The latter part of the evening they spent with Mary,
in whom Tarrant always found something new to admire.
He regarded her as the most wonderful phenomenon in
nature—an uneducated woman who was neither
vulgar nor foolish.
Baby slept in a cot beside Nancy’s bed.
For fear of waking him, the wedded lovers entered
their room very softly, with a shaded candle.
Tarrant looked at the curly little head, the little
clenched hand, and gave a silent laugh of pleasure.
On the breakfast-table next morning lay a letter from
Horace. As soon as she had opened it, Nancy uttered
an exclamation which prepared her companion for ill
news.
’Just what I expected—though I tried
not to think so. “I write aline only to
tell you that my marriage is broken off. You will
know the explanation before long. Don’t
trouble yourself about it. I should never have
been happy with Winifred, nor she with me. We
may not see each other for some time, but I will write
again soon.” He doesn’t say whether
he or she broke it off. I hope it was Winifred.’
‘I’m afraid not,’ said Tarrant,
‘from the tone of that letter.’
’I’m afraid not, too. It means something
wretched. He writes from his London lodgings.
Lionel, let me go back with you, and see him.’
‘By all means.’
Her gravest fear Nancy would not communicate.
And it hit the truth.
They parted at Baker Street, Tarrant for his lodgings
and the work that awaited him there, Nancy to go westward
by another train.
When she reached the house from which her brother
had dated his letter, it was half-past ten. At
the door stood a cab, and a servant was helping the
driver to hoist a big trunk on to the top.
‘Is Mr. Lord still here?’ Nancy asked
of the girl.
‘He’s just this minute a-goin’,
miss. This is his luggage.’
She sent her name, and was quickly led up to the first
floor. There stood Horace, ready for departure.
‘Why have you come?’ he asked, with annoyance.
‘What else could I do on hearing such news?’
’I told you I should write again, and I said
plainly that it was better we shouldn’t see
each other for some time.—Why will people
pester me out of my life?—I’m not
a child to be hunted like this!’
On the instant, he had fallen into a state of excitement
which alarmed his sister. There were drops of
sweat on his forehead, and tears in his eyes; the
blood had rushed to his cheeks, and he trembled violently.
‘I am so troubled about you,’ said Nancy,
with anxious tenderness. ’I have been looking
forward with such hope to your marriage,—and
now—’
’I can’t tell you anything about it just
now. It was all Mrs. Damerel’s doing; the
engagement, I mean. It’s a good thing I
drew back in time.—But I have a train to
catch; I really mustn’t stay talking.’
