Charles Rex

by Ethel M. Dell

  CHAPTER IV

  SALTASH

  They joined the two on the terrace, and presently they were all laughingtogether at Saltash's drolleries. He knew how to bring effervescence tothe very quietest waters. They sat for a space on a seat in the softspring starlight, while below them on the down there thrilled theunspeakable music of nightingales singing far and near. Then after awhile Jake strolled away for his nightly inspection of the stables,taking Bunny with him, and Saltash and Maud were left alone.

  He moved close to her at once, his arm stretched behind her along theback of the seat. At their feet lay an old red setter, Chops, who hadbelonged to Jake before his marriage and had devoted himself to Maud eversince.

  "By Jove, this is peaceful!" said Saltash, and stopped to caress the olddog with a gentle hand. "Do you know, Maud, it's a good thing you nevermarried me if this sort of thing makes you happy."

  She smiled her quiet, contented smile. "I think it is a good thing too,Charlie. It certainly would never have satisfied you."

  "Nothing does," he declared restlessly. "I'm a wanderer on the face ofthe earth, and I don't pick up much as I go along. I'm getting old, youknow. Life isn't what it was."

  Maud was silent for a few moments, the starlight in her eyes. "Isometimes wonder," she said at length, "if you have ever really livedyet."

  He laughed on a mocking note. "My dear girl, I--who have doneeverything!"

  She shook her head. "No, not everything, Charlie."

  "Everything that's bad," he suggested recklessly.

  She put out a hand to him that went into his quick hold and lay therewith perfect confidence. "I don't think you're really old," she said. "Ithink you're just beginning to grow up. No, don't laugh! I am quiteserious. You are just beginning to discriminate between the things thatare worth while and those that are not."

  "Is anything worth while?" said Saltash.

  "Yes, yes. Heaps of things. But not the things you care for,--not justthe wild pleasures of life. Charlie, I'm not good at expressing things,and I'm afraid--just a little--of trespassing, even though we are suchold friends."

  Her voice had a wistful note. He carried her hand to his lips. "_Ma bellereine_, is it possible? You?"

  Her fingers closed upon his. "I hate you to be world-tired and lonely.But I would rather have you that than feeding on husks."

  "I'm not doing that at the present moment," he said. "I'm living like abeastly hermit--except that I cut my nails and brush my hairoccasionally. You've heard about the woman on the yacht, of course?"

  Her silence answered him, and he laughed again.

  "A lie, _chere reine_! There was no woman."

  "Oh, Charlie!" she said impulsively. "Forgive me for believing it!"

  He made a royal gesture. "I forgive you. Moreover, the lie wasnot without foundation. There was a child on board of the femalespecies,--very small and badly frightened. We saved her between us,Larpent and I. She belongs to Larpent--not to me."

  "You mean she is his daughter?" questioned Maud.

  "That is exactly what I mean. Dull explanation, isn't it? Larpent wasbadly damaged. He is undergoing repairs in a nursing home, and thechild--well, I've got to look after the child. _Figurez-vous, ma chere!_I--a protector of infants! _Un peu comique, n'est-ce pas?_"

  "Ah!" Maud said, with compassion. "The poor little thing must come to us.I will take care of her. When will you bring her?"

  "You think her present plight is not to be endured for another moment?"laughed Saltash. "_Bien!_ I will send her to you tomorrow."

  "Ah! I don't mean she is not in safe keeping," protested Maud. "How oldis she? Older than Eileen?"

  "A little older than that," said Saltash. "She's nineteen."

  "Oh!" said Maud.

  "Perhaps you do mean it now!" gibed Saltash, getting up in his suddenfashion.

  Maud rose also, facing him in the starlight. "No, Charlie I don't!Because I know that the big things are in you and always have been, Iwould trust you--with my most precious possession."

  He laughed again. "But when I gave it back to you, you would look allround it to make sure it hadn't been broken and stuck together again,wouldn't you, Maud of the Roses?"

  "No," she said. "I wouldn't. I know--Charles Rex--better than that."

  He made her a sweeping bow. "Most fair and gracious lady, do not forgetthat my crest is a fox's head and the motto thereupon, '_Sans vertu_!'"

