XXIX
BROTHER AND SISTER
Ned Cromarty found his sister in her room.
"Well, Ned," she asked, "where on earth have you been?"
He shut the door before he answered, and then came up to the fireplace,and planted himself in front of her.
"Who told you that Cicely Farmond was engaged to Malcolm Cromarty?" hedemanded.
She made a little grimace of comic alarm, but her eye was apprehensive.
"Don't eat my head off, Neddy! How can I remember?"
"You've got to remember," said her brother grimly. "And you'd better becareful what you tell me, for I'll go straight to the woman, or man, youname."
She looked at him boldly enough.
"I don't know if you are aware of it, but this isn't the way I'maccustomed to be talked to."
"It's the way you're being talked to now," said he. "Who told you?"
"I absolutely refuse to answer if you speak to me like that, Ned!"
"Then we part company, Lilian."
There was no doubt about the apprehension in her eye now. For a momentit seemed to wonder whether he was actually in earnest, and then todecide that he was.
"I--I don't know who told me," she said in an altered voice.
"Did anybody tell you, or did you make it up?"
"I never actually said they were engaged."
He looked at her in silence and very hard, and then he spokedeliberately.
"I won't ask you why you deceived me, Lilian, but it was a low downtrick to play on me, and it has turned out to be a damned cruel trick toplay on that girl. I mentioned the engagement as a mere matter of courseto somebody, and though I mentioned it confidentially, it started thisslander about Malcolm Cromarty and Cicely Farmond conspiring tomurder--to _murder_, Lilian!--the man of all men they owed most to.That's what you've done!"
By this time Lilian Cromarty's handkerchief was at her eyes.
"I--I am very sorry, Ned," she murmured.
But he was not to be soothed by a tear, even in the most adroit lady'seye.
"The latest consequence has been," he said sternly, "that through amixture of persecution and bad advice she has been driven to run away.Luckily I spotted her at the start and fetched her back, and I've toldher that if there is the least little bit more trouble she is to comestraight here and that you will give her as good a welcome as I shall.Is that quite clear?"
"Yes," she murmured through her handkerchief.
"Otherwise," said he, "there's no room for us both here. One singlesuggestion that she isn't welcome--and you have full warning now of theconsequences!"
"When is she coming?" she asked in an uncertain voice.
"When? Possibly never. But there's some very fishy--and it looks to me,some very dirty business going on, and this port stands open in case ofa storm. You fully understand?"
"Of course I do," she said, putting away her handkerchief. "I'm notquite a fool!"
And indeed, none of her friends or acquaintances had ever made thataccusation against Lilian Cromarty.
"Well, that's all," said Ned, and began to move across the room.
But now the instinct for finding a scapegoat began to revive.
"Who did you tell it to, Ned?" she asked.
"Simon Rattar."
"Then _he_ has spread this dreadful story!" she exclaimed with righteousindignation.
Her brother stopped and slowly turned back.
"By heaven, I've scarcely had time to think it all out yet--but it lookslike it!"
"It _must_ be that nasty grumpy old creature! If you told nobodyelse--well, it can't be anybody else!"
"But why should he go and spread such a story?"
"Because he wants to shelter some one else!"
"Who?"
"Ah, that's for the police to find out. But I'm quite certain, Ned, thatthat pig-headed old Simon with his cod-fish eyes and his everlastinggrunt is at the bottom of it all!"
He stared thoughtfully into space.
"Well," he said slowly, "he has certainly been asking for trouble in oneor two ways, and this seems another invitation. But he'll get it, sure!At the same time--what's his object?"
His sister had no hesitation.
"Either to make money or hide something disgraceful. You really mustenquire into this, Ned!"
He dropped into a chair and sat for a few minutes with his face in hishands. At last he looked up and shook his head.
"I'm out of my depth," he said. "I guess I'd better see Carrington."
"Mr. Carrington?" she exclaimed.
"I had a long talk with him," he explained. "He seems an uncommon shrewdfellow. Yes, that's the proper line!"
She looked at him curiously but evidently judged it tactful in thepresent delicate situation to ask no more. He rose now and went, stillthoughtful, to the door.
"What a dreadful thing of Simon Rattar to do! Wasn't it, Ned?" she saidindignantly, her eyes as bright as ever again.
He turned as she went out.
"The whole thing has been damnable!"
As the door closed behind him she made a little grimace again and thengave a little shrug.
"He's going to marry her!" she said to herself, and acting immediatelyon a happy inspiration, sat down to write a long and affectionate letterto an old friend whose country house might, with judicious management,be considered good for a six months' visit.
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