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Show ALAN TALKS GENTLY TO TERRIFIED TONY TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH HER Telegram Serial t Tony' CHAPTER It "Tony," Alan said, "someone, at soma time, has III treated you. It was your brother, I suppose?" ' She nodded. "Why?" he asked. "He was a bully. Jim was at home all tha time, and so. was L So there w ain't any rest. But It's all over, years ago. I don't often think of It." "Couldn't you have complained to anyone?" "There was no one to complain to after Father died." "Your, mother?" Tony shook her head. Something Some-thing In her little smile struck him as dreadful. "And Hyacinth?" That name, not spoken for many weeks, came bitterly to his lips. She didn't speak. Perhaps she imagined that he was half pleading to be told that Hyacinth had been kind. "Well?" he asked. "I don't want to remember those years,'' she answered woodenly. She was pleating the coverlet with nervous fingers. "Nevertheless, I want to know of them, Tony. You and I are friends." He used the plea of friendship, but he allowed Into his voice a little of the ring of authority. au-thority. "And now. please answer my question. What part had Hyacinth In this?" "Oh." She still fingered the coverlet. "Jim and Hyacinth always al-ways went together. If I was slack or forgot anything, then Jim dropped on me. But you know, Alan, they didn't hate me not until Father's death. You see, I only had a daily governess, and she left after luncheon each day. I 'used to Invent excuses to make her stop a few minutes longer. Yes, those years were tough. But I'm tough, too." With a kind of pride she lifted her chin. And then, perhaps, she saw the anger and pity In his face. Her voice changed. She took his hand. "Nothing to unbearable, Alan." She said It as If to comfort him. "You think It's Just going to be, but It Isn't. It would have been, but there was Jacky. I used to go Into the nursery often, and the nurse was kind. But when Jacky was older I was frightened then. I though Jim would begin to bully her." As If at that thought she was back In those days, she whitened. whit-ened. "I couldn't have borne that, I couldn't" Unconsciously, one thin hand went to her heart. "But it was all right." she murmured. "Jim died. So It was all right." "And nowadays, are you happy, Tony?" "I'm happy when I'm with you. If Jacky and I could be with you always, then I'd be happy." A deep silence followed on those words. The ticking of the grand ma that; and now It would come In useful." "No, Tony, It Isn't possible." He looked down at her hand, resting In his. There was a little pause. "You're not angry at me, are you, Alan?" she asked. "No, my child." "Then you're trying to think what's best for me. But you don't know." She . had slipped off the bed now. She stood there, gazing down at the bright coverlet as If she gazed Into a deep well and could see truth lying at the bottom. "I know what's best for me; It's best for me to be with you. He was smiling; but. he found, with difficulty. "In a year or two you won't think so." "Oh, Alan!" There was something some-thing pitiful in her look; something unconscious. "I don't change," she said. "You will have a home of your own one day. Soon," he told her. She shook her head. One. Again that soft chime striking the hour penetrated the sounds of the gale, the rushing of the wind. 'Tony." His voice was even-so even-so much more even than the beating beat-ing of his heart. "I am not angry at you. I'm grateful for your thought of me. You must continue to come to Holme Dacey though not, perhaps. In snowstorms or my life will be empty." Quickly she looked up at him. but he went on: "Good night, Alan." "Good night, Tony." The winter light, reflected brightly from the snow, poured Into Alan's sitting room. Alan lay on the chaise longue which last night had been Tony's bed. He was prepared for the day shaved, wearing a tweed Jacket, a rug flung over his legs. The door opened. Matthew Lake entered. "Good morning." "Hullo," said Alan. He lowered the paper. Sir Matthew, glancing at him with a trained eye, saw the half hidden anger In his face, the rebellion against his helpless state, and thought: "It's a bad day." Aloud he said, "I've Just arrived. Met Tony wandering about. There's no fire for her downstairs except In the dining room." "Well." said Alan, ''the dining room will have to do. I'm not feeling feel-ing like conversation this morning. She's still here because I said she wasn't to leave till you returned. It looks like more snow. I don't want her to dia In a drift If you can't escort her home, Roberts will have to." "I'll take her," said Sir Matthew quickly. Alan shot him a glance. Then he lit a cigarette. He smoked for a minute In silence. Then abruptly h spoke. "Matt you're more than a bit 1n love with Tony, aren't you?" There was a little pause. "What makes you think so?" The scar on ratner ciock on me landing sounded clearlv. And where others everyone every-one else looked on him as useless wreckage, she thought of him as a strong refuge. "You will be happy wlthopt that, Tony dear," he answered her at last "No." She glanced up. Her eyes, very clear, met his. "I I suppose you wouldn't think of letting let-ting us come to live here, Alan? I could talk to you when you wanted to talk and be silent when you didn't And so would Jacky. I'd run your errands. I'd learn to sew. I'm a good fag. Jim taught nnu nuw. my cnuu, you will go to bed at once." "Oh, yes. Alan." She obeyed Immediately. But she was always good with him. She picked up her bedclothes from the floor. He watched her as she dragged them Into the sitting room. Switching off the light, he lay back on the pillows. Through the door, Just ajar, he could hear a rustling as she made up her bed. And now there was silence. Then the door opened a very little way. Her head appeared In the doorway, her face In shadow. sir Matthew s face stood out suddenly, sud-denly, startltngly. "One notices. Why don't you d something about It?" "She's so young." "Welt?" In Alan's voice was i kind of suppressed rage. "She'i wretched at home. I can tell you that She's had a bleak life. II you care for her, propose to her marry her. Make her happy. Sh needs It." "I don't suppose she'd have me," muttered Matthew Lake. "Is that a reason foa not trvlngl I think she would." Alan said anc added, "You used to have som guts. Matt." Sir Matthew turned. He smilet little. "I'm not usually accused of feebleness," he said. "No," Alan replied. "You're all right with savage tribes. Bui you're afraid of Tony." Sir Matthew reddened. Befon he could speak Alan went on, "And when you are married to her, yoi had better remember that she'l need a firm hand now and then, ai well as tha spoiling she's nevei had yet" "You seem to have become verj wise lately," Matthew Lake said with a touch of irony. "Yes." "Then have you any reason to su noose she'd marry me?" For one brief second Alan hesitated. hesi-tated. "Yes, I think so," he said, quietly. Matthew Lake turned away. Ha walked to the window and Blared out over the changed landscape. The white expanse met the heavy tOMUmwa es Ik raitewlaa |