Although much rain falls at Netherdale, three or four days after Kit’s return were fine, and he seized all the opportunity for enjoyment the good weather gave. When the west wind curled the tarn Evelyn and he went fishing; when the water shone like glass and motionless silver clouds dotted the tranquil sky they picnicked in the heather, and Kit felt he got nearer Evelyn than he had yet got. Sometimes she had baffled him, and he sensed a reserve he could not break. Now she was kind and frank.
For all that, he knew his mood was reckless and he doubted if he were honest. He felt like a gambler betting on a chance he could not estimate; he risked much, and if he lost he must pay. Moreover, for him to lose might cost Evelyn something; but he felt she would brace up. Kit knew she was not altogether romantic; he had remarked in her a shrewdly practical vein. Anyhow, the splendid days were going, and he resolved to take all they gave.
In fine weather, tea was served on the lawn at Netherhall, and Kit one afternoon joined the group round the table under a tree. The soft patter of the leaves was soothing and one heard the river splash. Kit, sitting on a mossy bank, languidly looked about. Evelyn’s dress and shady hat were white, but her hair was black. Kit saw her face in profile and thought it cut the dark green background like a delicate cameo. His sister faced him; Agatha’s skin was white and her clothes were blue. One remarked her calm and quiet dignity. Mrs. Carson’s thin face was rather pinched, and her clothes were old-fashioned, but somehow one knew her important. Alan Carson’s red face harmonized with his rough, belted coat and knickerbockers. He was obviously a country gentleman; one knew that was all. Jasper and Ledward were in the shadow, and Kit thought the old fellow exotic; his was another type.
In the background, flower borders, smooth grass, pastures, and shady woods rolled down the valley to a blue and indistinct sweep of plain. Kit felt the group and the landscape harmonized. The people were the sort of people one reckoned to meet at an old-fashioned country house. All but Jasper were marked by a cultivated serenity, and the serenity had charm. Yet Kit knew they were not his sort, and he doubted if they were Jasper’s. On a summer holiday he liked to be at Netherhall, but his business was where men sweated by the furnaces and engines throbbed. Then perhaps it was significant that Jasper’s chair was outside the circle.
“You were not back for lunch, Kit,” said Mrs. Carson. “Were you fishing?”
“The water was low and I went across the moor to Swinside Pike. At the cairn I loafed and smoked. The heather was soft, the moor was red and the sky was very blue. In the distance the sea shone and I thought about the shipyard. On the whole, I was glad it was a long way off.”
“But you are a shipbuilder and must soon go back.”
Kit smiled. “You don’t indulge me much! At the cairn I tried to see myself ruling an estate like Netherhall, and the picture was attractive. After the shipyard, to get up when I wanted and go shooting would be something fresh.”
“A landlord’s main occupation is to meet his bills,” Alan Carson remarked. “The politicians sacrifice us to the manufacturers. They want cheap food and low wages. Our part’s to pay the taxes.”
“Food is not cheap,” said Jasper. “You’re monopolists, and although you ought to pay, you don’t pay all you ought. When iron goes up, smelting companies build new furnaces and increased production cuts the price. When corn goes up you can’t enlarge your farms; at all events, you don’t. You’d like to stop competition and take your profit.” He turned and gave Kit a smile. “You’re not the landlord type and your chance of getting an estate is not good. It looks as if you must stick to your proper business.”
“I must try, sir, but that’s another thing. Draftsmen are rather numerous and shipbuilding is slack. Suppose the company lets me down? Do you think you could get me a Canadian post?”
“It’s possible. Do you expect the company to let you down?”
“One doesn’t know when one’s luck may turn. Then sometimes I’m ambitious, and ambitious Carsons go to Canada.”
“I don’t think Kit bothers where he goes. So long as he starts, he’s satisfied,” Evelyn remarked.
“Oh, well,” said Kit, rather moodily, “if you’re resigned to go when you’re forced to go, it’s something.”
Mrs. Haigh gave him a keen glance, and began to talk, but Kit was quiet. The afternoon was hot and one got languid. Moreover, the post would soon arrive, and he was anxious.
