CHAPTER XXXV
WhenLady Mildred was told that her sister had gone away in the motor-car without leaving any message, she at once jumped to the conclusion that her journey was to London. She had been aware that Lady Ethel had been very anxious, and it was natural to think that she might go to see John Gaunt with the idea of affecting a reconciliation between herself and her husband.
The week’s solitude had somewhat softened her feelings, but there still remained some bitterness. And perhaps, too, jealousy that Gaunt would not make a sacrifice to retain her love.
But when the afternoon came to an end, she began to wait with impatience her sister’s return, and her restlessness increased with each passing hour. When at last the sound of the car could be heard she ran eagerly to meet her.
“Where have you been? Why did you not tell me you were going?” she demanded impetuously.
Lady Ethel smiled a little wanly as she threw off her furs.
“I have been to London. But let us go to your room, dear.”
The sisters did not speak again until they were alone and there was great anxiety in Lady Mildred’s eyes.
“I have seen your husband.”
“Tell me at once. Why do you hesitate?” Lady Mildred cried vehemently.
“It is difficult to explain what happened. It was as I thought. Your letter has wounded him deeply, and I am afraid that you must go to him, if you wish to be forgiven.”
“Forgiveness!” Lady Mildred repeated scornfully.
“Yes. You, I think, are in the wrong. If you take my advice you will order the car and go to London at once. You would get there by ten o’clock.”
“Why should I go to him? It is I who have been wronged, and he must come to me.”
“If that is your state of mind, then I fear that you will remain apart. It is a pity, for I am convinced that you are both passionately in love with one another. Pride is responsible for the ruin of many lives, and I pray you not to be stupid, dear,” Lady Ethel said gently.
Lady Mildred was silent, and it was evident that she was struggling with herself. It was strange to find that her sister’s sympathy was so decidedly in favor of her husband, and she began to wonder if, after all, she herself might be to blame. But the scene in court came back to her mind, and she could hear the counsel’s words as he described the charge against Gaunt.
And while she fought with her pride, she was conscious that her love for John Gaunt was burning fiercely, and that if he were to appear she would receive him with widely opened arms.
“I went to Park Lane, and no one was there,” Lady Ethel continued quietly. “I chanced to pass your husband’s room and I saw many trunks there, so I imagine that he is going away.”
Lady Mildred drew a quick breath, and a look of fear crept into her eyes when she remembered the talk in the library.
Could John be going to the Congo? Was it possible that they were about to carry out the mad scheme that they discussed?
“Ethel, you must come back with me,” she cried eagerly.
“I am very tired, but I will gladly come,” Lady Ethel answered, and all the listlessness vanished in an instant.
“Give orders for the car, and I will see about the packing. Baby will stay here with nurse.”
“You are going to John?”
“Yes. Yes. I have been a fool, and I see it for the first time. You are right, Ethel. There is only one thing that matters.”
“Love,” Lady Ethel repeated softly, and the color came to her cheeks.
Half an hour later the sisters were driving back to London, and the chauffeur had received instructions to travel as quickly as possible. Now and then the car swayed ominously, but neither of them noticed the tremendous rate at which they were going. Lady Mildred began to tell of Gaunt’s plans to hold up the Congo Free State, and her story was listened to with intense eagerness.
“Is Mr. Drake going?” she asked in a low voice.
“Yes, and his brother. It is a curious business for a parson to join in.”
“Mildred, I warn you to prepare yourself for a disappointment if you think that you will be able to persuadeyour husband to back out of it. He loves you passionately; but there are some things that have more weight with him than love.”
“I don’t think he will go, if I can only see him,” Lady Mildred answered confidently.
The conversation languished and they were both relieved when at last the car stopped at their house in Park Lane.
“Is your master in?” Lady Mildred demanded of the footman.
“No, my lady. He left a couple of hours ago,” was the answer.
She entered quickly and ran up to her room in the hope that there might be a letter for her, but there was nothing there.
“I will ask the servants if there is any message. You had better rest quietly; you look ill,” Lady Ethel said and hastened away.
She returned in a few minutes, and her face was grave as she sat down by her sister.
“He has gone, and has left no message at all. I have been to his rooms, and the trunks are not there,” she announced.
“What does it mean?” Lady Mildred asked hoarsely. “Do you think that he can already have started?”
“No, but we must be very careful what we say. We must be loyal to John, and we must not arouse any suspicion among the servants.”
“It is nearly eleven o’clock—too late to do anything to-night,” Lady Mildred said miserably.
There was a knock at the door and Lord Lynton came in hurriedly.
“Have you any idea where Gaunt is?” he asked anxiously.
“No. Haven’t you seen him?”
