He also had an uneasy conviction that Miss Burton was remarkably self-assured for such a young woman. She had spoken of blushing when she gave him the invitation, but she had not done so. Not the faintest colour showed on her cheek, and the glance that met his was perfectly steady and unwavering. She must either be very innocent, or, young as she was, she had acquired the experience and self-possession of a much older woman. He would like to think it all out.
The girl nodded in a friendly fashion, and tripped away, leaving Hugh Murchison to finish his tea, and ponder over what had happened.
Chapter Two
When Hugh got back to his quarters the first thing he did was to hunt up his great friend Jack Pomfret. He found that young gentleman stretched in front of a blazing fire it was a very chilly March and smoking a cigar nearly as big as himself. Jack Pomfret, it may be said, was quite a small man, of about the size and weight that would be associated with the coxswain of a Varsity boat.
Next to Murchison, perhaps Pomfret was the most popular man in the regiment. He was certainly the poorest, for although he came of an aristocratic family, the said family had very little to bless themselves with.
If it had been left to his immediate relatives, Jack would have had to enter a line regiment, and subsist on his pay, supplemented by more or less regular small remittances from his hard-up father.
But fortune had smiled on Jack when he was in his cradle. A rich great-aunt had been his godmother, and from the date of his christening had taken him under her wing. She had been crossed in love when quite a girl, and would never marry. Jack Pomfret had a handsome, but not an extravagant, allowance now, and he would come into his great-aunts fortune when she died.
Jack always complained that his aunt was a bit thrifty, and did not fully understand the imperative necessities of a young subaltern in an expensive regiment like the Twenty-fifth.
As a matter of fact, Miss Harding, his mothers youngest sister, suffered from acute indigestion, existed principally on soda-water and biscuits, lived in a comparatively small house with one manservant and two maids, and saved a great deal every year out of a large income. She loved Jack very much, but she had little or no sympathy with the follies and indiscretions of youth. She had a hazy sort of idea that an officer should live within his pay, as she lived well within her income. Needless to say that Jack had long disabused her of this silly idea.
Great tidings, old man, cried Murchison, breaking in upon the meditative little man, blowing great clouds of smoke. Ill give you six guesses.
Not in a guessing mood, returned Jack shortly. All my brain-power is used up. I am trying to concoct a letter to the dear old aunt God bless her, she is one of the best! insinuating gently that a cheque for a couple of hundred would be very convenient at the present moment.
Murchison took a seat. Silly old ass, he said in a kindly tone, if you want a couple of hundred have it from me, and dont worry about the aunt. You can pay me when she stumps-up. From what you have told me about your respected relative, it might be a lengthy business. I suppose you will plead debts. She might offer to discharge them, and ask the names of the creditors. In that case, old chap, you wouldnt handle much personally, would you?
Pomfret laughed genially. He was always very hard-up, but he was never depressed for very long. There was always a silver lining to every cloud.
Shes the sweetest, dearest soul on Gods earth, he said in a tone of conviction. But you know, Hughie old man, she doesnt understand I say emphatically, she doesnt understand you know what I mean. She is early Victorian. As to your suggestion, I appreciate it very much, but emphatically, no. He added, with a whimsical smile: Yours is a loan, I should have to pay back; Heaven knows when I could do so. The dear old aunt, well, it is a gift, no question of paying back. I havent thought it all out yet, but in the early cool of to-morrow morning, I shall write her a beautiful and touching letter. I know by experience it will bring a cheque.
Youre an artful young devil, I know, said Murchison. Straight as a die himself, he was not too appreciative of his friends diplomatic methods.
On the other hand, was he justified in criticising? He had a magnificent allowance from his opulent father. Poor Jack, with a somewhat puritanical and niggardly aunt at his back, had just to worry along, and live in this expensive regiment from hand to mouth.
There was no more to be said on this subject.
Well, Jack, are you in a mood to listen to my news?
Pomfret leaned forward, and flicked the ash off his cigar. Yes, I think I am. Begone dull care! I shall write that letter the first thing to-morrow morning.
Well, I have made the acquaintance of that pretty Burton girl, whom nobody in Blankfield visits.
Mr Pomfret emitted a little chuckling sound. Lucky devil. How did you do it? I thought she was unapproachable. She walks down the High Street, with a haughty stare, and her nose in the air, and looks neither to left nor right. How did you manage it, old man? Hugh laughed. Oh, as easy as anything. Just dropped in to Winkleys, expecting to see a lot of you fellows with your best girls. Not a soul there I knew. Room full every table full, save for one at which Miss Burton was sitting alone sat at the one table, vis-à-vis with Miss Burton. There it is in a nutshell.
Mr Pomfret grinned broadly. Oh, Hughie, what I would have given for your chance. You know I am awfully gone on that girl, she is so sweet and dainty, far and away the prettiest girl in Blankfield. What did you make of your chance?
As much as could be made in five or ten minutes. She told me a lot about things, her disappointment in finding that the Blankfield people would not call upon her, and that, excepting her brother, she had not a soul to speak to.
Poor little soul! said Mr Pomfret, in a voice of the deepest sympathy. Poor little soul! he repeated.
Well, we talked for some little time, some ten minutes perhaps, I dont think it could have been much longer. And then then you will never believe it, Jack she asked me to call, and be introduced to her brother.
Mr Pomfret was quite young, in fact he was the baby of the regiment. But having been educated at a public school, he had learned a certain amount of worldly wisdom rather early. He gave expression to it now.
If she were living with her mother, or a maiden aunt, Hughie, the thing would be so easy. But the brother, we have seen him walking beside that lovely girl. It would be difficult to class him. It would be perhaps too much to say he was either a bounder or a cad hes not boisterous enough for the one or common enough for the other. But clearly, hes not a gentleman or the imitation of one.
No, answered Hugh. Your description of the brother quite fits. He is neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor good red-herring, as the old saw has it. Then the girl is so different. She is, to an extent, frank and unconventional.
She must be, or she wouldnt have asked you to call upon her, interrupted the astute Mr Pomfret.
Quite so, I perfectly agree. But upon my soul, Jack, she has the most perfect manners. She does these sort of things in such a way that you cease to wonder why she does them.
I understand. Mr Pomfret looked very wise. Theres a wonderful fascination about the girl. She radiates it, even when you pass her in the street. By Gad, theres not a young woman in Blankfield who can hold a candle to her. Well, Hughie, what are you going to do about the invitation?