第249章

'But I strongly advise you not to make the purchase,' said Dalrymple.

'Seven hundred and fifty pounds! I certainly shall not give you seven hundred and fifty pounds.'

'I certainly think you could invest your money better, Mrs Van Siever.

But if the thing is to be sold at all, that is my price. I've thought that there was some justice in your demand that it should be destroyed--and therefore I have destroyed it.'

Mrs Van Siever had been standing on the same spot ever since she had entered the room, and now she turned round to leave the room.

'If you have any demand to make, I beg that you will send it in your account for work done to Mr Musselboro. He is my man of business. Clara, are you ready to come home? The cab is waiting at the door--at sixpence the quarter of an hour, if you will be pleased to remember.'

'Mrs Broughton,' said Clara, thoughtful of her raiment, and remembering that it might not be well that she should return home, even in a cab, dressed as Jael, 'if you will allow me, I will go into your room for a minute or two.'

'Certainly, Clara,' said Mrs Broughton, preparing to accompany her.

'But before you go, Mrs Broughton,' said Mrs Van Siever, 'it may be as well that I should tell you that my daughter is going to become the wife of Mr Musselboro. It may simplify matters that you should know this.'

And Mrs Van Siever, as she spoke, looked hard at Conway Dalrymple.

'Mamma!' exclaimed Clara.

'My dear,' said Mrs Van Siever, 'you had better change your dress and come away with me.'

'Not till I have protested against what you have said, mamma.'

'You had better leave your protesting alone, I can tell you.'

'Mrs Broughton,' said Clara, 'I must beg you to understand that mamma has not the slightest right in the world to tell you what she just now said about me. Nothing on earth would induce me to become the wife of Mr Broughton's partner.'

There was something which made Clara unwilling even to name the man whom her mother had publicly proposed as her future husband.

'He isn't Mr Broughton's partner,' said Mrs Van Siever. 'Mr Broughton has not got a partner. Mr Musselboro is the head of the firm. And as to your marrying him, of course, I can't make you.'

'No, mamma, you cannot.'

'Mrs Broughton understands that, no doubt;--and so, probably, does Mr Dalrymple. I can only tell them what are my ideas. If you choose to marry the sweep at the crossing, I can't help it. Only I don't see what good you would do the sweep, when he would have to sweep for himself and you too. At any rate, I suppose you mean to go home with me now?' Then Mrs Broughton and Clara left the room, and Mrs Van Siever was left with Conway Dalrymple. 'Mr Dalrymple,' said Mrs Van Siever, 'do not deceive yourself. What I told you just now will certainly come to pass.'

'It seems to me that that must depend on the young lady,' said Dalrymple.

'I'll tell you what certainly will not depend on the young lady,' said Mrs Van Siever, 'and that is whether the man who marries her will have more with her than the clothes she stands up in. You will understand that argument, I suppose?'

'I'm not quite sure that I do,' said Dalrymple.

'Then you'd better try to understand it. Good-morning, sir. I'm sorry you've had to slit your picture.' Then she curtseyed low, and walked out on to the landing-place. 'Clara,' she cried, 'I'm waiting for you--sixpence a quarter of an hour--remember that.' In a minute or two Clara came out to her, and then Mrs Van Siever and Miss Van Siever took their departure.

'Oh, Conway, what am I to do? What am I to do?' said Mrs Dobbs Broughton. Dalrymple stood perplexed for a few minutes, and could not tell her what she was to do. She was in such a position that it was very hard to tell her what she was to do. 'Do you believe, Conway, that he is really ruined?'

'What am I to say? How am I to know?'

'I see that you believe it,' said the wretched woman.

'I cannot but believe that there is something of truth in what this woman says. Why else should she come here with such a story?' Then there was a pause, during which Mrs Broughton was burying her face on the arm of the sofa. 'I'll tell you what I'll do,' continued he. 'I'll go into the City and make inquiry. It can hardly be but what I shall learn the truth there.'

Then there was another pause, at the end of which Mrs Broughton got up from the sofa.

'Tell me,' said she:--'what do you mean about that girl?'

'You heard me ask her to be my wife?'

'I did! I did!'

'Is it not what you intended?'

'Do not ask me. My mind is bewildered. My brain is on fire! Oh, Conway!'

'Shall I go into the City as I proposed?' said Dalrymple, who felt that he might at any rate improve the position of circumstances by leaving the house.

'Yes;--yes; go into the City! Go anywhere. Go. But stay! Oh, Conway!' There was a sudden change in her voice as she spoke.

'Hark--there he is, as sure as life.' Then Conway listened, and heard a footstep on the stairs, as to which he had then but little doubt that it was the footstep of Dobbs Broughton. 'O heavens! He is tipsy!' exclaimed Mrs Broughton; 'and what shall we do?' Then Dalrymple took her hand and pressed it; and left the room, so that he might meet the husband on the stairs. In the one moment that he had for reflection he thought it was better that there should be no concealment.