The Forsaken Inn: A Novel

by Anna Katharine Green

  CHAPTER XII.

  EDWIN URQUHART.

  I]

  In that moment Mark Felt paused and cast a glance toward the Hudson farbelow us. Then he resumed his narrative.

  "I drew back," he said, "and clenched my hands to keep myself fromstrangling Urquhart. Then I broke into hurried pants, that subsidedgradually into words of perplexity and amazement as I met his eye, andrealized that it contained nothing but a rude sort of sympathy and goodfellowship.

  "'How? Why? What do you mean by coming back?' I cried. 'You said youwould be gone a week. You swore--'

  "A gay laugh interrupted me.

  "'And must a man keep every oath he makes, especially when it separateshim from a charming betrothed, and a friend who swore that he would makethis day his wedding one?'

  "'Urquhart!'

  "'Felt!'

  "'Are you a monster or are you--'

  "'A self-possessed man who is going to take in charge a crazy one. Comeinto the house, Mark, a dozen eyes can see us here.'

  "He took me in charge; he piloted me into my own dwelling--he whosewhole body I had always esteemed weaker than my little finger; my enemytoo, or so I considered him; the cause of half my grief, of all myshame, the beginning and end of my hatreds.

  "When we were closeted, as we soon were in the room I had expended somuch upon to make worthy of my bride, he came and stood before me anduttered these unexpected words:

  "'Felt, I like you. You are the only friend I have, and I am indebted toyou. Now, what have you against me?'

  "I was astonished. His whole look and bearing were so different fromwhat I had expected, so different from anything I had ever seen in himbefore. I began to question my doubts, and dropped my eyes as hepursued:

  "'You have been disappointed in your marriage, I hear; but that need notmake you as downcast as this. A woman as capricious as Miss Leightonmight easily imagine she was too ill to go through the ceremony to-day.But she must have repented of her folly by this time, and in a week willreward you as your patience deserves. But what have I got to do with it?For incredible as it appears, your every look and tone assures me thatyou blame me for this mishap.'

  "Was he daring me? If so, he should find me his equal. I raised my eyesand surveyed him.

  "'Shall I tell you why this is so--why I associate Miss Leighton'scaprice with your return, and regard both with suspicion? Because I haveseen you look on her with love; because I have surprised the passion inyour face and beheld her--'

  "'Well?'

  "The tone was indescribable. It was as if a hand had taken me by thethroat and choked me. I drew off and was silent.

  "He seized the word at once.

  "'You have seen nothing. If you think you have, then have you deceivedyourself. Marah Leighton has beauty, but it is not a kind that movesme--'

  "He paled. Was it horror of the lie he was uttering? I have never known,never shall know.

  "'The woman I am going to marry is Honora Dudleigh.'

  "I gazed at him, determined to find the truth if it were in him. He boremy look unflinchingly, though his color did not return, and his handstrembled nervously.

  "'You love her?' I asked.

  "'I love her,' he returned.

  "'And your wedding day--'

  "'Is set.'

  "'May it have no interruptions,' I remarked.

  "He laughed--an uneasy laugh, I thought--but jealousy was not yet deadwithin me.

  "'And yours?' he inquired.

  "'I have had mine,' I returned. 'I shall never have another.'

  "He shook his head and looked at me inquisitively. I repeated myassertion.

  "'I shall never approach the altar again with a woman. I am done withsuch things, and done with love.'

  "He finished his laugh.

  "'Wait till you see Marah Leighton smile again,' he cried; and with thefirst reappearance of his old manner that I had seen in him since thebeginning of this interview, he caught up a wine glass off the table,and filling it with wine, exclaimed jovially: 'Here's to our futurewives! May they be all that love paints them!'

  "I thought his mirth indecent, his manner out of keeping with theoccasion, and the whole situation atrocious. But I saw he was about toleave, and said nothing; but I did not drink his toast. When he wasgone, I broke his glass by flinging it at my own reflection, in a glassI had bought to mirror her beauty; and before the day was spent, I haddestroyed every destructible article in the house whose value or whoseprettiness spoke of the attempt I had made to alter my home from abachelor's abode to the nest I had thought in keeping with the dove Ihad failed to place there. As I did it I filled the house with mockinglaughter; that I should have thought that this or that would please her,who would have found a palace open to criticism, and the splendors of athrone room scarce grand enough for her taste! I was but suffering thestings of a lifetime compressed into a day, and was miserable because Icould see no prospect but further addition to my suffering."