By and by a servant carrying some letters crossed the grass, and Mrs. Carson gave Kit an envelope. He knew the company’s stamp, and when he pulled out the letter his hand shook. Then for a few moments he looked straight in front.
“Have the shipyard people called you back?” Ledward inquired, and picked up a slip of paper. “You dropped something; it looks like a check.”
“Thanks!” said Kit, and pushing the crumpled check into his pocket, turned to the others. “I’m not going back. The letter states the directors have no more use for me.”
Although his heart beat he was cool. He saw the blood come to Evelyn’s skin, and then she turned her head. Agatha’s glance was steady, and Kit knew her stanch. He thought Mrs. Haigh pondered; Mrs. Carson was frankly annoyed.
“You’re rather theatrical, Kit, but perhaps you’d like to tell us something more,” said Jasper, and beckoned Alan. “Let’s go for a smoke.”
They crossed the grass to another bench, and Kit leaned against a tree a few yards off. Alan awkwardly stuffed his pipe, and Kit saw he was disturbed. Jasper’s look was inscrutable, and he gave Kit a cigarette. Kit gave him the letter, and Jasper nodded.
“The secretary knows the rules. The company does not require your services and he encloses a check for a month’s pay! Well, the communication does not carry us very far.”
“There’s his check!” said Kit, and tore the form. “Perhaps I’m extravagant, but I don’t see myself using their money.”
“Sometimes to let yourself go is expensive,” Jasper remarked. “However, I imagined you were going to give us your confidence.”
Kit frowned and his pose got stiff. The lines of his athletic body were youthful, but he faced the others steadily and his look was stern. Alan was puzzled. He knew Kit’s cheerful carelessness, and had thought to see him embarrassed, but the lad was marked by something of Jasper’s calm. In fact, he looked like Jasper. Kit narrated his interview with Colvin and Meredith. He saw Jasper was interested, but that was all, and when he stopped the old fellow lighted a cigarette.
“Since it looks as if the company’s competitors copied the boiler, I rather think Colvin’s annoyance is logical. You declared you had nothing to do with it?”
“That is so, sir. I was some time at the yard, and I thought Colvin ought to know me.”
“A big company’s manager does not take much for granted. You were content with a plain denial? You did not try to indicate who was accountable?”
Kit hesitated. He had said nothing about Blake and did not mean to do so, but Jasper was very keen, and Kit saw he noted his hesitation.
“I don’t know, sir. Besides, it’s possible the plans were not copied.”
“Colvin does not seem to doubt,” said Jasper dryly. “You were rather generous not long since!”
“It looks as if I were rash; but I didn’t reckon on your imagining I used money I ought not have.”
“I imagined others might argue that a draftsman’s pay was small,” Jasper rejoined, and gave Alan an ironical smile. “You agree it’s possible?”
Alan’s face got red, for he knew Mrs. Carson would argue like that.
“I’d bet all I’ve got on Kit’s honesty!”
“Thank you,” said Kit, and gave him a grateful look.
“Well, I expect you have told us all you think it useful for us to know,” Jasper remarked with some dryness. “In the morning I start for a steelworks on the coast, and if you like I’ll look up Meredith. I might induce him to make a fresh inquiry.”
Kit pondered. He had declared his innocence, and since he had engaged to see Mabel out, he must be satisfied. A fresh inquiry might put Colvin on Blake’s track. He dared not risk it, but the strain was getting hard, and he was bothered by Jasper’s searching glance.
“If you want to see Meredith, I am willing; but if he agreed to take me back, I would not go.”
“Then I suppose you have a plan?”
“That is so,” said Kit, and turned to Alan. “You are kind and trust me, but others will not, and I mustn’t stay at Netherhall.”
“Netherhall’s your home, Kit. You must stay here until you get a post.”
Jasper looked up. “You’re stanch, Alan, but perhaps you’re rash. Then I doubt if Kit would get a post in England.”
“I shall not try,” said Kit. “As soon as I can find out about a boat, I’ll start for Montreal.”
