Cyril Sheenereturned home to his lodgings quite satisfied with the conclusion the case had come to. Entering the sitting room, he found Mr. Palsey still busy writing, though the dinner was ready and fast getting cold.
"Still busy?" cried Cyril, pulling off his gloves and sitting down to a tempting looking dinner of juicy well cooked mutton chops, arranged against a mountain of frothy mashed potatoes.
"Yes I'm terrificly busy" responded Mr. Palsey tearing up a large sheet of foolscap as he spoke.
"Well lets have dinner now" responded Cyril sitting down as he spoke.
"Oh all right" replied Mr. Palsey, who was not the least hungry, "where have you been all the morning?"
"In court" responded Cyril absently gazing at the mutton chops.
"In court man!" cried Mr. Palsey "what do you mean?"
"I mean what I say" replied Cyril. "I was in court, acting witness in Mr. Winston's case."
"Really?" gasped Mr. Palsey "what is the result?"
"The case is withdrawn" replied Cyril feverishly, "they are convinced it is suicide."
"Thank goodness" ejaculated Mr. Palsey "then we are well out of the mess."
"Yes" answered Cyril and then vouchsafing no more the two men sat down to their dinner.
Half way through ***y were interupted by Mrs. Pollard, who came in in a great fluster.
"Please sir" she said in a hurry "Miss Winston seems so queer, she has got up and dressedherself and wishes to see you at once."
"My stars" screamed Cyril, forgetting in his excitement what a gentleman he was and with that he rushed upstairs to Helen's bedroom.
He found Helen standing by the bed, her hands beating wildly against her heart and a hectic spot burning on her cheek.
She was completely dressed even to her grey travelling cloak which hung limply on her shoulders.
"Cyril," she cried wildly, "I am going home, I can bare this imprisonment no longer."
"Helen, my darling cried Cyril astounded by her words.
"Yes it is true" cried Helen again. "I shall go home now now—this instant why am I kept in ignorance of my father's death? I know who murdered him in spite of secrecy," she screamed," it was Mr. Palsey, that false villain below," "Helen cried Cyril," "how could it be Mr. Palsey, why I should know it if it was he, dont be absurd dear, get into bed again do you know you are very ill, and to go out would be madness."
"I dont care" screamed Helen, her eyes dilating and her cheeks burning.
"I shall go home, I tell you it was Mr. Palseywho murdered my father if you dont know it Cyril, I do so there,"
"Helen" said Cyril firmly "be calm and I will tell you about your poor father's death."
"Tell me" cried Helen and she sank exhausted into a chair.
"I fear" began Cyril "I greatly fear that your poor dear father commited—had reasons for depriving himself of life."
"What!" cried Helen, starting to her feet, "you Cyril Sheene dare to insult me to my face, will you too turn, false, oh how dare you say my father commited suicide."
"I dare Helen because I know it" replied Cyril.
"You dont know it" screached Helen, "oh Cyril," and the poor un nerved girl sank sobbing on the bed.
"Hush Helen," cried Cyril stroking her ruffled hair, "we wont talk about it any more, but indeed you can not go home today, it is impossible."
"I must I must" moaned Helen "oh Cyril let me go, I want to see Marshland."
"Helen, you cant go" replied Cyril "why do you want Marshland?"
"Because she is my only true friend" cried Helen.
"Helen am I not a true friend" asked Cyril reproachfully.
"Yes Cyril you are" said Helen, "but do let me go."
Cyril remembering the doctors directions that Helen was to have everything she wanted, replied "very well Helen, you may go to-morrow, and now get back to bed and rest."
"No, no" said Helen "I must go tonight."
"But your father is to be burried today," replied Cyril.
"Never mind" cried Helen shaking her aching head, "It would break my heart to attend the funeral, I must go tonight."
"Very well" said Cyril "I will go with you, by the 8-40 train, but now do rest darling."
"Thank you, thank you Cyril" replied Helen gratefully and closing her eyes she fell into a heavy sleap."
