She remained sitting bolt upright in her chair, waiting for the servant to come and go, when it was her intention, not to read-she had changed her mind at the very moment of expressing it-but to play. These wretched misunderstandings over nothing at all always left her with an unpleasant taste in her mouth, which she could only rid herself of by entering that other world of pure and lofty idealism.
The two younger people walked slowly downstairs, Isbel slightly leading the way.
"Shall we see if we can get a game of billiards?" asked Marshall, in a somewhat subdued voice.
"If you like."
As they passed by the drawing-room the door was wide open; the room was empty.
"Let's come in here," said the girl.
They did so. She shut the door after them; both remained on their feet.
"May I ask," began Isbel, and a spot of colour came into her cheeks, "if it is your intention to keep confidences from me? I wish to know."
"My dear Isbel-"
"Yes or no?" Her tone was quietly menacing. Marshall felt that the shaping of his whole future very likely depended on the next few words addressed by him to this tranquil, dangerous-mannered girl in black.
He reflected before answering.
"Of course, if you put it in that way, Isbel, I mean to keep nothing from you. I gave my word to Judge, it's true, but I quite see that perhaps I had no right to give it. I fully realise that personal secrets vitiate the whole meaning of marriage."
"Then we'll say no more about it. I'm glad. If we held different views on the subject, it would be rather ominous, wouldn't it?…But what really is your compact wit this man-what does he want you to do exactly? He's quite a stranger, isn't he?"
"Oh, absolutely."
"Then tell me. I shan't talk."
"I know that. In any case, the affair isn't one of national importance. The truth is, this chap Judge once had-or thought he had-a succession of marvellous experiences in one of the rooms at Runhill; an attic on the top storey which rejoices in the name of the East Room. It happened just after he'd moved into the house, eight years ago, and apparently it's been weighing on his mind ever since. For some unknown reason, it pleases him to imagine that I possess an average quantum of common sense, on which account he has invited my assistance in clearing up the mystery. In a soft moment I agreed-and that's all there is to it."
"But I don't understand. Why you? What made him fix on you?"
"I really can't say. It just resulted from a casual friendly conversation on board ship, coming home. We happened to be discussing the Fourth Dimension, and all that sort of thing."
"What were these marvellous experiences of his, then?"
"A species of delusion, I take it. Every morning, for a week on end, a flight of stairs used to appear to him in that room, leading up out of a blank wall. He avers that he not only saw them, but used to go up them, but he hasn't the vaguest recollection of what took place on top."
"What an extraordinary fancy!"
"Eventually his wife found hi out at it-that is, of course she saw nothing, but it frightened him off. He had the room locked, and no one has set foot in it from that day to this. Now she's dead, he appears to think there's no longer the same necessity for secrecy."
"Does he look mad?"
"Not in the least. Far from it."
"And you actually promised to investigate?"
"My dear girl, what could I do? I couldn't tell the man to his face that he was a lunatic, could I? There was no way out of it…It will be an excuse for a run in the car, anyway."
"So you agreed, simply to spare his feelings?"
"We'll put it that way."
"I think it was rather fine of you, Marshall…I'm glad you've told me… I must know all your affairs. You see that, don't you?"
"Of course I see it."
Having gained her point, she swiftly took him in both arms, and lifted her lips to be kissed. They both laughed… Marshall, however, remained uneasy. After they had separated again-for obviously it was no place for love-making-he thoughtfully scrutinised her powdered face, with its steady, indecipherable eyes.
"While we're by ourselves, perhaps you'll tell me, Isbel-what exactly did you mean just now by that remark about selling yourself to the highest bidder in love: were you serious, or pulling my leg?"
"Yes, I must have love," said the girl quietly.
"I don't contest it. But the point is, you seem to regard love as a sort of jam, to be taken in a spoon. There's no such thing as love independent of a person. It appears to be a matter of indifference to you who that person is, so long as he makes it sufficiently sweet for you."
"Don't let's quarrel. I didn't say it to vex you. It isn't sweetness that I want."
