Chapter XVI--A Private Conversation

by Bram Stoker

　　The name braced Stephen at once. Here was danger, an enemy to beencountered; all the fighting blood of generations leaped to theoccasion. The short spell of sleep had helped to restore her. Thereremained still quite enough of mental and nervous excitement to makeher think quickly; the words were hardly out of the maid's mouthbefore her resolution was taken. It would never do to let LeonardEverard see she was diffident about meeting him; she would go down atonce. But she would take the precaution of having her aunt present;at any rate, till she should have seen how the land lay. Her beingjust waked from sleep would be an excuse for asking her aunt to seethe visitor till she came down. So she said to the maid:'I have been asleep. I must have got tired walking in the wood inthe heat. Ask Auntie to kindly see Mr. Everard in the blue drawing-room till I come down. I must tidy my hair; but I will be down in afew minutes.''Shall I send Marjorie to you, miss?''No! Don't mind; I can do what I want myself. Hurry down to MissRowly!'How she regarded Leonard Everard now was shown in her instinctiveclassing him amongst her enemies.When she entered the room she seemed all aglow. She wanted not onlyto overcome but to punish; and all the woman in her had risen to theeffort. Never in her life had Stephen Norman looked more radiantlybeautiful, more adorable, more desirable. Even Leonard Everard felthis pulses quicken as he saw that glowing mass of beauty standing outagainst the cold background of old French tapestry. All the physicalside of him leaped in answer to the call of her beauty; and even hiscold heart and his self-engrossed brain followed with slower gait.He had been sitting opposite Miss Rowly in one of the windows,twirling his hat in nervous suspense. He jumped up, and, as she cametowards him, went forward rapidly to greet her. No one could mistakethe admiration in his eyes. Ever since he had made up his mind tomarry her she had assumed a new aspect in his thoughts. But now herpresence swept away all false imaginings; from the moment that herloveliness dawned upon him something like love began to grow withinhis breast. Stephen saw the look and it strengthened her. He had sogrievously wounded her pride the previous day that her victory onthis was a compensation which set her more at her old poise.Her greeting was all sweetness: she was charmed to see him. How washis father, and what was the news? Miss Rowly looked on with smilingvisage. She too had seen the look of admiration in his eyes, and itpleased her. Old ladies, especially when they are maiden ladies,always like to see admiration in the eyes of young men when they areturned in the direction of any girl dear to them.They talked for some time, keeping all the while, by Stephen's clevergeneralship, to the small-talk of the neighbourhood and the minorevents of social importance. As the time wore on she could see thatLeonard was growing impatient, and evidently wanted to see her alone.She ignored, however, all his little private signalling, andpresently ordered tea to be brought. This took some little time;when it had been brought and served and drunk, Leonard was in asmothered fume of impatience. She was glad to see that as yet heraunt had noticed nothing, and she still hoped that she would be ableto so prolong matters, that she would escape without a privateinterview. She did not know the cause of Leonard's impatience: thathe must see her before the day passed. She too was an egoist, in herown way; in the flush of belief of his subjugation she did not thinkof attributing to him any other motive than his desire for herself.As she had made up her mind on the final issue she did not want to betroubled by a new 'scene.'But, after all, Leonard was a man; and man's ways are more directthan woman's. Seeing that he could not achieve his object in anyother way, he said out suddenly, thinking, and rightly, that shewould not wish to force an issue in the presence of her aunt:'By the way, Miss Norman,' he had always called her 'Miss Norman' inher aunt's presence: 'I want to have two minutes with you before Igo. On a matter of business,' he added, noticing Miss Rowly'ssurprised look. The old lady was old-fashioned even for her age; inher time no young man would have asked to see a young lady alone onbusiness. Except on one kind of business; and with regard to thatkind of business gentlemen had to obtain first the confidence andpermission of guardians. Leonard saw the difficulty and saidquickly:'It is on the matter you wrote to me about!'Stephen was prepared for a nasty shock, but hardly for so nasty a oneas this. There was an indelicacy about it which went far beyond thebounds of thoughtless conventionality. That such an appeal should bemade to her, and in such a way, savoured of danger. Her woman'sintuition gave her the guard, and at once she spoke, smilingly andgently as one recalling a matter