  She smiled, looking at him with steadfast eyes. "I will give you anothermotto, Charlie," she said. "Those we love--we trust."

  He made an abrupt movement. It was almost a protest. "For how long? Doyou really love me, Maud of the Roses?"

  She gave him both her hands without drawing any nearer. Her eyes wereshining as stars that shine through mist. "Yes, I love you, Charlie," shesaid, "so much that I can't go on being happy till I know that you aretoo."

  He bent very low, so that his dark face was wholly hidden from her. "I'venever been--really happy--since the day I lost you," he said.

  Her hands clasped his very tightly. There was a brief silencebefore--with a touch of shyness--she spoke again. "You have neverbeen--really happy--all your life. You don't know the meaning of theword--yet."

  "Don't I?" He stood up, still holding her hands. "I thought I'd sampledeverything."

  "No," she said. "No. There is--one thing left."

  "What is that?" he said.

  She stood again in silence, looking at him. Then, slowly, "You have neveryet touched the joy of loving someone better--far better--than you loveyourself," she said. "I think that is the greatest joy that God cansend."

  He bent towards her with a certain eagerness. "Maud, I could have lovedyou like that--once."

  She shook her head and her smile was sad. "No, my dear, believe me! Icouldn't have inspired it in you. I was too selfish myself in those days.Some other woman will teach you that now."

  "I wonder," said Charles Rex, half-mocking and half-touched.

  She slipped her hand through his arm, turning from the subject with afaint sigh. "Well, come and see the baby! He's very lovely."

  "From your point of view or Jake's?" questioned Saltash.

  She laughed. "From mine of course. He is going to be just like Jake."

  "Heavens above! I pity you!" ejaculated Saltash. "You'll never cope withtwo of 'em! They'll crush you flat."

  She drew him from the terrace into the quiet house. "Don't be absurd,Charlie! This boy of ours is to be the prop of our old age."

  He went with her jesting, but when they entered the silent nursery inwhich the two youngest children lay sleeping, his trifling ceased and hetrod with reverence.

  They stood together in the dim light beside the baby's cot, and Saltashlooked down upon the flushed baby face with a faintly rueful smile uponhis own.

  "There is something in being married and done for after all," he said.

  Over the old baby, Betty, now two years old, he stooped and lightlytouched the fair silken hair, but he did not kiss her though the childwas sleeping deeply.

  Later he went alone into the adjoining room where slept the two elderchildren, Eileen aged five, and Molly who was not yet four. Maud did notfollow him, and presently he came back, treading softly, the flickeringnight-light throwing odd shadows on his ugly face, and they left the roomtogether.

  In the passage he turned to her abruptly. "Then I may send that child toyou tomorrow?" he said.

  "Why not bring her?" said Maud smiling.

  He shook his head. "No. I'll come over one day--on Sunday perhaps--andsee you all again. I won't--handicap her--by bringing her."

  She understood him, and gave him her hand, but the fervour with which hereceived and kissed it surprised her into drawing it away more quicklythan she had intended.

  He laughed at the action. "I am only saluting motherhood," he explained.

  But she shook her head and passed on. There were moments when even shewho knew him so well was not wholly sure of him.

  They descended again and
Saltash turned towards the drawing-room.

  "Let's have some music!" he said, and dropped down before Maud's piano."You are tired, _ma chere_. You shall listen."

  He began to play an old French _chanson_ that once they had sungtogether, and Maud leaned back on a deep settee near him and dreamilysurrendered herself to its charm.

  Charlie's touch had always been a sheer delight to her. It held her nowwith the old sweet spell. His spirit spoke to hers with an intimacy whichordinary converse had never attained. It was by his music that he firsthad spoken to her soul. In music they were always in complete accord.

  She was half-asleep in her corner with the old dog lying at her feet whenJake and Bunny came in, and Saltash very swiftly, with muffled chords,brought his performance to an end.

  He sprang to his feet. "I've been making love to your wife, Jake," hesaid, "and she has been heroically but quite ineffectually trying to keepme at a distance. I'd better go before I'm kicked out, eh?"

  "Don't go on my account!" said Jake.