"What then?"
Isbel was silent for a moment. She turned half-away from him, feeling the back of her hair with her white, tapering fingers.
"I don't know…Love must be stronger than that…I mean, one girl might be content with mere placid affection, and another might ask for nothing better than a thick sentimental syrup. It depends on character. My character is tragic, I fancy."
"I hope not." He stood looking rather puzzled…"Tell me one thing, Isbel-you're not by any chance finding our engagement…monotonous, are you?"
"Oh, no."
"Sure?"
"Quite sure. But isn't it a rather extraordinary question?"
Marshall, gazing at her quietly mocking smile, grew suddenly inflamed.
"I suppose you realise in your heart of hearts that you can do what you like with me, and that's why you are so contemptuous. It's a feeble thing to say, but I'd rather go on struggling for your good opinion all my life, Isbel, than be worshipped by any other woman without an effort on my part."
"You will always have my good opinion, if that's all you want."
He flushed up, and took a step towards her. As she awaited him with the same smile, the handle of the door turned noisily from the outside. They started guiltily away from each other.
"Then we'll see if we can get a game of billiards," remarked Isbel in a conversational voice, turning her neck to glance at the two ladies who were entering.
Marshall assented, and they at once left the room.
Chapter II THE VISIT TO RUNHILL COURT
After the breakfast on Saturday morning, Marshall brought the car round. He strolled up and down for some time, smoking, before the ladies made their appearance in the portico of the hotel. Isbel wore a new travelling-ulster with a smart check; her small, black satin hat was completed by a floating veil. Her face was powdered, and she was rather heavily scented. Mrs. Moor's short, commanding person was dressed with plain dignity. She looked the more distinguished of the two.
Isbel walked round the new car, appraising it critically, Marshall had bought it two months earlier, but delivery had been postponed until his return from America.
"Looks rather ladylike," he apologised, "but it's a devil to go."
Aunt and niece were in the best of humours. The morning was ideal for motoring, while an objective, of course, made it so much more interesting. It was hot, breathless, misty-a typical September day. The sun beat down from a cloudless sky, and the sea was like milk. Crowds of holiday-makers thronged the parade, a piano-organ up some back street was rattling out a popular tune, everyone looked in good health and free from care.
"Can we get back for lunch?" demanded the older lady.
"We'll do our best. It's about fifteen miles each way, I take it."
"Come on, then, and don't waste time."
As Isbel lightly touched Marshall 's arm in following her aunt into the back seat, she gave him an intimate smile. Their somewhat dangerous conversation of the preceding evening was forgotten, and both felt the engagement to be a wonderful thing. Climbing in behind the wheel, the underwriter's face took on a deeper colour.
They started. The girl was delighted with the easy running of the car; its power, smoothness, and silence were something impressive. She was volup
tuous by nature, and enjoyed luxurious travel, just as she enjoyed every form of softness. Mrs. Moor, for her part, sat as nearly upright as the thickly-padded cushions would permit, staring severely at the throng, which gradually thinned as they approached Hove.
Their road ran through Portslade, Shoreham, and up the valley of the Adur. The sun steadily increased in power, while the morning mists insensibly dissipated. They passed from sunshine to shadow, and from shadow to sunshine, fanned all the time by their own wind. Isbel's first exhilaration faded: she wrinkled her brow, and grew dreamy, pensive, vaguely anxious. Nature always had this effect on her. Streets, ships, crowds, any form of human activity, enabled her to forget herself, but natural surroundings threw her back on her own mental resources, and then the whole emptiness and want of purpose of her life loomed up in front of her…Her aunt viewed the changing landscape sternly. These trees, these fields and meads, but, above all, those bare downs of grass-covered chalk in the background, were to her sacred. Isbel respected her mood, and made no attempt at conversation.
Presently they came to Bramber and Steyning. At the latter place Marshall slowed down to inquire the way, and was instructed to take the left-hand fork about a mile further on. Runhill Court would be, roughly, three miles north-west from that point, but the road was a complicated one.