“I have been dining with Sir Keith Hamilton, and afterwards he talked to me very plainly. It appears that he has formed a great liking for Gaunt, and he expressed his opinion very forcibly about this police court business. He is convinced that Gaunt played no unworthy part in that Marillier affair, and that the whole thing is a put up job on the part of the Baron. I chanced to say that I had taken up rather a strong attitude, and he promptly told me that I was a fool, advising me to go and make my peace at once.”
“And I have come on a like errand, but I am afraid that we are too late,” Lady Mildred said brokenly, and tears forced themselves to her eyes.
“Surely there ought to be no difficulty in finding him,” the Earl said decidedly.
“Perhaps he has already left the country?” Lady Ethel broke in.
“No, that’s impossible, for he is on bail,” Lord Lynton replied.
“Bail would not prevent him from going. I think I ought to tell you——”
But Lady Mildred pulled her sister up sharply.
“We have no right to tell John’s secrets to any one. Perhaps we are worrying ourselves about nothing. There may be news in the morning,” she said hopefully, but there was no hope in her heart.
The morning came and the sisters breakfasted at an early hour. But there was no letter.
“Shall we call at the Carlton? Captain Drake wasstaying there,” Lady Ethel suggested, and they visited the hotel, only to find that he, too, had left on the previous evening.
“I believe that hehasgone to the Congo,” Lady Mildred cried vehemently when they were once more in the car.
Next they visited Gaunt’s office in the city, where they were received by Mr. Foster, the secretary, who could give them no information.
“Mr. Gaunt has ceased to come here, my lady. In a couple of months’ time the office will be finally closed.”
“When did you last see Mr. Gaunt?” Lady Mildred asked eagerly.
“Yesterday, but I have no idea where he is at present.”
“Cannot you tell me if he is going abroad?” she persisted.
“No, my lady. I have no information at all. It is not Mr. Gaunt’s custom to tell me of his movements, unless he thinks it necessary for me to know,” Mr. Foster answered with a smile.
They returned straight to Park Lane, for that was the most likely place at which they would receive news, but when evening came Lady Mildred was convinced that her suspicions were correct, and she grew utterly despondent. It was revealed to her how great was her love for her husband now that she believed that he had gone deliberately into danger. All the dreadful things that she had heard of West Africa came rushing to her mind, and she grew desperate when she realized that he had left her with anger in his heart. And she broke down completely, sobbing piteously; in vain Lady Ethel strove to comfort her.
“I love him—oh, so much—and it is my fault that we quarreled. I should have known that he would not do so dreadful a thing as that wicked barrister charged him with. What shall I do? I must see him,” Lady Mildred cried passionately.
“Perhaps he has only gone into the country for a rest,” her sister suggested. “I don’t think that he could have left for the Congo without saying a word.”
“You don’t understand John. It was my lack of trust, and that cruel, cruel letter that hurt him. What a fool I have been.”
The morning came, bringing no news, and they wandered listlessly about the house. Suddenly Lady Ethel gave a cry, and almost fiercely clutched her sister’s arm.
“Did you not say that they intended to stop at the Canary Islands? To-day is Saturday, and the Union-Castle Liner sails. Let us go to Waterloo and see if John or one of the Drakes is there,” she cried impetuously.
The car was ordered at once, and upon arriving at the station they found the boat train drawn up, and by the bustle around it was evidently soon to start. They walked eagerly along closely examining each carriage, but saw no signs of either of them.
A warning whistle, and the train moved away.
“Of course they could join theSaxonat Southampton, for John would not wish to be seen. Could we get there in time?” Lady Mildred cried excitedly.
“At any rate we can try,” Lady Ethel answered eagerly. And then began a mad race to the port. She urged the chauffeur to full speed, and the powerful cartore along the road. Once or twice a policeman held up a warning hand, but they went on heedlessly until they reached the dock gates.
“Has theSaxonsailed?” they asked anxiously.
“Just about starting,” was the answer.
Now their progress was tantalizingly slow, and when at last the wharf came in sight, they saw that the ropes had been thrown off and that the big liner was moving towards Southampton water.
But Lady Mildred’s eyes were fixed on the upper deck, and she could just make out the figure of a man leaning against the rails. There were field-glasses in the car, and with trembling fingers she focused them.
“It is John, and we are too late,” she said with a gasp.
But she would not give way, and turned to her sister her face white and her lips trembling.
“Our yacht theHeronis lying here. She can be commissioned in a few days,” she said very quietly.
“What are you going to do?” Lady Ethel asked in wonder.
“Follow them,” she answered curtly.
“And I will go with you,” Lady Ethel said in a low voice, but her eyes were shining brightly.