitation to go for a cruise in his yacht.  We leave to-morrow evening.  Lord Sleaford has promised to take me to-morrow afternoon to Mr. Wilderspin’s studio, to see the great painter’s portrait of me, which is now, I understand, quite finished.’

’Why did you not ask me to accompany you, instead of asking Sleaford?’

‘I did not know that you would care to do so.’  ‘Dear mother,’ I said, in a tender tone that startled her, ’you must let me go with you and Sleaford to the studio.’

She consented, and on the following afternoon I called at my aunt’s house in Belgrave Square.  The hall was full of portmanteaux, boxes, and packages.  Sleaford had already arrived, and was waiting with stolid patience for my mother, who had gone to her room to dress.  He began to talk to me about the astonishing gifts of Cyril Aylwin.

‘Have you made an appointment with Wilderspin?’ I said to my mother, when she entered the room.  ’The last time I saw him he seemed to be much occupied with some disturbing affairs of his own.’

‘Appointment?  No,’ said she, with an air that seemed to imply that an Aylwin, even with Gypsy blood in his veins, in calling upon Art, was conferring upon it a favour to be welcomed at any time.

‘I have not seen this portrait yet,’ said Sleaford, as the carriage moved off; ’but Cyril Aylwin says it is magnificent, and if anybody knows what’s good and what’s bad it’s Cyril Aylwin.’

‘Do you know,’ said my mother to me, ’I have taken vastly to this eccentric kinsman of ours?  I had really no idea that a bohemian could be so much like a gentleman; but, of course, an Aylwin must always be an Aylwin.’

‘Haw, haw!’ laughed Sleaford to himself, ’that’s good about Cyril Aylwin though—­that’s dooced good.’

’We shall see Wilderspin’s great picture, “Faith and Love,” at the same time,’ I said, as we approached Chelsea; ’for Wilderspin tells me that he has borrowed it from the owner to make a replica of it.’

‘That is very fortunate,’ said my mother.  ’I have the greatest desire to see this picture and its wonderful predella.  Wilderspin is one of the few painters who revert to the predella of the old masters.  He is said to combine the colour of him whom he calls “his master” with the draughtsmanship and intellect of Shields, whose stained-glass windows the owner was showing me the other day at Eaton Hall; and do you know, Henry, that the painter of this wonderful “Faith and Love” is never tired of declaring that the subject was inspired by your dear father?’