“Your plan’s a good one,” Jasper agreed. “I expect my engineering friends in the Dominion would help——”
“You mustn’t ask them, sir. In the circumstances, all I want is for my relations to leave me alone.”
Jasper shrugged. “Very well. I like your pluck.”
“My pluck’s not all you think,” said Kit and, turning to Alan, smiled, a rather dreary smile. “I don’t dare face the others, and you might inform my aunt. Then I think Mrs. Haigh ought to know.”
He went to the house. By and by he must enlighten Evelyn, but so long as the others were about he could not talk to her, and he frankly shrank from the interview. Although he could take a knock, to hurt Evelyn was another thing.
Alan returned to the tea-table. When he arrived Evelyn and Agatha were gone and Ledward went off. As a rule Ledward used some tact. Alan was embarrassed, and he awkwardly narrated all he knew. In the meantime, Mrs. Haigh saw Jasper in the shady path; he went slowly and his brows were knit. Mrs. Haigh was keen, and she had some grounds to think the grim old fellow would support his nephew. For all that, she imagined Kit and the others doubted. Jasper Carson was rather baffling.
“I admit I am not very much surprised,” Mrs. Carson remarked when her husband stopped. “Since Kit was called to the office, he has been restless and moody, and I thought him anxious. Then, although he jokes about his poverty, his presents were extravagant. One speculated where he got the sum——”
“Do you imply my nephew took a bribe to cheat his employers?” Alan asked.
Mrs. Carson smiled, a rather scornful smile. She was jealous, and she had not wanted Kit at Netherhall.
“The company was cheated; but perhaps Kit has accounted for his extravagance?”
“He got better pay.”
“I imagine the company pays when the pay is earned, and Kit’s money melts.”
Mrs. Haigh looked up. She acknowledged Mrs. Carson’s importance, but she had pondered, and she saw her part.
“One must not condemn Kit on the evidence we have,” she said. “Besides, he declares he is innocent, and his word goes. I am persuaded the company is not just, and I feel Kit’s friends ought to support him.”
“If Kit will take my support, it’s his,” said Alan firmly.
Mrs. Carson colored and looked at Mrs. Haigh with annoyed surprise. Mrs. Haigh got up and smiled.
“Frankness has some advantages, and now you know my point of view. But Evelyn has gone, and I expect you and Mr. Carson have much to talk about.”
She went off, and Mrs. Carson mused.
“I wonder——” she said. “All the same, if Marion allows Evelyn to be entangled, she is a fool.”
Some time afterwards, Agatha came to Kit’s room. Kit stood by the window, and when he turned his head she saw his forehead was wrinkled and his mouth was tight. Agatha gave him a sympathetic glance.
“Of course, you did not sell the plans; but I suppose you cannot clear yourself?” she said.
“There is no use in trying. Colvin’s determined to punish somebody, and I admit it looks as if he had the proper man.”
“You have not yet told Evelyn. Are you afraid?”
Kit frowned. He knew Agatha did not want to hurt him, and as a rule she had an object for her remarks. Yet she did hurt. Now he was broken and done for, he acknowledged Evelyn was not for him, but he hated to think his disgrace would daunt her.
“Evelyn is ruled by Mrs. Haigh, and her line is plain,” he replied.
“Yours is plain, Kit.”
“My part’s the conventional part, and I must play up. All the same, I see another; to face the risks and take the plunge. However, there’s no use in talking. I must think for Evelyn——”
“Sometimes a rash plunge pays; but I doubt if it would pay with Evelyn. Evelyn is a charming girl, but she is not the sort to run much risk. You must give her up, Kit.”
“I’ll try,” said Kit. “It’s going to be hard.”
Agatha touched him gently. “For you to see you were selfish and your selfishness cost Evelyn much would be harder. You must take the knock. There is no other plan.”
She went off, and Kit brooded. He thought Agatha did not urge him to be generous because, in the circumstances, generosity, so to speak, was conventional. Agatha did not follow old-fashioned rules, and she was not daunted by a risk. She wanted him to give up Evelyn, but not because others might think he ought. Agatha thought he ought. Well, Kit agreed, and he tried for resignation.