Adventure, December 1914 — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

142 down, rushed through the door and escaped. “Not only did the policeman go down, but his mother went down also; her boy had hurt her more than the policeman, for she never rose again. She had a stroke— she is now entirely paralyzed; has never spoken since, and practically never moved. ‘“Winifred Dennis has not only had to act as general servant to you, Mr. Adair, she has had also to wait upon her mother hand and foot. The old lady can do absolutely nothing for herself and is wholly dependent upon her daughter. Luckily God has given her a very good one.” ‘What an awful tragedy! of it.” “Winifred Dennis is not the sort of per- son to speak of her private affairs to any one —least of all to a man whom she has only known for a few weeks, and whose only claim to her acquaintance is that he pays her for the rooms he occupies.” “Is that the way she looks at it?” “In what other way could she look at it? She knows nothing about you, Mr. Adair. You have sense enough to see what a deli- cate position she occupies. Did she ever speak to you of me?” ‘“‘No; I tell you she has spoken to me of no one—except her mother.”’ “T was her lodger. She took the Dove- cote because I agreed to take her rooms. I was a medical student in those days, at a woman’s hospital in Gray’s Inn Road; I’m a qualified medical practitioner now, and entitled to practise on my husband—or on you. Then Augustus came along, and he worried me; so at last, to keep him still, I married him.” ‘“‘That’s it, state the case correctly. Mr. Adair has only to look at us to know it was all the other way—that all the worrying came from you.” This, of course, was Mr. Bishop Guy. The lady ignored his interposition. ‘The original idea was that when we were married we should live at the Dovecote, but to this Augustus wouldn’t agree.” “YT should think not. I didn’t want to start my married life in lodgings.” “So, in order to give the man no just cause for offense, I left the Dovecote and came here—and I’m afraid that I left Win- nie rather stranded. What would have happened if it hadn’t been for you {I don’t know. When I heard of your appearance on the scene I sang a Te Deum.” ‘The I had no idea ' fine yourself principally to soda. Adventure lady, rising from her seat, crossed to a table which was in a corner of the room. “IT think, Mr. Adair, if I were now to offer you a little refreshment it might be welcome. Soda or plain water.”’ “Soda, please. Thank you.” He took the glass the lady offered him. “Augustus, you can help yourself; con- I won- der, Mr. Adair, if you would tell me any- thing about yourself if I suggested that I was interested—on Winnie’s behalf.” Mr. Adair, having helped himself from the tumbler, seemed to be considering. “T can give you a banker’s reference, Mrs. Guy, if that would be of any use. I think that my banker would convince you that I am a responsible person.” “Is that the only person to whom you can refer me?” “T’m not in a position to refer you to my relations, if that is what you mean. My father and mother are both dead; with such other relatives as I have, I am not at this moment on very good terms. Do I strike you as being the sort of person who requires—credentials, other than can be obtained from his banker?” “One likes to know with whom one is dealing when circumstances seem to prom- ise intimate relations with a person, doesn’t one, Mr. Adair? However, as you hint, a banker’s reference is a great deal. It’s more than some of us can give. I doubt if my banker would go out of his way to con- vince you that I’m a responsible person, and I’ve no doubt whatever about Augustus.” “You wait a bit, Ella; before very long I shall be on the high-road to millions.” “Millions of what—farthings? I don’t know what sum of money a million farthings represents, but I do hope that one day you will get at least within sight of it. But I’m afraid you’re a long way from it now. “Augustus is an inventor, Mr. Adair. Really he’s a dealer in Manchester goods, calicoes and huckaback and that sort of thing—we’re people of no importance; but he doesn’t see such golden prospects in Manchester goods as he would wish, so he has directed his surplus energies into other channels. Tell Mr. Adair what you’ve in- vented, Augustus.” ‘Fe wouldn’t be interested. Ella, what a nuisance you are! I shall have to do something, sir, to keep her in order. She’s small——” Gomiicovdook C©