Cyrilwas greatly troubled about Helen's strange conduct; he knew it was not goodfor her to travel in her present condition, and then again it would do her just as much harm not to go as she desired it so much.
He went down to the sitting room and related all the story to Mr. Palsey and waited eagerly for a reply.
"Why man alive!" shrieked Mr. Palsey "this is greatest piece of luck we could possibly hope for."
"Luck?" cried Cyril "what do you mean?"
"Why dont you see?" said Mr. Palsey "it is impossible for Helen to travel alone, and therefore you and I must accompany her, and of course it will be the very chance of chances to rob the safe."
"But you cant go with her" replied Cyril "though of course I must."
"Why cant I go if you please?"
"For the simple reason that Helen suspects you to be guilty of murdering her father," replied Cyril, trying to appear unconcerned.
"What?" shrieked Mr. Palsey thumping his knees vigerously, 'dont be an idiot, how can she suspect me?"
"Well she does" answered Cyril "but you may be quite easy, for she will not speak of it."
She'd better not" cried Mr. Palsey biting his moustache.
"But you see James, it is quite impossible for you to travel with us, so you had better wait and come by a later train, there is one at 9-12 I know" replied Cyril.
"No that wont do," said Mr. Palsey "it would upset my plans, besides making it too late to rob the safe with ease."
"What will you do then?" asked Cyril. "I will disguise myself" returned Mr. Palsey "I have a heavy green ulster upstairs, which I know Miss Winston has not seen and grey slouch hat; and a false beard which I used when acting a play some time ago and if I put a little walnut juice upon my countenance I think I shall be sufficiently at least to deceive Miss Winston."
"Capital" exclaimed Cyril, "put on the things now and see how you look."
Mr. Palsey rummaged in his portmanteau and produced the required articles. The beard was a trifle crumpled, but Cyril who was neat handed quickly combed it out and made it look as good as new.
Mr. Palsey then put on the ulster and big felt hat and attached the beard to his chinby a bit of elastic. Cyril then applied to his face, and in a minute he was disguised into a fearce foreign looking man.
"Its a splended get up" said Cyril, eyeing the villain admiringly.
"I wont take it off" said Mr. Palsey opening his purse and taking out ten shillings "I will go straight to the station and wait there, give this money to Mrs. Pollard for me, it what I owe her for the lodgings you know.
"Very well" cried Cyril "but you'll have a long wait at the station."
"I know" said Mr. Palsey "but I can amuse myself with a few comic papers and a pipe."
"So with a hearty shake of the hands the two villains sealed the compact.
Cyrilwas very busy all that afternoon; he barely had time to attend Mr. Winston's funeral, which he did however for politeness sake.
It was not a grand funeral by any means and I think it would have broken Helen's heartto see the plain unvarnished coffin which her poor father's remains were deposited in.
When Cyril returned from the ceremony, he settled his accounts with Mrs. Pollard and then proceeded to pack his portmanteau, which piece of business did not take him very long.
He was about to depart from his room, when something lying upon the floor attracted his attention.
It was a water coloured painting of Mr. Winston.
How Cyril's heart smote him, as he gazed at those calm, stern features and mild blue eyes, with so much trust in their orbs.
He hastily shuffled the painting into his pocket, and with something between a groan and a sarcastic laugh, made a rapid retreat down the stair case.
Helen was waiting in the hall.
She looked a very different girl from the bright rosy faced Helen of a week ago.
Her cheeks were white and hollow save for one hectic spot and her great hazel eyes seemed too dark for her face. Her dark hair was limp and uncurled, and her lips were as ashy as her face. She looked a sad little picture, indeed, as she stood there in the hall, withher grey cloak loosly buttoned round her, and her new black crape hat contrasting queerly with her ghost-like countenance.
Cyril's heart of stone was quite touched as he saw her looking so vastly changed.
"Come Helen" he said carresingly as he patted her hair behind, "it feels like old times to be walking with you again."
