Malcolm obeyed, a little smile playing about the corners
of his mouth. Caley saw it as he passed, and
hated him yet worse. He was in his own clothes,
booted and belted, in two minutes. Three sufficed
to replace his father’s garments in the portmanteau,
and in three more he and Kelpie went plunging past
his mistress and her maid as they drove home in their
lumbering vehicle.
“The insolence of the fellow!” said Caley,
loud enough for her mistress to hear notwithstanding
the noise of the rattling windows. “A pretty
pass we are come to!”
But already Florimel’s mood had begun to change.
She felt that she had done her best to alienate men
on whom she could depend, and that she had chosen
for a confidante one whom she had no ground for trusting.
She got safe and unseen to her room; and Caley believed
she had only to improve the advantage she had now
gained.
Things had taken a turn that was not to Malcolm’s
satisfaction, and his thoughts were as busy all the
way home as Kelpie would allow. He had ardently
desired that his sister should be thoroughly in love
with Lenorme, for that seemed to open a clear path
out of his worst difficulties; now they had quarrelled;
and besides were both angry with him. The main
fear was that Liftore would now make some progress
with her. Things looked dangerous. Even his
warning against Caley had led to a result the very
opposite of his intent and desire. And now it
recurred to him that he had once come upon Liftore
talking to Caley, and giving her something that shone
like a sovereign.
Earlier on the same morning of her visit to the studio,
Florimel had awaked and found herself in the presence
of the spiritual Vehmgericht. Every member of
the tribunal seemed against her. All her thoughts
were busy accusing, none of them excusing one another.
So hard were they upon her that she fancied she had
nearly come to the conclusion that, if only she could
do it pleasantly, without pain or fear, the best thing
would be to swallow something and fall asleep; for
like most people she was practically an atheist, and
therefore always thought of death as the refuge from
the ills of life. But although she was often
very uncomfortable, Florimel knew nothing of such
genuine downright misery as drives some people to
what can be no more to their purpose than if a man
should strip himself naked because he is cold.
When she returned from her unhappy visit, and had
sent her attendant to get her some tea, she threw
herself upon her bed, and found herself yet again in
the dark chambers of the spiritual police. But
already even their company was preferable to that
of Caley, whose officiousness began to enrage her.
She was yet tossing in the Nessus tunic of her own
disharmony, when Malcolm came for orders. To
get rid of herself and Caley both, she desired him
to bring the horses round at once.