  Saltash's brows twitched comically. "Generous as ever! But I'm a rottenvillain, Jake. I never could keep it up, and your virtuous presence isthe last straw. Good-bye--and many thanks!"

  He held Maud's hand in his right and stretched his left to Jake with asmile half whimsical and half derisive.

  "There's nothing like banking on the hundredth chance," he said. "I shalltry it myself one of these days."

  "Say!" said Jake in his soft drawl. "I wish you luck!"

  Saltash laughed and turned away, to be instantly seized upon by Bunny.

  "I say you are a good chap! The boss has been telling me. You're going toput me up to a job."

  "If you'll take it," said Saltash.

  Bunny thrust a hand through his arm and squeezed it impulsively. "I'lltake anything from you, Charlie. Hope I shall be man enough for you,that's all."

  "Oh, you're man enough," said Saltash kindly. "Just the sort I want. Lookhere, I can't stop now. But I'll come over on Sunday and talk thingsover--if Jake permits."

  "Any day," said Jake.

  Saltash nodded. "Good. I'll ring you up tomorrow, Maud. You're sure youmean tomorrow?"

  "Quite sure," she said with a smile.

  He swept her a bow and went out with Bunny.

  Maud turned instantly to her husband. "Jake, I've got something to tellyou--to consult you about."

  He stopped her with that smile of his that was so good to see. "Oh, Iguess not. You've fixed it all up without my help. But his lordship foronce had the diplomacy to ask me first."

  "Oh, did he?" She looked confused for a moment. "Jake, you don't mind, doyou? I did the only thing possible."

  He put his arm around her and led her to the door. "I'll tell whether Imind a week from now. You're looking worn out, my girl. You go to bed!"

  She leaned against him. "Jake, I'm--horribly sorry for Charlie."

  "Wasted sentiment!" said Jake.

  "No, it isn't--it isn't--because he is just beginning--to be sorry forhimself. Jake, it haunts me."

  "Well, you're not to lie awake over it," said Jake unsympathetically."I shall know if you do, and I shall keep you in bed tomorrow. Got that?"He looked at her with determination glittering in his eyes.

  "You're very horrid," she said.

  "Yes, I know. Somebody's got to be. It's a world of contrasts, and wecan't all be kings and queens. Go to bed now! I'll say good night toBunny for you."

  But Maud lingered still. "What is Charlie going to do for him?"

  Jake led her with firmness into the hall. "It's the Agency. He's going tohelp old Bishop. I think the life will be good for him--if there isn'ttoo much Saltash about it."

  "Oh, how good of Charlie!" Maud said.

  "Yes, he means well this time." Jake's arm impelled her up the shallowstairs. "Hope he'll keep it up, but it won't surprise me any if hedoesn't. He's never been a stayer, and he's not the sort to begin now."

  "You really don't understand him," Maud said.

  "Maybe not," Jake's tone was faintly grim. It indicated that he had nointention of arguing the matter further.

  Maud abandoned it and they mounted the stairs together in silence. At thedoor of her room she turned without words and put her arms around hisneck.

  He held her closely still supporting her. "Shall I come and put you tobed, my girl?"

  She answered him softly. "No, darling, no! Don't be late yourself, that'sall! And--Jake--thank you for all your goodness to me!"

  "Oh, shucks--shucks!" he said.

  She raised her hands, holding the bronze head between them, gazingstraight into the free, dominant eyes with all her soul laid open totheir look. "There is no one like you in all the world," she said. "Youare greater than kings."

  "That's just your way of putting it," said Jake. "You're not exactly animpartial judge, I reckon. Barring the fact that I'm your mate, I'm avery ordinary sinner. Moreover, Saltash tells me I'm getting fat."

  "How dare he?" said Maud.

  He laughed in her indignant face. "Now I'm getting my own back! There!Don't get excited! No doubt he meant well! And I certainly ride heavierthan I did. Shall you love me when I'm fat, Maud?"

  She drew the laughing, sunburnt face to hers. "Don't be--absurd!" shesaid.

  Her lips met his and were caught in a long, long kiss.

  "Guess you're just as moon-struck as I am," said Jake softly.

  And, "I guess I am," she whispered back.