"Perhaps it does to you" quoth Helen bitterly "but to me it is unbearable."
Cyril said nothing, but gently helped her down the steps. In an hours time they were at the station.
Helen sat on a seat to rest till the train came up, and Cyril went over to the bookstall, keeping close to a remarkably tall foreign looking gentleman who was laughing over Tit Bits.
"Come away," whispered Helen to Cyril "that man reminds me of the two faced villain Mr. Palsey."
"Helen" muttered Cyril between his teeth "be quiet do; please to remember that with all his villainy he is a perfect gentleman."
"Ah" said Helen "you too admit that he is a villain."
Cyril saw he had made a mistake and the hot blood rushed to his face.
"Dear me" he said cooly "I am always blurting out things I dont mean."
Helen was beginning to see through him.
"Cyril" she said faintly "I hope you are not a villain too."
"Why of course I'm not" replied Cyril "come, here is the train."
Helen followed Cyril to a first class carriage, noticed that the foreign looking man, otherwise Mr. Palsey, jumped into a second class department and closed the door with a bang.
"This is a fast train" said Cyril as he got on to the seat.
"Indeed?" replied Helen, and with a deep drawn sigh she placed her bundle on the rack.
"Helen wont you eat your supper," asked Cyril "it is nearly nine o'clock, you must be hungry.
"Very well" replied Helen and she opened her bag.
"What have you got?" asked Cyril eargerly.
"Only a small pot of calf's foot jelly" answered Helen.
"Oh" said Cyril in a dissopointed tone, "why you ought to have had fruit and cold fowl."
"Dont speak to me of cold fowls" criedHelen in disgust and having finished her jelly she sank into repose.
The train was an express and reached Kenalham a little before 10-30.
Helen burst into tears as she stepped on to the platform. "Oh how sad, how sad" she moaned.
The dog cart was waiting for them and Cyril jumped quickly in, helping Helen as he did so.
For ten minutes or more, the cart stopped, and Helen found herself once more on the threshold of her home.
Thedoor was opened by Marshland who having heard the fearful news was attired in deep mourning.
"My darling Miss Helen!" cried the old servant.
"Oh Marshland" cried Helen "I feel so terribly ill."
"Come to bed at once miss and you shall have some hot wine" said Marshland "stepinto the drawing room sir" she added seeing Cyril waiting in the passage.
"Goodnight Helen dear" cried Cyril, then turning to the servant he added "thank you I will rest for one moment, but I must go then, as I have a friend waiting for me in the town."
"Very well sir" said Marshland "you can let yourself out cant you?"
"Oh yes" cried Cyril and he betook himself to the drawing room.
As I have already mentioned, Helen was feeling weak and ill and her head ached as though it would split. Marshland put her to bed very carefully and gave her some hot wine to drink.
Once in between the beautiful cool sheets with the breeze blowing in at the open window stirring the dainty white muslin curtains, Helen dropped into a dull heavy sleep, but she was so restless that Marshland dared not leave her.
As the clock on the stairs struck 12-30Helenseemed to grow quieter, so Marshland drew down the blind, snuffed the candle and went downstairs.
She bolted the hall door and peeped into the drawing room.
"I heard Mr. Sheene go some hours ago" she muttered "and all the windows are bolted, so off I go to bed to rest my weary limbs."
So the old woman went to her room, knocking at Gladys's door as she went, to assure that she was going to bed, for Gladys who was highly nervous had insisted on this.
Helen slept heavily till about 2 o'clock in the morning, when she was awakened by some strange sounds below.
She sat up in bed and listened, the sounds continued and feeling frightened she called Marshland.
But the old servant was asleep and for a little while the noises ceased. Helen thinking it was her fancy turned in her bed and fell into a doze. In less than 2 minutes she was awakened by the furious ringing of a bell.
For a moment her heart stood still and her very blood ran cold. Then in one desperate moment she recollected the sound of the bell.
Springing from her bed she flew to the door crying as she did so "the safe, the safe!!"