The Downs were on their left. Chanctonbury Ring, with its crest of dark trees, dominated the whole country. The sun blazed, while a plague of flies swarmed round the car, which had to crawl as soon as they entered the puzzling network of by-lanes. They met few people, and the way was hard to pick up, in consequence of which it was already nearing twelve when at last they drew up before the lodge gate at their destination.
Beyond the gate a winding carriage drive went forward to the house, which was out of sight; it was bordered on either side by the usual shrubbery of rhododendrons, hollies, etc. on the left, again, was a rising park, containing some fine specimens of beech, while to the right a real wood appeared, the extent of which, however could not be seen. An ancient, moss-grown, red brick wall bounded the estate. On the other side of the narrow lane which passed the lodge were meadow lands, fringed by a line of tall elms, which effectually shut out the view. It was a solitary and charming spot. The air was peculiarly sweet, clean, yet heavy with fragrance.
As Marshall was in the act of getting down, a middle-aged woman emerged from the lodge. She was smoothing her dress and hair, and evidently had just removed an apron.
He produced Judge's order. The woman took it in her hand and proceeded to read it, passing her thumb under each line form side to side of the sheet, while her lips silently framed the words. She was a tall, big-boned, fresh-complexioned person, of the upper-servant type; handsome, in a common way, but with sarcastic eyes. Her hair was thick and yellow.
Having examined the signature musingly, she turned again to him.
"When did you want to see the house, sir?"
"Now, if we may."
She stared at one of the buttons of his coat. "That makes it rather awkward, sir. I gave the house-key to an American gentleman a short time back, and he's still over there. Will you wait?"
"I didn't know you admitted the general public."
"We don't, sir. This was another order, like yours."
"Someone Mr. Judge picked up on the other side, no doubt… Well, Mrs…"
"Mrs. Priday, sir."
"Well, Mrs. Priday, I don't see that it matters at all; we shan't interfere with each other. As the house is open, I suppose we can get in?"
"Oh, yes-but did you wish me to show you over?"
"If you will."
"I must find my husband first, before I can leave the lodge. He's working somewhere in the grounds; he's head gardener here. Will the ladies step inside and wait, sir?"
"Well, look here, Mrs. Priday-we're somewhat pressed for time, so if you'll open the gate we'll just run up to the house and be starting. You can follow when you're ready."
"As you please, sir," replied the caretaker, with an almost imperceptible shrug. She proceeded, without any great show of alacrity, to unlatch and swing open the carriage-gate, and meanwhile Marshall returned to the car, which a minute later passed slowly through the entrance to the drive.
Travelling at low speed, they obtained round the first bend, about three hundred yards further on, their first view of the house. It stood on high ground, and cool, dark-green lawns sloped down from it on all four sides. The front, which they approached, faced the south-east. It was a large edifice, in the Elizabethan style, but the exterior had been so renovated and smartened-perhaps by Judge-that it looked almost a modern erection. The irregular, many-gabled roof was bright with new tiles, the facing of red bricks on the ground storey had been pointed recently, while the two upper storeys were plastered with dazzling white stucco.
The house was long-fronted, possessing a double row of lattice windows overlooking the gravel terrace at the head of the lawn. A small, square wing, about thirty feet in height, jutted from the left end of the front, and appeared to belong to a different order of architecture. This was the famous thirteenth-century hall, built during the reign of the first Edward. It's steeply-pointed roof was covered with grey slates. The wide double-door was resplendent with dark green paint and highly polished brass.
Mrs. Moor, as she continued to gaze at it, reflected that the possession of so stylish and picturesque a dwelling would not disgrace her in the eyes of her social circle.
"One might live here very comfortably, Isbel?"
Her niece gave a smile of vexation. "Since you have absolutely determined to immure yourself in the heart of the wilds."
"Pray don't let us thrash that out again," said the old lady. "The suburbs I cannot endure, town flats are prisons, while hotels will be impossible after you've left me. Here, at all events, I should have space and independence."