in which the concern is not her own:'Of course! It was selfish of me not to have thought of it, and tohave kept you so long waiting. The fact is, Auntie, that Leonard--Ilike to call him Leonard, since we were children together, and he isso young; though perhaps it would be more decorous nowadays to say"Mr. Everard"--has consulted me about his debts. You know, Auntiedear, that young men will be young men in such matters; or perhapsyou do not, since the only person who ever worried you has beenmyself. But I stayed at Oxford and I know something of young men'sways; and as I am necessarily more or less of a man of business, hevalues my help. Don't you, Leonard?' The challenge was so direct,and the position he was in so daringly put, that he had to acquiesce.Miss Rowly, who had looked on with a frown of displeasure, saidcoldly:'I know you are your own mistress, my dear. But surely it would bebetter if Mr. Everard would consult with his solicitor or hisfather's agent, or some of his gentlemen friends, rather than with ayoung lady whose relations with him, after all, are only those of aneighbour on visiting terms. For my own part, I should have thoughtthat Mr. Everard's best course would have been to consult his ownfather! But the things that gentlemen, as well as ladies do, havebeen sadly changed since my time!' Then, rising in formal dignity,she bowed gravely to the visitor before leaving the room.But the position of being left alone in the room with Leonard did notat all suit Stephen's plans. Rising quickly she said to her aunt:'Don't stir, Auntie. I dare say you are right in what you say; but Ipromised Mr. Everard to go into the matter. And as I have broughtthe awkwardness on myself, I suppose I must bear it. If Mr. Everardwants to see me alone, and I suppose he is diffident in speaking onsuch a matter before you--he didn't play with you, you know!--we cango out on the lawn. We shan't be long!' Before Leonard couldrecover his wits she had headed him out on the lawn.Her strategy was again thoroughly good. The spot she chose, thoughbeyond earshot, was quite in the open and commanded by all thewindows in that side of the house. A person speaking there might saywhat he liked, but his actions must be discreet.On the lawn Stephen tripped ahead; Leonard followed inwardly raging.By her clever use of the opening she had put him in a difficulty fromwhich there was no immediate means of extrication. He could notquarrel overtly with Stephen; if he did so, how could he enter on thepressing matter of his debts? He dared not openly proclaim hisobject in wishing to marry her, for had he done so her aunt mighthave interfered, with what success he could not be sure. In any caseit would cause delay, and delay was what he could not afford. Hefelt that in mentioning his debts at just such a movement he hadgiven Stephen the chance she had so aptly taken. He had to be on hisgood behaviour, however; and with an apprehension that was new to himhe followed her.An old Roman marble seat was placed at an angle from the house sothat the one of the two occupants within its curve must almost facethe house, whilst the other gave to it at least a quarter-face.Stephen seated herself on the near side, leaving to Leonard theexposed position. As soon as he was seated, she began:'Now, Leonard, tell me all about the debts?' She spoke in tones ofgay friendliness, but behind the mask of her cheerfulness was thereal face of fear. Down deep in her mind was a conviction that herletter was a pivotal point of future sorrow. It was in the meantimequite apparent to her that Leonard kept it as his last resource; soher instinct was to keep it to the front and thus minimise its power.Leonard, though inwardly weakened by qualms of growing doubt, had theanimal instinct that, as he was in opposition, his safety was inattacking where his opponent most feared. He felt that there wassome subtle change in his companion; this was never the same StephenNorman whom only yesterday he had met upon the hill! He plunged atonce into his purpose.'But it wasn't about my debts you asked me to meet you, Stephen.''You surprise me, Leonard! I thought I simply asked you to come tomeet me. I know the first subject I mentioned when we began to talk,after your grumbling about coming in the heat, was your moneymatters.' Leonard winced, but went on:'It was very good of you, Stephen; but really that is not what I cameto speak of to-day. At first, at all events!' he added with asublime naivette, as the subject of his debts and his imperative wantof money rose before him. Stephen's eyes flashed; she saw moreclearly than ever through his purpose. Such as admission at the veryoutset of the proffer of marriage, which she felt was coming, waslittle short of monstrous. Her companion did not see the look ofmastery on her face; he was looking down at the moment. A true loverwould have been looking up.'I wanted to tell you, Stephen, that I have been thinking over whatyou said