CHAPTER V
CARTWRIGHT'S SCRUPLES
The drawing-room at Mrs. Cartwright's house on the Cheshire side of theMersey was large and old-fashioned. Cartwright thought the stiff, thickcurtains and Victorian walnut furniture ugly, but Mrs. Cartwright likedthe things and he was satisfied. Clara herself frankly belonged to theold school. She was conventional and often dull, but she had a placiddignity that did not mark all the up-to-date women Cartwright knew.Moreover, the house was comfortable. One got there by the Mersey tunneland it was only a few minutes' walk from the station. For all that, theencroaching town had not yet reached the neighborhood, and the windowscommanded a pleasant view of clean rolling country and the blue Welshhills.
Cartwright felt the house was a snug harbor where he could rest when hewas too old and battered to front the storms that had for some time beengathering, and sitting by the fire one evening, he speculated about therocks and shoals ahead. All the same, the time to run for shelter wasnot yet; he thought he could ride out another gale.
An arch with heavy molding occupied the middle of the spacious room. Thefolding doors had been removed and curtains partly screened the arch. Onthe other side, a group of young men and women stood about the piano. OnCartwright's side the lights were low. He had dined well and liked toloaf after dinner. Besides, he felt dull; his gout bothered him and hehad been forced to run for his train. He had begun to find out one couldnot do that kind of thing. Mrs. Cartwright sat opposite, knittingquietly, and her smooth, rhythmic movements were soothing. Clara wasnever abrupt and jerky.
"I got a letter from Stormont's by the afternoon post," she said. "Theyhave been repaid the mortgage, and there's something about a foreignbond, drawn for redemption. They want to talk about a new investment."
Stormont, Wilmot and Stormont were her lawyers, and Cartwright nodded."The money ought to be earning interest and you can safely buy stockStormont's approve. Their judgment's sound."
"For all that, I think I'd like to choose for myself. Suppose I boughtsome shares in the line? I have a number, but it's really not large andI have felt I'm not supporting the house as I ought."
Cartwright knitted his brows. Clara did not know much about business,but she was sometimes shrewder than one thought. He wondered whetherMortimer had been talking. If the pup had talked, the thing was ominous,because it implied that others knew the difficulties Cartwright mighthave to meet.
"Do you imagine the house needs supporting?" he asked carelessly.
Mrs. Cartwright hesitated. "I really know nothing about it; but don'tpeople grumble when you can't pay them much and their shares go down?Perhaps if the family owned a good part of the capital, you could take afirmer line."
It was plain that Clara had been pondering. Mortimer _had_ talked andsomebody who was not Cartwright's friend had informed him. Cartwrightwas tempted to let his wife do as she wanted: Clara owned shares in theline that he had let her buy when freights were good and she hadafterwards refused to sell. Now, however, freights were very bad and thecompany was nearer the rocks than he hoped the shareholders knew.Cartwright imagined he could yet mend its fortunes, if he were leftalone, but the job was awkward and opposition might be dangerous. Tocommand a solid block of votes would certainly help.
For all that, there was a risk Clara ought not to run. His antagonistswere getting stronger, and if they meddled and baffled him, the companywould fail. Its bankruptcy would not ruin his wife, but she would feelthe loss of her money, and he was not going to use Clara for a shieldagainst Ellen Seaton's attacks. The thing was shabby. All the same, thesituation was humorous, and he saw, with an ironical smile, theadvantages of Mrs. Cartwright's plan.
"I'm not a business woman, but I have noted you're sometimes moody, asif you were anxious, and I want to help," she resumed.
"You do help. The storms I've weathered have left a mark, and now I'mold and strained it's much to make a quiet port at night. You take allbothers from me, and send me out in the morning, braced for anotherwatch in the pilot-house."
"Some time you must give another the helm," said Mrs. Cartwrightquietly. "I wish I could persuade you to do so soon."
