第124章

"Am I of any use up there?"he asked.

"No;keep away."

"I shall be in my picture-gallery,then;you know where."The doctor nodded,and went upstairs.

Soames continued to stand,listening.'By this time to-morrow,'he thought,'I may have her death on my hands.'No!it was unfair--monstrous,to put it that way!Sullenness dropped on him again,and he went up to the gallery.He stood at the window.The wind was in the north;it was cold,clear;very blue sky,heavy ragged white clouds chasing across;the river blue,too,through the screen of goldening trees;the woods all rich with colour,glowing,burnished-an early autumn.If it were his own life,would he be taking that risk?'But she'd take the risk of losing me,'he thought,'sooner than lose her child!She doesn't really love me!'

What could one expect--a girl and French?The one thing really vital to them both,vital to their marriage and their futures,was a child!'I've been through a lot for this,'he thought,'I'll hold on--hold on.There's a chance of keeping both--a chance!'

One kept till things were taken--one naturally kept!He began walking round the gallery.He had made one purchase lately which he knew was a fortune in itself,and he halted before it--a girl with dull gold hair which looked like filaments of metal gazing at a little golden monster she was holding in her hand.Even at this tortured moment he could just feel the extraordinary nature of the bargain he had made--admire the quality of the table,the floor,the chair,the girl's figure,the absorbed expression on her face,the dull gold filaments of her hair,the bright gold of the little monster.Collecting pictures;growing richer,richer!What use,if.!He turned his back abruptly on the picture,and went to the window.Some of his doves had flown up from their perches round the dovecot,and were stretching their wings in the wind.In the clear sharp sunlight their whiteness almost flashed.They flew far,making a flung-up hieroglyphic against the sky.Annette fed the doves;it was pretty to see her.They took it out of her hand;they knew she was matter-of-fact.A choking sensation came into his throat.She would not--could nod die!She was too--too sensible;and she was strong,really strong,like her mother,in spite of her fair prettiness It was already growing dark when at last he opened the door,and stood listening.Not a sound!A milky twilight crept about the stairway and the landings below.He had turned back when a sound caught his ear.Peering down,he saw a black shape moving,and his heart stood still.What was it?Death?The shape of Death coming from her door?No!only a maid without cap or apron.She came to the foot of his flight of stairs and said breathlessly:

"The doctor wants to see you,sir."

He ran down.She stood flat against the wall to let him pass,and said:

"Oh,Sir!it's over."

"Over?"said Soames,with a sort of menace;"what d'you mean?""It's born,sir."

He dashed up the four steps in front of him,and came suddenly on the doctor in the dim passage.The man was wiping his brow.

"Well?"he said;"quick!"

"Both living;it's all right,I think."

Soames stood quite still,covering his eyes.

"I congratulate you,"he heard the doctor say;"it was touch and go."Soames let fall the hand which was covering his face.

"Thanks,"he said;"thanks very much.What is it?""Daughter--luckily;a son would have killed her--the head."A daughter!

"The utmost care of both,"he hearts the doctor say,"and we shall do.When does the mother come?""To-night,between nine and ten,I hope."

"I'll stay till then.Do you want to see them?""Not now,"said Soames;"before you go.I'll have dinner sent up to you."And he went downstairs.

Relief unspeakable,and yet--a daughter!It seemed to him unfair.

To have taken that risk--to have been through this agony--and what agony!--for a daughter!He stood before the blazing fire of wood logs in the hall,touching it with his toe and trying to readjust himself.'My father!'he thought.A bitter disappointment,no disguising it!One never got all one wanted in this life!And there was no other--at least,if there was,it was no use!

While he was standing there,a telegram was brought him.

"Come up at once,your father sinking fast.

--MOTHER."

He read it with a choking sensation.One would have thought he couldn't feel anything after these last hours,but he felt this.

Half-past seven,a train from Reading at nine,and madame's train,if she had caught it,came in at eight-forty--he would meet that,and go on.He ordered the carriage,ate some dinner mechanically,and went upstairs.The doctor came out to him.

"They're sleeping."

"I won't go in,"said Soames with relief."My father's dying;Ihave to--go up.Is it all right?"

The doctor's face expressed a kind of doubting admiration.'If they were all as unemotional'he might have been saying.

"Yes,I think you may go with an easy mind.You'll be down soon?""To-morrow,"said Soames."Here's the address."The doctor seemed to hover on the verge of sympathy.

"Good-night!"said Soames abruptly,and turned away.He put on his fur coat.Death!It was a chilly business.He smoked a cigarette in the carriage--one of his rare cigarettes.The night was windy and flew on black wings;the carriage lights had to search out the way.His father!That old,old man!A comfortless night--to die!

The London train came in just as he reached the station,and Madame Lamotte,substantial,dark-clothed,very yellow in the lamplight,came towards the exit with a dressing-bag.

"This all you have?"asked Soames.

"But yes;I had not the time.How is my little one?""Doing well--both.A girl!"

"A girl!What joy!I had a frightful crossing!"Her black bulk,solid,unreduced by the frightful crossing,climbed into the brougham.

"And you,mon cher?"

"My father's dying,"said Soames between his teeth."I'm going up.

Give my love to Annette."

"Tiens!"murmured Madame Lamotte;"quel malheur!"Soames took his hat off,and moved towards his train.'The French!'he thought.