The Alington Inheritance

“Where was I? I was telling you about Bertie Ma

“But you were going into the Civil Service, weren’t you?”

“It t-takes too long,” he said frowning. “I haven’t said anything about th-this except to you. I’ve been w-waiting for an opportunity, but if you’ll be engaged to m-me-”

“I can’t,” said Je

He took a step towards her with his hands out.

“J-Je

“It’s no good. It’s no good, Alan-it really isn’t. I don’t think of you like that. You’d be just like a brother. I couldn’t- couldn’t-”

He had turned very pale as she spoke. It was like seeing the blood drain away out of something. It was horrible.

When he spoke again his voice choked.

“Is it Mac?” he said. And then, quick and hot, “He doesn’t love you -he d-doesn’t. If you’d heard him as I have you’d know I was telling the truth. He doesn’t love you at all. But he wants to m-marry you- I d-don’t know why.”

Je

“He does. I tell you he does. I don’t know why he wants to but he d-does. Th-that is why he’s gone over to get hold of m-my mother. Th-that’s why I had to speak to you. I’d n-never get a chance otherwise.”

Je

“Why do you say he wants to marry me?”

“I don’t know. He d-does want to.”

“Why?”

“I t-tell you I d-don’t know.”

Thoughts knocked at Je

“Stop it, Alan! Do you hear-stop it!”

He came forward a step. Je

“I know Mac,” he said. “You only see him. Well, that’s all right. I wouldn’t say a word, only it’s your whole life. He doesn’t care for you -not like I do. No, I didn’t mean to say that. I’m not talking for myself now, I’m talking for you. You don’t know Mac-I do. He’s my brother, but I’m going to tell you the truth about him. There’s only one person he cares anything for, and that’s himself. He’s got everything-looks, strength, brains. And he’s the eldest son. Do you think he’s going to let that be taken away from him by anyone? By anyone at all? I tell you he isn’t going to. He-he’d wade through blood-” He stopped himself, half horrified by the sound of his own words. The stammer came on him again. “It’s t-true,” he said on an altered note. His voice trembled and died away. There was silence between them.

After some time Je

“I th-think it is,” he said. “I th-think it’s the b-business of anyone who loves you. I do l-love you, Je

“It d-doesn’t matter about m-me. I don’t want you to g-get hurt- th-that’s all.”

Je

“You’ll th-think of what I’ve said. It’s all t-true, you know.” The tears were ru

Chapter VIII

Je

When she had quite finished washing up and putting the things away she went up to the schoolroom. She didn’t know where Alan was. She thought he had gone out, and that meant that she was quite alone, because Mrs. Bolton, who went out on Wednesdays, might as well not be there, for she never came upstairs at all and had her bedroom in what had been the housekeeper’s room. It gave her a lonely feeling in one way, but it was rather nice in another. Only tonight the house felt very echoey and lonely. She wished she had gone with the little girls, she wished she had done anything different from what she had done.

And then she heard the car. It came rolling to a stop at the front door, and she went to the window to look. Mrs. Forbes and Mac got out. Je

She had forgotten everything but the bitterness which had swept over her, when she heard footsteps on the stairs outside. Mac-she would have known his step anywhere. She shrank down behind the curtains. She couldn’t meet him-not like this.

And then there was another step, and a voice-Mrs. Forbes’ voice.

“Isn’t she there?”

The door opened and Mac came in. The light went on. Je

“No, she isn’t. She and Alan must have gone down to get the children.”

Mrs. Forbes came across from her bedroom. The faint scent she used came in with her. It was very faint indeed, like the last reflection in water before the light goes. The thought went through Je

Mrs. Forbes spoke from the far side of the room.

“Well, what did you want to say to me, Mac?” The tone was the indulgent one which no one else heard from her.

Mac didn’t answer at once. Je