Cartwright sighed, for the strain was heavy and he wanted to rest. Thetrouble was the put-off reckoning for past extravagance was at hand andhe shrank from asking his wife to pay. He had not been very scrupulous,but he had his code. Then Hyslop came through the arch, and stopping,noted Cartwright's awkwardly stretched-out leg.
"Gout bothering you again, sir?" he said. "You ought to lie up for a fewdays, but I expect you're needed at the office. I heard the E.P. linehad a stormy meeting and the dissatisfied shareholders came near turningout the directors. Johnson declared they only saved the situation by afew votes."
"They ought to be turned out! A blundering lot! They've let a good fleetdown."
Hyslop smiled. He had pale and watery blue eyes that generally annoyedCartwright. "An awkward doctrine, sir! If all the steamship directorswho might have used the shareholders' money to better advantage werecalled to account, I imagine a number of respectable gentlemen wouldfind their occupation gone. Besides, when people start deposing rulersthey don't know where to stop. The thing's, so to speak, contagious, andpanicky investors are not logical."
He went off and Cartwright braced himself. Mortimer meant to be nasty,but his languid malice bit deeper than he knew. Cartwright hadhesitated, weighing the value of his wife's help against his scruples,until his step-son's hints had tipped the beam. After all, if he usedClara's money and saved his skin at her cost, the pup would have somegrounds to sneer.
"I must keep control for some time yet," he said. "Times are bad, and ifI let go the helm I doubt if my successor could steer a safe course.When the need is gone I'll willingly give up, but I must bring the oldship into port first. In the meantime, you had better let Stormont's buyyou sound Corporation stock."
Mrs. Cartwright acquiesced and Cartwright watched the young peoplebeyond the arch. With the stiff curtains for wing-scenes and the lightsconcealed, the end of the room made a proscenium: it was like looking ata drawing-room comedy on the stage. Two of the girls were pretty and heapproved their fashionable clothes. When she was quiet, Grace was almostbeautiful, but somehow none had Barbara's charm. Yet Cartwright thoughtthe girl was getting thin and her color was too bright. A friend ofMortimer's occupied the music stool and Cartwright admitted that thefellow played well, although he was something like a character from aGilbert opera.
Lister sat near the piano, and talked to Barbara. He smiled, but hissmile had a touch of gravity. Cartwright thought him a good Canadian. Abit rugged perhaps, but staunch, and his quiet sincerity was after allbetter style than the cleverness of Mortimer's friends. Cartwrightimagined Barbara studied Lister, who did not know. In fact, it looked asif he were puzzled, and Cartwright smiled. Lister had not his talents;when Cartwright was young he knew how to amuse a pretty girl.
The man at the piano signed to Barbara, who got up and began to sing.The song was modern and the melody not marked. Cartwright liked theVictorian ballads with tunes that haunted one and obvious sentiment, butbecause Barbara sang he gave the words and music his languid interest.After all, the thing was clever. There was, so to speak, not much on thesurface, but one heard an elusive note of effort, as if one struggledafter something one could not grasp. On the whole, Cartwright did notapprove that kind of sentiment; his objects were generally plain. Thenhe thought the hint of strain was too well done for a young girl, andwhen Barbara stopped he turned to his wife.
"Are you satisfied about Barbara?" he asked.
"Why should I not be satisfied?"
"I have felt she's not quite up to her proper form. Looks thin andsometimes she's quiet. Then why has young Vernon gone off? I haven'tseen him recently."
"Harry's in town; he goes home in a few days," Mrs. Cartwright replied.She hesitated and resumed, "I imagined he wanted to marry Barbara,although she told me nothing about this. Barbara does not tell onemuch."
"Do you think s
he likes him?"
"I don't know, but I rather think if she had liked him she would haverefused."