Wildly she flew down the passage her brain dazed her heart beating loudly.
Her eyes were too dilated to see, and in flying along she struck her head against atall old clock and would have fallen headlong downstairs, to certain death, but a pair of arms were hastily flung around her and in another moment two unconscios figures were lying motionless in the still dark passage with only the pale moonlight lighting up their rigid faces.
Marshlandhad not been awakened by the bell and so when she got up next morning at 6 o'clock, she was entirely innocent of the nights events. Putting on her apron she hastily went downstairs. Half way down the passage she caught sight of something white.
"Tut tut" she exclaimed "I wonder if those are my clean aprons or caps, they must have fallen from the beams." But here her wonderings were overun by the fact that the white things were no other than the prostrate bodies of Helen and Gladys.
Marshland uttered a stifled cry, but recovering her presence of mind she instantly raised Helen in her arms. Gladys had by thistime quite recovered and was kneeling by her cousin on the floor.
"Raise yourself Miss Gladys" said Marshland "and help me take Miss Helen to her room."
Gladys rose directly and Helen was soon upon her bed once more.
She soon opened her eyes and fixed them on her cousin, "go away" she said calmly "I want to speak to Marshland."
Gladys left the room and Helen's calm manner changed to one of absolute fury.
Darting to her feet, she seized Marshland's shoulder, her white lips parted in feverish anxiety.
"The safe" she cried quick Marshland it has been robbed—I heard the bell—go and see quick, oh Marshland hurry—hurry."
Marshland had her doubts as to the robbery, but to quiet Helen she went downstairs to ascertain.
Entering the drawing room to her great alarm she found the window wide open, and she knew she had shut and bolted it the night before.
Advancing in some consternation she saw the bolt hadnotbeen tampered with and hereyes wandered to the safe. Dragging back the curtain she perceived to her great horror that the gauze door was wide open and the black leather bag which contained all the money, gone.
"Oh Heavens" ejaculated the old woman "all the money gone, yes every brass farthing of it, my poor Miss Helen you'll have to go begging now and in sober earnest too."
It may here be mentioned that Mr. Winston had left a will leaving all his money to Helen, and the gold which that bag contained was all he had left, so that gone, Helen would have to set about to earn her own living. Mr. Winston had before his death written on a slip of paper "all this gold is bequeathed to my daughter Helen on the day when I shall be called upon to die." This he had sealed with his private seal and put at the bottom of the bag so that the thief (whoever he might be) had carried that signature with him.
Marshland lost no time in seeing what else had been robbed and found to her relief that the ivory box containing the valuable old jewils had not been touched.
Taking it in her trembling hand, she carried it to Helen's room. "Here Miss" she said,see the jewils have not been touched but—but—her white lips refused to say any thing else, but Helen took up the strain, "the money is gone, yes I knew it Marshland and I am left alone a beggar in this cruel, cruel world. All this she uttered in so calm a tone as to quite supprise Marshland.
"Dont say alone miss" cried the faithful servant, for I will be with you through thick and thin.
At that moment the door opened and Gladys announced that Mr. Sheene was waiting in the parlour, together with Mr. Palsey. Helen dressed herself quickly and leaning on Gladys's arm for support she entered the much disturbed drawing room.
Cyril was standing by the window, his hands in his trouser pockets looking desperatly ill.
Mr. Palsey looked as stern and hard as ever, and with his cigarette between his lips he appeared to be taking a general survey of the room.