to me in your letter, and what you said in words; and I wantto accept!' As he was speaking he was looking her straight in theface.Stephen answered slowly with a puzzled smile which wrinkled up herforehead:'Accept what I said in my letter! why, Leonard, what do you mean?That letter must have had a lot more in it than I thought. I seem toremember that it was simply a line asking you to meet me. Just letme look at it; I should like to be sure of what actually is!' As shespoke she held out her hand. Leonard was nonplussed; he did not knowwhat to say. Stephen made up her mind to have the letter back.Leonard was chafing under the position forced upon him, and tried todivert his companion from her purpose. He knew well why she hadchosen that exposed position for their interview. Now, as heroutstretched hand embarrassed him, he made reprisal; he tried to takeit in his in a tender manner.She instantly drew back her hand and put it behind her in a decidedmanner. She was determined that whatever might happen she would notlet any watcher at the windows, by chance or otherwise, see any signof tenderness on her part. Leonard, thinking that his purpose hadbeen effected, went on, breathing more freely:'Your letter wasn't much. Except of course that it gave me theopportunity of listening to what you said; to all your sweet words.To your more than sweet proposal!''Yes! It must have been sweet to have any one, who was in a positionto do so, offer to help you when you knew that you were overwhelmedwith debts!' The words were brutal. Stephen felt so; but she had noalternative. Leonard had some of the hard side of human nature; buthe had also some of the weak side. He went on blindly:'I have been thinking ever since of what you said, and I want to tellyou that I would like to do as you wish!' As he spoke, his wordsseemed even to him to be out of place. He felt it would be necessaryto throw more fervour into the proceedings. The sudden outburstwhich followed actually amused Stephen, even in her state of fear:'Oh, Stephen, don't you know that I love you! You are so beautiful!I love you! I love you! Won't you be my wife?'This was getting too much to close quarters. Stephen said in a calm,business-like way:'My dear Leonard, one thing at a time! I came out here, you know, tospeak of your debts; and until that is done, I really won't go intoany other matter. Of course if you'd rather not . . . ' Leonardreally could not afford this; matters were too pressing with him. Sohe tried to affect a cheery manner; but in his heart was a blackresolve that she should yet pay for this.'All right! Stephen. Whatever you wish I will do; you are the queenof my heart, you know!''How much is the total amount?' said Stephen.This was a change to the prosaic which made sentiment impossible. Hegave over, for the time.'Go on!' said Stephen, following up her advantage. 'Don't you evenknow how much you owe?''The fact is, I don't. Not exactly. I shall make up the amount aswell as I can and let you know. But that's not what I came about to-day.' Stephen was going to make an angry gesture of dissent. Shewas not going to have that matter opened up. She waited, however,for Leonard was going on after his momentary pause. She breathedmore freely after his first sentence. He was unable evidently tocarry on a double train of thought.'It was about that infernal money-lenders' letter that the Governorgot!' Stephen got still less anxious. This open acknowledgment ofhis true purpose seemed to clear the air.'What is the amount?' Leonard looked quickly at her; the relief ofher mind made her tone seem joyful.'A monkey! Five hundred pounds, you know. But then there's threehundred for interest that has to be paid also. It's an awful lot ofmoney, isn't it?' The last phrase was added on seeing Stephen'ssurprised look.'Yes!' she answered quietly. 'A great deal of money--to waste!'They were both silent for a while. Then she said:'What does your father say to it?''He was in an awful wax. One of these beastly duns had written tohim about another account and he was in a regular fury. When I toldhim I would pay it within a week, he said very little, which wassuspicious; and then, just when I was going out, he sprung this onme. Mean of him! wasn't it? I need expect no help from him.' As hewas speaking he took a mass of letters from his pocket and began tolook among them for the money-lenders' letter.'Why, what a correspondence you have there. Do you keep all yourletters in your pockets?' said Stephen quietly.'All I don't tear up or burn. It wouldn't do to let the Governorinto my secrets. He might know too much!''And are all those letters from duns?''Mostly, but I only keep those letters I have to attend to and thoseI care for.''Show me the bundle!' she said. Then seeing him hesitate, added:'You know if I am to help you to get clear you must take me into yourconfidence. I dare say I shall have to see a lot more letters thanthese before you are quite clear!' Her