第43章

Recollecting himself, he instantly stepped forward into the passage, drawing to the door behind him, as she, with equal celerity, opposed it with her hand.

"Mr.Bly," she said deliberately, "Ellen has just told me that your voice has been heard in conversation with some one in this room late last night.Up to this moment I have foolishly allowed my daughter to persuade me that certain infamous scandals regarding your conduct here were false.I must ask you as a gentleman to let me pass now and satisfy myself.""But, my dear madam, one moment.Let me first explain--I beg"-- stammered Herbert with a half-hysterical laugh."I assure you a gentleman friend"--But she had pushed him aside and entered precipitately.With a quick feminine glance round the room she turned to the bed, and then halted in overwhelming confusion.

"It's a friend," said Herbert in a hasty whisper."A friend of mine who returned with me late, and whom, on account of the disturbed state of the streets, I induced to stay here all night.He was so tired that I have not hadthe heart to disturb him yet."

"Oh, pray don't!--I beg"--said Mrs.Brooks with a certain youthful vivacity, but still gazing at the stranger's handsome features as she slowly retreated. "Not for worlds!"Herbert was relieved; she was actually blushing.

"You see, it was quite unpremeditated, I assure you.We came in together," whispered Herbert, leading her to the door, "and I"--"Don't believe a word of it, madam," said a lazy voice from the bed, as the stranger leisurely raised himself upright, putting the last finishing touch to his cravat as he shook himself neat again."I'm an utter stranger to him, and he knows it.He found me here, biding from the Vigilantes, who were chasing me on the hill.I got in at that door, which happened to be unlocked. He let me stay because he was a gentleman--and--I wasn't.I beg your pardon, madam, for having interrupted him before you; but it was a little rough to have him lie on MY account when he wasn't the kind of man to lie on his OWN.You'll forgive him--won't you, please?--and, as I'm taking myself off now, perhaps you'll overlook MY intrusion too."It was impossible to convey the lazy frankness of this speech, the charming smile with which it was accompanied, or the easy yet deferential manner with which, taking up his hat, he bowed to Mrs.Brooks as he advanced toward the door.

"But," said Mrs.Brooks, hurriedly glancing from Herbert to the stranger, "it must be the Vigilantes who are now hanging about the street.Ellen saw them from her window, and thought they were YOUR friends, Mr.Bly. This gentleman--your friend"--she had become a little confused in her novel excitement--"really ought not to go out now.It would be madness.""If you wouldn't mind his remaining a little longer, it certainly would be safer," said Herbert, with wondering gratitude.

"I certainly shouldn't consent to his leaving my house now," said Mrs.Brooks with dignity; "and if you wouldn't mind calling Cherry here, Mr.Bly--she's in the dining-room--and then showing yourself for a moment in the street and finding out what they wanted, it would be the best thing to do."Herbert flew downstairs; in a few hurried words he gave the same explanation to the astounded Cherry that he had given to her mother, with the mischievous addition that Mrs.Brooks's unjust suspicions had precipitated her into becoming an amicable accomplice, and then ran out into the street.Here he ascertained from one of the Vigilantes, whom he knew, that they were really seeking Dornton; but that, concluding that the fugitive had already escaped to the wharves, they expected to withdraw their surveillance at noon.Somewhat relieved, he hastened back, to find the stranger calmly seated on the sofa in the parlor with the same air of frank indifference, lazily relating the incidents of his flight to the two women, who were listening with every expression of sympathy and interest."Poor fellow!" said Cherry, taking the astonished Bly aside into the hall, "I don't believe he's half as bad as THEY said he is--or as even HE makes himself out to be. But DID you notice mother?"Herbert, a little dazed, and, it must be confessed, a trifle uneasy at this ready acceptance of the stranger, abstractedly said he had not.

"Why, it's the most ridiculous thing.She's actually going round WITHOUT HER SHAWL, and doesn't seem to know it."