CHAPTER XXXII
AN INTERLUDE
Tuesday passed uneventfully, to all outward seeming.
There was nothing to indicate to Garth that his secretary had sat upwriting most of the night; only varying that employment by spendinglong moments in silent contemplation of his pictures, which had found atemporary place of safety, on their way back to the studio, in a deepcupboard in her room, of which she had the key.
If Nurse Rosemary marked, with a pang of tender compunction, the wornlook on Garth's face, telling how mental suffering had chased awaysleep; she made no comment thereupon.
Thus Tuesday passed, in uneventful monotony.
Two telegrams had arrived for Nurse Gray in the course of the morning.The first came while she was reading a Times leader aloud to Garth.Simpson brought it in, saying: "A telegram for you, miss."
It was always a source of gratification to Simpson afterwards, that,almost from the first, he had been led, by what he called his "unHaidedHintuHition," to drop the "nurse," and address Jane with theconventional "miss." In time he almost convinced himself that he hadalso discerned in her "a Honourable"; but this, Margery Graem firmlyrefused to allow. She herself had had her "doots," and kept them toherself; but all Mr. Simpson's surmisings had been freely expressed andreiterated in the housekeeper's room; and never a word about anyhonourable lead passed Mr. Simpson's lips. Therefore Mrs. Graem beratedhim for being so ready to "go astray and speak lies." But Maggie, thehousemaid, had always felt sure Mr. Simpson knew more than he said."Said more than he knew, you mean," prompted old Margery. "No,"retorted Maggie, "I know what I said; and I said what I meant." "Youmay have said what you meant, but you did not mean what you knew,"insisted Margery; "and if anybody says another word on the matter, _I_shall say grace and dismiss the table," continued old Margery,exercising the cloture, by virtue of her authority, in a way whichSimpson and Maggie, who both wished for cheese, afterwards described as"mean."
But this was long after the uneventful Tuesday, when Simpson entered,with a salver; and, finding Jane enveloped in the Times, said: "Atelegram for you, miss."
Nurse Rosemary took it; apologised for the interruption, and opened it.It was from the duchess, and ran thus:
MOST INCONVENIENT, AS YOU VERY WELL KNOW; BUT AM LEAVING EUSTONTO-NIGHT. WILL AWAIT FURTHER ORDERS AT ABERDEEN.
Nurse Rosemary smiled, and put the telegram into her pocket. "Noanswer, thank you, Simpson."
"Not bad news, I hope?" asked Garth.
"No," replied Nurse Rosemary; "but it makes my departure on Thursdayimperative. It is from an old aunt of mine, who is going to my 'youngman's' home. I must be with him before she is, or there will be endlesscomplications."
"I don't believe he will ever let you go again, when once he gets youback," remarked Garth, moodily.
"You think not?" said Nurse Rosemary, with a tender little smile, asshe took up the paper, and resumed her reading.
The second telegram arrived after luncheon. Garth was at the piano,thundering Beethoven's Funeral March on the Death of a Hero. The roomwas being rent asunder by mighty chords; and Simpson's smug face andside-whiskers appearing noiselessly in the doorway, were aninsupportable anticlimax. Nurse Rosemary laid her finger on her lips;advanced with her firm noiseless tread, and took the telegram. Shereturned to her seat and waited until the hero's obsequies were over,and the last roll of the drums had died away. Then she opened theorange envelope. And as she opened it, a strange thing happened. Garthbegan to play The Rosary. The string of pearls dropped in liquid soundfrom his fingers; and Nurse Rosemary read her telegram. It was from thedoctor, and said: SPECIAL LICENSE EASILY OBTAINED. FLOWER AND I WILLCOME WHENEVER YOU WISH. WIRE AGAIN.
The Rosary drew to a soft melancholy close.
"What shall I play next?" asked Garth, suddenly.
"Veni, Creator Spiritus," said Nurse Rosemary; and bowed her head inprayer.
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