"Ah!" said Cartwright thoughtfully. "Well, Vernon's a good sort, but Isee some light; the girl is sensitive and very proud! No doubt, shefeels her Canadian adventure--ridiculous, of course! But Barbara's hardto move. All the same, if Vernon's the proper man and is resolute--"
"I doubt if he is the proper man," Mrs. Cartwright replied.
Cartwright pondered. Sometimes Clara did not say all she thought, andhis glance wandered back to the group at the other end of the room.Barbara was again talking to Lister. He looked thoughtful and her facewas serious. They were obviously not engaged in philandering; Cartwrightfelt their quiet absorption was significant. After a minute or two,however, the party about the piano broke up and went off. Barbarastopped to put away some music and then came through the arch.
"Mr. Lister wants to go a voyage," she said to Cartwright. "I suggestedyou might help him to get a post on board a ship."
"I imagine he did not suggest you should persuade me?"
"Certainly not! He refused to bother you," Barbara replied and, withsome hesitation, added: "However, perhaps in a sense we ought to help."
"That is so," Cartwright agreed. "Why did Mr. Lister come to Liverpool?"
"He wanted to go round the shipping offices. Mother told him our housewas always open--"
Cartwright nodded, "Of course! Well, I'll think about it and may see aplan."
Barbara went off and Cartwright looked at his wife. "I don't know ifthis is a fresh complication; but if she refused Harry, she'd no doubtrefuse the other. Perhaps it's important that she's willing he should goto sea."
"One is forced to like Mr. Lister and we owe him much," Mrs. Cartwrightremarked.
"Certainly," Cartwright agreed. "However, it looks as if someengineering talent is all he has got, and I think a long voyage isindicated--" He stopped, and resumed with a twinkle: "For all that, thefellow is not an adventurer, and I married a rich woman."
Mrs. Cartwright gave him a gentle smile. "I have been happy and Barbarais not; but, in one sense, I don't imagine we need be disturbed. Barbarahas not recovered from the jar."
She got up, and Cartwright dozed until he heard a step and Listercrossed the floor.
"Hallo!" he said. "Are you going? There is no train just now."
Lister said he meant to walk to the tramline, but Cartwright asked himto stop for a few minutes.
"Barbara tells me you are trying for a post in an engine-room," heremarked.
"That is so," said Lister with a touch of embarrassment. "Still, Ididn't mean Miss Hyslop to bother you."
"Barbara likes to meddle and I'm a ship-owner. To begin with, why d'youwant to go to sea?"
"I must go to sea or back to Canada," Lister said, smiling. "I've had apretty good holiday, but my wad's nearly gone."
"Then, wouldn't it be prudent to return to your occupation?"
"I haven't an occupation; I turned mine down. It's possible I'll findanother, but I'm not ready yet. In Canada, we're a restless, wanderinglot, and I want to look about the world before I go back. You see, whenyou only know the woods and our Western towns--"
Cartwright saw and sympathized. He remembered how adventure called whenhe was young. Well, he had got adventure, but perhaps not the kindLister seemed to enjoy. Anyhow, he had not started off with an emptywallet to look about the world.
"How much does your roll amount to?" he asked with a bluntness hesometimes used.
When Lister told him he laughed. The young fellow was good stuff;Cartwright liked his rashness.
"Well," he said, "you have pluck, and if you're obstinate, pluck takesyou far. Have you got a promise from any of our shipping offices?"
Lister said he had not. There were some difficulties about certificates.He had sailed on lake boats and made coasting voyages, but the EnglishBoard of Trade rules were strict. Then he looked at the clock andCartwright gave him his hand.
"Come and see me at the office. We'll talk about this again."
Lister thanked him, and when he had gone Cartwright mused. The youngfellow was not an adventurer; anyhow not in the sense Shillito was anadventurer. His honesty was obvious, it was plain he did not wantBarbara's money, and Cartwright thought he did not know she was rich. Infact, he was Barbara's sort. There was the trouble. Cartwright weighedthis for a time and then went to sleep.
Lister's Great Adventure Page 15