Isbel turned away without replying.
The car stopped outside the hall porch, with its green door. It was exactly mid-day. The sun glared down, but a refreshing breeze fanned their faces. The house was built on such an elevation that they could see a section of the distant country before them-Adur valley, with the Downs on both flanks, and, right down at its mouth, the sea at Shoreham.
Marshall stamped the ground with his foot. "This must be the original Run Hill that we're standing on."
"Has it a history, then?" asked Isbel.
"Every place must have a history. To me, the mere fact that the ancient Saxons knew it by the same name is rather inspiring."
"Because you're of Saxon blood. I'm a Celt."
"As if that had anything to do with it."
"And then, Saxons is a very general term. There were Saxon rustics, and there were Saxon pirates. If you're referring to the latter I might feel sympathetic. It must be awfully jolly to annihilate people you don't like."
"Possibilities, anyhow."
Mrs. Moor became impatient. "Did we come here to discuss your character, Isbel, or to see the house?"
Isbel grimaced in silence, and jerked back once again the veil which kept straying over her shoulder.
Having locked the wheel of the car Marshall walked across to the hall door, and tried the handle. The door opened smoothly and noiselessly. The ladies discarded their wraps, and followed him into the house.
A small lobby brought them to the main hall. Its age, loftiness, and dim light reminded them of an ancient chapel. It was two storeys in height; everything was of wood. The dark-oak, angular roof was crossed by massive beams, the walls were wainscoted, the floor was of polished oak, relieved only by a few Persian rugs, of dignified colours. At the back of the hall, halfway up, a landing, or gallery, ran across its entire breadth. It was reached by a wide staircase, with shallow steps, heavily carpeted, which formed the right-hand exit of the downstairs chamber. Two doors were underneath the gallery, communicating with the interior of the house. A big, ancient fireplace occupied the centre of one of the side walls; against the opposite one stood
a modern steam-heating apparatus. Three perpendicular windows over the lobby-door had alternate diamond panes of coloured and uncoloured glass; the colours were dark blue and crimson, and whatever object these rays fell upon was made beautiful and sombre…The woodwork was in excellent repair, and appeared newly polished. Al the appointments of the hall were bright, spotless, and in perfect condition. Judge evidently had had the place thoroughly restored and redecorated. And yet the general effect was not quite satisfactory. Somehow, it was discordant…
Marshall gazed around him with an uncertain air.
"Rather over-modernised, isn't it? I mean, a place like this ought to be more a museum."
"Not at all," said Mrs. Moor. "It's a lounge."
"I know-but would anyone dream of using it as such? Could I smoke a pipe and read a newspaper here? What I say is, why not frankly make a show-place of it?"
"But how? I don't know exactly what you're complaining of."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, don't be so obtuse, aunt!" exclaimed Isbel, irritably. "He merely means, it's all too spick-and-span. When one goes back a few centuries, one expects a certain amount of dust. I quite agree with Marshall. And of course the furniture's hopeless."
"What's wrong with the furniture?"
"Oh, it's a curiosity-shop. All styles and periods…Either Mr. Judge has frantic taste or his wife had. Probably the late lamented. I imagine him as the sort of man to be ruled entirely by shopmen, and no one can accuse shopmen of being eccentric."
"You're showing off to Marshall," said Mrs. Moor curtly. "Of one thing I'm certain. Mr. Judge must be a highly moral man. Order and cleanliness like this could only spring from a thoroughly self-respecting nature."
"If soap and water constitute morality," retorted Isbel.
Time was precious. They passed through the left-hand door beneath the gallery, and found themselves in the dining-room. It was a long, low, narrow, dusky apartment, extending lengthwise from the hall. The noon sunshine filled it with solemn brightness, but the hand of the past was upon everything, and the girl's hear sank as she contemplated the notion of taking her meals here, if only for a few months. She became subdued and silent.
The Haunted Woman Page 2