"Good morning Miss Winston" he cried totally ignoring his future wife, "if you have any brains they ought to tell you what I am here about. Before Helen had time to reply Gladys stepped forward and laying her handon Mr. Palsey's arm looked in his face steadily and said. "James, I dont know what you intend saying but I am sure it is cruel and cutting and I beg and pray of you to keep quiet whatever it is. Helen is, as you know in great trouble about her dear father, and added to that, a robbery has been commited in the night, which has deprived her of all the money which had been left her and so she has now to earn her own living——"
"Hold" cried Cyril suddenly turning round, "I have already heard of this terrible robbery and though I have to grovell in the very ground, Helen shall never have to earn her own living, in the presence of everyone here I repeat my words. I intend as soon as possible to take Helen to London and marry her on the first opportunity which presents itself; I have" he added, "though no one may know it, a private bussiness in Holburn, which consists of a small office in which I employ two clerks, my living appartments are at the back of this office or (home affair) as I generally call it, and mark my words all of you here Helen would lead a very happy life, and if my bussiness should prosper I will go and live in Paris or Rome if Helen should prefer it."
"Thank you Cyril" said Helen, "I will spend one more week here to collect my belongings and then only too gladly will I go with you to your office. I have only one request to make."
"What is that?" asked Cyril.
"A very simple one" replied Helen "only that Marshland should come with us and be our servant."
"Certainly," answered Cyril. "I shall be only too pleased, for the one servant I have is just leaving and I am sure Marshland will suit."
"Pardon me" said Mr. Palsey "I think Cyril, if you take my advice you will leave this wicked interfeering old woman behind I warn you she will be the plague of your life, for I myself have had experience of what she can do poking her nose into people's rooms, the meddling old cat."
"Mr. Palsey" said Helen calmly and with great dignity "perhaps you will allow Cyril to settle this matter, and if you will allow me to add, I would far rather be a meddling old cat, than a cruel hard hearted person who could murder a good innocent man for the sake of his money, and then could look thedaughter of that man in the face with a cold unflinching gaze."
Gladys uttered a low scream and staggered towards the door; she is loosing her head she sobbed, "going mad, and all through you James." For Gladys knew nothing of Helen's suspicions.
"No Gladys" replied Helen, "dont cry, for I am not loosing my head or going mad either, and you have my utmost pity for having a husband such as he."
But nothing could soothe poor Gladys and as Helen stooped to comfort her, Mr. Palsey took the opportunity of speaking to Cyril.
"You idiot" he hissed "look what you have led Helen up to, making her speak to me like that, now I doubt if Gladys will belive in me, and if she does not there will be an end to my rich marriage."
"I dont care" said Cyril, for he truly felt he had the upper hand, "I consider it would be a very good thing if Miss Lincarrol does not marry you for she is too good a girl to be joined with a low villain like you."
"Very well" cried Mr. Palsey savagely "as you evidently consider yourself a saint, (though you did help me in the murder andother matters too) perhaps it will be better for both of us if we seperate at once.
I have my half of the money and you have yours, so that is all settled, you can take Helen to London and marry her and I will take Gladys to Norfolk where all her relations live and marry her when I get settled and the less we hear of each other the better, that is my opinion and I hope it suits you.
"It does" replied Cyril calmly "let us tell the girls and the sooner you and Gladys get packed off the better for I must stay here another week with Helen."
"Gladys" cried Mr. Palsey firmly "get up at once and stop crying."
Gladysdried her eyes and sat up.
"Look here" continued Mr. Palsey, "you and I are going back to Norfolk this evening as soon as we can mannage it, and Mr. Sheene intends stopping another week with Miss Winston till he goes to London and remember the less you and she hear of one another the better; you will be much better for the loss of her company and your relations too would much rather you left here, it is taking effect on your health my dear, so be ready to start by 6 o'clock this evening and I will call foryou; you and Helen will have plenty of time to say your last adieu before that; is that settled?" he added turning to Cyril.
"Quite" replied Cyril.
Gladys broke into heart broken sobbing but being used to obey she ran quickly upstairs to collect her things.
With a cry Helen ran to Cyril and put her arms round his neck.
Mr. Palsey bit his lips and turning to the window he turned over the past events in his mind and he thought how very well he had managed that last little bit of business.
Letus now return to Gladys.
Arrived at her bedroom she began to collect her various articles of clothing in a hazy and disturbed manner, every now and then sitting down to burst into a terrible fit of weeping.