tone was too quiet. Knowingalready the silent antagonism between them he began to suspect her;knowing also that her own letter was not amongst them, he used hiswits and handed them over without a word. She, too, suspected him.After his tacit refusal to give her the letter, she almost took itfor granted that it was not amongst them. She gave no evidence ofher feeling, however, but opened and read the letters in duesequence; all save two, which, being in a female hand, she gave backwithout a word. There was a calmness and an utter absence ofconcern, much less of jealousy, about this which disconcerted him.Throughout her reading Stephen's face showed surprise now and again;but when she came to the last, which was that of the usurers, itshowed alarm. Being a woman, a legal threat had certain fears of itsown.'There must be no delay about this!' she said.'What am I to do?' he answered, a weight off his mind that the fiscalmatter had been practically entered on.'I shall see that you get the money!' she said quietly. 'It will bereally a gift, but I prefer it to be as a loan for many reasons.'Leonard made no comment. He found so many reasons in his own mindthat he thought it wise to forbear from asking any of hers. Then shetook the practical matter in hand:'You must wire to these people at once to say that you will pay theamount on the day after to-morrow. If you will come here to-morrowat four o'clock the money will be ready for you. You can go up totown by the evening train and pay off the debt first thing in themorning. When you bring the receipt I shall speak to you about theother debts; but you must make out a full list of them. We can'thave any half-measure. I will not go into the matter till I have allthe details before me!' Then she stood up to go.As they walked across the lawn, she said:'By the way, don't forget to bring that letter with you. I want tosee what I really did say in it!' Her tone was quiet enough, and thewording was a request; but Leonard knew as well as if it had beenspoken outright as a threat that if he did not have the letter withhim when he came things were likely to be unpleasant.The farther he got from Normanstand on his way home the morediscontented Leonard grew. Whilst he had been in Stephen's presenceshe had so dominated him, not only by her personality but by her useof her knowledge of his own circumstances, that he had not dared tomake protest or opposition; but now he began to feel how much less hewas to receive than he had expected. He had come prepared to allowStephen to fall into his arms, fortune and all. But now, although hehad practical assurance that the weight of his debts would be takenfrom him, he was going away with his tail between his legs. He hadnot even been accepted as a suitor, he who had himself been wooedonly a day before. His proposal of marriage had not been accepted,had not even been considered by the woman who had so lately brokenironclad convention to propose marriage to him. He had been treatedmerely as a scapegrace debtor who had come to ask favours from an oldfriend. He had even been treated like a bad boy; had been told thathe had wasted money; had been ordered, in no doubtful way, to bringthe full schedule of his debts. And all the time he dared not sayanything lest the thing shouldn't come off at all. Stephen had suchan infernally masterly way with her! It didn't matter whether shewas proposing to him, or he was proposing to her, he was made to feelsmall all the same. He would have to put up with it till he had gotrid of the debts!And then as to the letter. Why was she so persistent about seeingit? Did she want to get it into her hands and then keep it, asHarold An Wolf had done? Was it possible that she suspected he woulduse it to coerce her; she would call it 'blackmail,' he supposed.This being the very thing he had intended to do, and had done, hegrew very indignant at the very thought of being accused of it. Itwas, he felt, a very awkward thing that he had lost possession of theletter. He might need it if Stephen got nasty. Then Harold mightgive it to her, as he had threatened to do. He thought he would callround that evening by Harold's house, and see if he couldn't get backthe letter. It belonged to him; Harold had no right to keep it. Hewould see him before he and Stephen got putting their heads together.So, on his way home, he turned his steps at once to Harold's house.He did not find him in. The maid who opened the door could give himno information; all she could say was that Mrs. Dingle thehousekeeper had got a telegram from Master saying that he had beencalled suddenly away on business.This was a new source of concern to Leonard. He suspected a motiveof some sort; though what that motive could be he could not hazardthe wildest guess. On his way home he called at the post-office andsent a telegram to Cavendish and Cecil, the name of the usurers'firm, in accordance with Stephen's direction. He signed it: 'JasperEverard.'