The trio listening laughed merrily, for she played and sang with all the verve of a Parisian chanteuse. Besides, both music and words were full of a gay abandon which was quite unexpected, and which charmed young Wingate, who knew that, though the Cabinet Minister held him in high esteem as a friend, yet to marry Sheila was entirely out of the question. He realised always that he was a mere designer of aeroplanes, a glorified motor-mechanic some jealous enemies had declared him to be. How could he ever aspire to the hand of Monktons daughter?
Level-headed and calm as he always was, he had from the first realised his position and retained it. Mr Monkton had admitted him to his friendship, and though always extremely polite and courteous to Sheila, he remained just a friend of her father.
At last she concluded, and, rising, made a mock bow to her three listeners, all of whom congratulated her, the mill-owner declaring:
You really ought to give a turn at the Palace Theatre, Sheila! Ive heard lots of worse songs there!
Tiny Tentoes, the Cabinet Ministers daughter would certainly be a good draw! declared Cicely.
Oh! well, I know you all like French songs, so I sang it. Thats all, answered their sprightly young hostess. But look! its past eleven, and father said he would be back before ten to see you before you left. Ill telephone to the House.
And she descended to the small library on the ground floor, where she quickly got on to the House of Commons.
When she re-entered the drawing-room she exclaimed:
He left the House more than an hour ago. I wonder where he is? He ought to have been back long before this.
Then at her guests request she sang another French chanson which, through the half-open window, could have been heard out in Curzon Street greatly to the delight of the little party.
At last, just before midnight. Cicely, pleading that they had to leave by the Continental mail early next morning, excused herself and her husband, and left in a taxi, for which Grant had whistled, after which Sheila and Austin found themselves alone.
When two people of the opposite sex, and kindred spirits as they were, find themselves alone the usual thing happens. It did in their case. While Sheila looked over her music, in response to Austins request to sing another song while awaiting the return of her father, their hands touched. He grasped hers and gazed straight into her face.
In those hazel eyes he saw that love-look that one expression which no woman can ever disguise, or make pretence; that look which most men know. It is seldom in their lives they see it, and when once it is observed it is never forgotten, even though the man may live to be a grandfather.
At that instant of the unconscious contact of the hands, so well-remembered afterwards by both of them, Sheila flushed, withdrew her hand forcibly, and rose, exclaiming with pretended resentment:
Dont, Austin please.
Meanwhile there had been what the newspapers term a scene in the House of Commons that evening. An important debate had taken place upon the policy of the Imperial Government towards Canada, a policy which the Opposition had severely criticised in an attempt to belittle the splendid statesmanship of the Colonial Secretary, who, having been absent during greater part of the debate, entered and took his seat just as it was concluding.
At last, before a crowded House, Reginald Monkton, who, his friends noticed, was looking unusually pale and worn, rose and replied in one of those brief, well-modulated, but caustic speeches of his in which he turned the arguments of the Opposition against themselves. He heaped coals of fire upon their heads, and denounced them as enemies of Imperialism and destroyers of Empire. The House listened enthralled.
He spoke for no more than a quarter of an hour, but it was one of the most brilliant oratorical efforts ever heard in the Lower Chamber, and when he reseated himself, amid a roar of applause from the Government benches, it was felt that the tide had been turned and the Opposition had once more been defeated.
Hardly had Monkton sat down when, remembering that he had guests at home, he rose and walked out.
He passed out into Palace Yard just before ten oclock and turned his steps homeward, the night being bright and starlit and the air refreshing. So he decided to walk.
Half-an-hour after Cicely and her husband had left Chesterfield Street Sheila again rang up the House and made further inquiry, with the same result, namely, that the Colonial Minister had left Westminster just before ten oclock. Monkton had been seen in St. Stephens Hall chatting for a moment with Horace Powell, the fiery Member for East Islington, whom he had wished good-night and then left.
So for still a further half-hour Sheila, though growing very uneasy, sat chatting with Austin, who, be it said, had made no further advances. He longed to grasp her slim white hand and press it to his lips. But he dared not.
I cant think where father can be! exclaimed the girl presently, rising and handing her companion the glass box of cigarettes. Look! it is already one oclock, and he promised most faithfully he would be back to wish the Wheelers farewell.
Oh! he may have been delayed met somebody and gone to the club perhaps, Austin suggested. You know how terribly busy he is.
I know, of course but he always rings me up if he is delayed, so that I need not sit up for him, and Grant goes to bed.
Well, I dont see any necessity for uneasiness, declared the young man. Hell be here in a moment, no doubt. But if he is not here very soon Ill have to be getting along to Half Moon Street.
Through the next ten minutes the eyes of both were constantly upon the clock until, at a quarter-past one, Wingate rose, excusing himself, and saying:
If I were you I shouldnt wait up any longer. Youve had a long day. Grant will wait up for your father.
The good old fellow is just as tired as I am perhaps more so, remarked the girl sympathetically. And then the pair descended to the hall, where Sheila helped him on with his coat.
Well good-night and dont worry, Austin urged cheerfully as their hands met. The contact sent a thrill through him. Yes. No woman had ever stirred his soul in that manner before. He loved her yes, loved her honestly, truly, devotedly, and at that instant he knew, by some strange intuition, that their lives were linked by some mysterious inexplicable bond. He could not account for it, but it was so. He knew it.
By this time Grant had arrived in the hall to let out Miss Sheilas visitor, and indeed he had opened the door for him, when at that same moment a taxi, turning in from Curzon Street, slowly drew up at the kerb before the house.
The driver alighted quickly and, crossing hurriedly to Austin, said:
Ive got a gentleman inside what lives ere, sir. E aint very well, I think.
Startled by the news Austin and Grant rushed to the cab, and with the assistance of the driver succeeded in getting out the unconscious form of the Colonial Secretary.
Id send the lady away, sir if I were you, whispered the taxi-driver to Wingate. I fancy the gentleman as ad just a drop too much wine at dinner. E seems as if e as!
Amazed at such a circumstance Sheila, overhearing the mans words, stood horrified. Her father was one of the most temperate of men. Such a home-coming as that was astounding! The three men carried the prostrate statesman inside into the small sitting-room on the right, after which Austin, completely upset, handed the taxi-man five shillings, and with a brief word of thanks dismissed him.