It took her over half an hour to pack up, and then having bathed her burning face, she began to feel very hungry.
Finding a few biscuits in a tin, she lost notime in eating them and then she rang her bell.
To her supprise Helen came to the door instead of Marshland.
"Oh dear Gladys" cried Helen kindly "I am so very sorry that you are going."
"Oh Helen," sobbed Gladys "it nearly breaks my heart to think of it, and we may not even write to each other."
"Dont say that" cried Helen, "if ever I can manage it I'll always send you a note privately, for I shall never forget Gladys that you saved my life."
Gladys could not speak for crying.
"Now Gladys" said Helen "do stop crying or you will be ill, did you want anything when you rang just now."
"Oh yes please" replied Gladys "if I might have something to eat, I am so very hungry."
"Certainly, dear" said Helen and she darted downstairs, soon to return with a plate of well cut ham and a couple of poached eggs and a comforting cup of coffee.
Having spread this out, she sat down to watch Gladys eat it.
The poor girl looked very worn out and tired and great red and black lines encircled herblue eyes, "oh Helen" she said at last "do tell me what you meant by speaking so strongly to James just now.
The tears came into Helen's eyes, "dont ask me Gladys dear" she said, some day I will contrive to let you know by letter but I cant tell you now."
A silence followed and then Helen spoke again, "do you know" she said. "I am very glad things have turned out like this. I shall be happy too and perhaps forget all about me and all this misery."
"Oh Helen" cried Gladys "I will never forget you it will be impossible."
"I dont know" said Helen "you see its like this, although we shall write to each other (for my mind is made up on that score) when once you are happy, though you will not exactly forgetme, you will forget this misery at parting and so you will be able to think of me without pain or regret, and it will be like a wound which though healed over is still to be seen, do you under stand?"
"Yes dear Helen" said Gladys "there is certainly truth in what you say, but do you think we shall either of us be happy again?"
"Yes" said Helen with a smile, "I do, lightis certainly breaking through the darkness after all Gladys"
Ah Helen!, happily for you that you can see the bright light appearing, but there are dark clouds gathering in the distance which you do not see but which nevertheless are coming nearer and nearer and will soon burst over your head and extinguish the sunshine and the light.
The dreary morning passed away at last and the afternoon followed suit. A quarter to six found Gladys and Helen taking a last farewell in the drawing room before Mr. Palsey arrived.
"Oh Helen shall we ever meet again, sobbed Gladys.
"Hush hush" said Helen "dont cry Gladys and let me give you some advice before you go. Dont sob or show any emotion when you bid me goodbye and if afterwards Mr. Palsey should mention me to you be quite calm and show him you do not care, when next we meet I'll tell you my reasons and be sure they're good ones."
Voices were heard at the front door and going into the hall, they found Mr. Palsey and Cyril talking and a carriage waiting at the gate.
"Goodbye Miss Lincarrol" said Cyril as he took her hand "I am sorry you have to go."
"Not at all" said Gladys brightly "goodbye Mr. Sheene, thanks for all your kindness."
Here Mr. Palsey interposed "goodbye Miss Winston" he said raising his hat.
Helen drew herself up and gave him a look (such a one as once seen never forgotten) and then turning to her friend said, "well goodbye Gladys, a pleasant journey to you dear."
"Goodbye Helen" said Gladys bravely and calmly and without a break in her voice.
"I hope you will enjoy yourself in London."
Mr. Palsey looked astounded, he had expected a loud fit of crying at least.
"Wont you say goodbye to me Miss Winston he asked sheepishly.
"No cried Helen in a laud voice, "it was an evil day for you Mr. Palsey when my good father asked you to his house."
Mr. Palsey jumped into the open fly and put his bag beside him.
Helen stood on the steps waving her hand with tears in her eyes, while Gladys, for the sake of the friend she loved, sat erect and tearless in the carriage which soon wheeled her away from "Beach Dale" and its occupants.
Leftalone in the dreary little cottage, a sense of utter lonliness came over Helen. She truly felt as though the one spark of happiness in her life had faded. Sitting down in an arm chair, she took up some crochet and tried to do a little work before sunset.
In a few minutes Cyril entered, fresh from a country walk.
"Ah Helen" he cried "you're busy I see."
"No I'm not" replied Helen sadly "did you want me for anything?"
"Well I was thinking it might be as well to go and see the autioneer, Mr. Graham," replied Cyril "you see all this furniture must be sold and a week is but a short time to settle everything."
"Yes I presume that would be best" said Helen with a sigh "where does this Mr. Graham live?" "Not a very long way off" replied Cyril "49 Eastern Grove is his address"
"Oh yes I know" said Helen "when shall we start?"
"Now, if you like" said Cyril
"Very well," and Helen tossed away her crochet and put on her hat.
It did not take very long to reach Eastern Grove, a pretty little street at the end of Kenelham. Helen stood by while Cyril arranged matters to his own taste. At last all was settled and Mr. Graham politely promised to be round at Beach Dale by 9 o'clock the next morning.
The next three days were busy ones indeed for Helen. All day she was flying up and downstairs, from attic to kitchen placing the furniture to be sold in lots and keeping what she wanted to take, in her own bedroom. Marshland helped all she could but being old and stiff she could do little but sit in the kitchen and moan at the loss of her beloved master's goods.
Friday came at last (the day Cyril had arranged for starting) and Helen was up early taking a last look at the rooms, garden walks etc., that she loved.
It was a boiling hot day and they had to start in the middle of the heat.
A large waggon came to the door wherein all the odd pieces of furniture were packedand the trunks and boxes being put on the top of that, Helen and Marshland got a small wooden bench which they put at the door of the waggon for, as Marshland truly remarked "Air was better than comfort," and there they seated themselves to drive to the station—Cyril had gone on to take the tickets and see about a comfortable carriage.
It was two o'clock by the time they reached Holburn.
Cyril jumped out, ordered a hansom while Helen attended to the luggage.
"Now Marshland" cried Cyril "you and Miss Helen will kindly get into this hansom and I'll tell the man where to drive to, I have a bussiness matter to settle, but you can tell the servant girl I'll be into tea."
Helen and Marshland got hastily into the hansom, to the old servant's inexpressible delight who had never ridden in anything but the customary Kenelham dog cart, and the waggon she had recently quitted. Helen however was too tired to notice anything and the new sights and sounds had no charm for her country eyes.
Presently the cab stopped at a small dreary looking office with the name Sheene & Co:in guilt letters on the window. Two men evidently the clerks, were watching with intense excitement the descent of the two ladies from the cab, their faces being pressed upon the iron blind of the office window.
Helen went up the steps and timidly rang the "visitors bell."
It was soon answered by a rought untidy looking servant girl, with no cap and a dirty cotton dress, whom Marshland eyed with intense disgust.
"Are you Mr. Sheene's ladies?" asked the girl.
"Yes" replied Helen "and Mr. Sheene wished me to say you were to show us to our rooms at once, he himself will not be in till tea time."
"All right" responded the servant "step and in and follow me."
She then led the way down a narrow passage past the home affair, till she came to a door which she flung open, announcing it was the sitting room.
"You wont want your bedrooms yet awhile" she said "because they're not ready."
"Oh pray dont trouble" said Helen.
"Very well" replied the girl and she went off closing the door behind her.
"The slovenly creature" cried Marshland "Mr. Sheene has evidently had no practice in choosing his domestics.
The room in which they found themselves was rather small and very stuffey, the window being tight shut and the blind down. A red carpet adorned the floor a common deal table with a check cloth stood in the middle of the room, and three chairs were carefully arranged round it. A leather armchair was by the fireplace adorned by a crochet antimicassa, and a sofa of the same description was by the window. The mantle piece was furnished with two glass vases, and a clock, and a large photograph of Cyril and his two clerks. A sideboard was by the door covered with a clean cloth, a parrafin lamp, two trays and a bowl of lavender.
"What do you think of it?" asked Helen after she had opened the window and taken off her hat and gloves.
"Humph" said Marshland looking round "pretty fair, but law Miss Helen, comparing it with your father's dainty little parlour its a mere scullery."
"Yes" said Helen "but dont let us hurt poor Cyril's feelings, no doubt he likes it."
"No doubt" replied Marshland.
By 5 o'clock Cyril came in, very hot but happy for all that. "Well Helen" he said "what do you think of your future abode?"
"Oh its very nice" answered Helen.
"Well let us ring for tea" cried Cyril "you will take your meal with us tonight Marshland, but tomorrow you will find your place in the kitchen with Alice the maid, who will do all the hard work while you preside."
Marshland looked pleased but said nothing.
Alice brought in the tea, and the three made it off shrimps and bread and butter and by that time Helen was pleased to go to bed, quite pleased with her first day in London.
Helen's bedroom was at the top of a very steep staircase and it was even more stuffy than the sitting room. A rather dirty white blind hung in the window, which Marshland instantly tore down, "the filthy rag" she exclaimed "never mind Miss Helen, in a few weeks, I'll have this fit for a lady and the sitting room too for that matter.
The iron bed stead was of the collapsible kind and Helen had to prop it up with emptytrunks in order to get a night's rest, but what with the squalling of the office cats and the noise of the clerks and servants below, it was in the small hours of the morning before either she or Marshland got a wink of sleep.
Itwas 8 o'clock, the following morning when Helen was awakened by hearing a loud dispute outside her door between Marshland and Alice Grimstone (the maid).
Glancing at her watch, Helen jumped out of bed and began her toilet and half way through she was interrupted by Alice bouncing in announcing it was gone 8 o'clock and would she (Helen) care about any water for washing. Helen declared she would, upon which she was presented with a can of hot water and a clean towel, soap already having been provided.
Having placed the last hair pin in her knob and fastenned her white blouse, Helen went down to the sitting room, where a smell of hot coffee and fried bacon greated her nose.
"Ah this is Marshland's cooking" thought Helen as she raised the cover of the dish. A great improvement was also visible in the room itself. It had been well dusted and swept and a few london flowers adorned the mantle shelf, a clean white curtain hung in the window, and Helen's work box and other little articles lay about the room, making it look far more home like than on the preceding evening.
Cyril (Helen had heard) rose very late, so she was forced to partake of her breakfast alone.
As soon as she had finnished, she rang the bell and ordered a fresh meal to be got ready for Cyril, for she really wished to please him and hoped in a few days time to have the house really nice.
Then Helen thought she would go out and buy a few things, so calling Marshland she said "I am going out now Marshland, and lunch will be at 1.30 if you please. Mr. Sheene likes high tea at 7 in the future we will follow this rule, breakfast at 9. lunch at 1.30, high tea at 7, Wine and biscuits 9.30."
"Very well miss" replied Marshland "I'll see to it"
"Yes" said Helen and do make that girl work for pity's sake, she is so lazy."
"That she is miss" replied Marshland "She'll find her work set now I've come."
Helen laughed "very well" she replied "I'll be in soon. I only want to buy a chicken and a yard or so of muslin for curtains."
So going out, Helen hailed a hansom and got proudly in, much to the envy of Netherby and Wilson (the two clerks) to whom she had not yet been introduced.
And so day followed day and Helen always found plenty to do. She was a first rate house keeper and Cyril treasured her accordingly. Marshland too made vast improvements in the lower regons. Alice was made to work hard and keep herself tidy.
A bright yellow canary was purchased, and hung in the sitting room window to Helen's great delight, and she had no time to be unhappy. Cyril seemed to prefer being engaged so the marriage was put off, and Helen was once more light hearted and merry and her gay laugh might often be heard as she chatted cheerily to the clerks or played comic songs on the little harmonium.
And yet no one is there to warn Helen of the approaching danger and misery.