The red sunset shone behind the trees and the light was going. A lamp burned in Mrs. Haigh’s drawing-room, and Kit, at the gate, smelt flowers and freshly mown grass. He had borne some strain, and now he must fight his hardest fight; he went slowly up the path.
In the east the sunset touched the moor’s high top; the lower slopes were dusky blue. Across the clipped hedge the river shone with faint reflections and brawled across the stones. In the hedge was a nook and an old stone bench where Evelyn and Kit had talked on languid summer afternoons.
Kit had been happy in the garden, and although he was young he had felt something of its tranquil charm. Tranquillity, however, was not for him, and the happy days were gone. Soon he must go down the path, and he would not come back.
A white figure crossed the shadowy terrace and waved from the steps. Kit knew Evelyn watched for him, and when he advanced his heart beat. Evelyn put her hand on his arm and steered him to the bench. Kit stopped by the clipped hedge and waited. All was quiet, and only the faint beam from the window marked the house.
“I know all, Kit,” said Evelyn. “Alan Carson told mother.”
Kit said nothing. Since Alan had enlightened Mrs. Haigh, he thought her allowing Evelyn to join him in the garden strange. He did not doubt she knew where her daughter went.
“The shipyard people are a shabby, unjust lot,” Evelyn resumed. “Their thinking you dishonest is ridiculous. I’m glad you have done with them.”
“I don’t know if it’s much comfort,” Kit remarked with some dryness, for he dared not indulge the thrill he got. “Since Colvin has turned me down there’s not much use in my trying for a post at another yard.”
“But might not the company’s competitors——?”
“No!” said Kit firmly. “If they employed me they’d expect to get some useful hints about the others’ tools and models. Besides, it would look as if I had cheated and had got my reward.”
“Oh, well, you’re rather noble, but I’d like Colvin to pay. He has made you suffer, and I hate the fellow. But you musn’t own you’re beaten. We’ll find a way out.”
Kit hesitated. As a rule Evelyn maintained a baffling reserve. Now she talked as if he were her acknowledged lover and he got a hint of passion. Her voice trembled, and although the light was going he saw her color was high. Well, she was a girl, and for her sake he must be firm.
“In England I’m done for. Perhaps I could get a Canadian engagement; I mean to see if it’s possible.”
“But if you go to Canada you may stay long.”
“I may stay for good,” said Kit drearily. “My relations think I’ve humiliated them, and I can’t take their help. In fact, but for Alan I doubt if they’re keen to help. Then Alan’s money is his wife’s, and Mrs. Carson will force him to leave me alone. She has, of course, some grounds——”
“When you’re romantic I like you better,” Evelyn remarked. “Not long ago you wanted to take the road and play the lute. Perhaps you didn’t know you moved me then, but I was moved. Now you’re horribly practical——”
Kit smiled, but his smile was forced. The fight was harder because he tried to observe rules that were not his. His habit was to trust his luck and follow joyous adventure. Yet all adventure was not joyous, and Evelyn had not known poverty.
“Sometimes one’s forced to ponder,” he rejoined. “I expect the minstrel’s road is rocky, and when your road is awkward you ought to go alone.”
“Ah, you’re not logical. One can help another, and perhaps a woman’s help is worth more than you think. Would you sooner start alone, Kit?”
“If I thought for myself, I’d carry you off. We’d steal away to Liverpool and sail by the first boat; but I’m not a fool. I don’t see you going third-class, and I’d hate to see you use a room in a crowded tenement house.”.
“Do you think poor food and a shabby room very important?” Evelyn asked, and came near Kit. “Do you think I know nothing about frugality?”
“The frugality your mother uses is not hard to bear,” said Kit, and indicated the beautiful garden. “There’s your proper background: spaciousness and calm.”
“I wonder——” said Evelyn quietly. “Perhaps you’re not selfish, but it looks as if you did not want me very much.”
Kit tried to be firm. He felt he took the proper course, and he had expected Evelyn to agree.
“You are all I want, but you mustn’t pay for my selfishness. I’m broken and done for. Nobody in England would employ me——”
“But you will get a post in Canada. You have pluck and talent, and your luck will turn. I’m not afraid. Dare you risk it, Kit?”
“One must get to Canada, and then look for a post. All I’ve got is thirty pounds.”
“I think I’ve got five pounds,” said Evelyn, and began to laugh, a strange, dreary laugh. “If it wasn’t tragic, it would be humorous! But you mustn’t steal off and leave me. I’m not hard and firm like Agatha; I hate to be alone. If I let you go, you must solemnly promise——”
Her hoarse, trembling voice jarred Kit, and he put his arm round her. “Stop!” he said. “Your mother will hear you. Try for calm!”
Evelyn leaned against him and her body went slack. Kit was flesh and blood, and he kissed her and knew himself conquered. For a few moments she held him fast and then gently pushed him back.
“I’m not afraid, my dear; but if I cannot go with you, I’ll wait until you send for me,” she said, and now her voice was level. “You will mend your fortunes, Kit, and perhaps it won’t be very long——”
“To begin with, I must talk to Mrs. Haigh. I doubt if she’ll consent.”
“Ah,” said Evelyn, “you don’t yet know Mother.”
Kit admitted he had not known Evelyn, and he was ashamed. She was splendidly loyal and although he had not thought her passionate she was passionate. Anyhow she had banished his scruples and given him confidence. For her sake he had tried to be cautious, but he really thought caution shabby. All the same, he did not expect Mrs. Haigh to sympathize.
Evelyn pushed back the long window, and since the ledge was high Kit gave her his hand. She gently urged him forward, and when he stopped and faced Mrs. Haigh she was at his side. Her color was rather high and her eyes sparkled, but although Kit was embarrassed he saw Evelyn was not. Mrs. Haigh looked up and her glance was not at all disturbed.
“Kit thought you ought to know I have promised to marry him as soon as he makes some progress in Canada,” Evelyn said. “Perhaps it looks as if we’re foolish, but Kit is clever and he’s going to be famous.”
“I expect I rather carried Evelyn away,” said Kit. “In the circumstances, I know I ought not——”
Evelyn smiled. “Kit is very noble; he wants you to believe he persuaded me. Sometimes he thinks he’s romantic, but he’s really conventional. If he did persuade me, it was because I was willing.”
For a moment or two Mrs. Haigh pondered.
“Which persuaded the other is not important. You are very rash,” she said.
“We are young,” Kit rejoined. “I have got an awkward knock, but I have time to recover, and people soon forget. When you’re young you look ahead, and since Evelyn trusts me I know I can make good.”
“I don’t think your habit is to look far in front. Evelyn’s engagement must not stand, but if you are fortunate in Canada I may agree to her marrying you, when you can support a wife. That is all, Kit, and I doubt if my promising as much is wise.”
Kit had reckoned on Mrs. Haigh’s antagonism, but she was kinder than he thought, and he gave her a grateful look.
“Thank you. Unless I do make progress I will not claim Evelyn; but I’ll make all the effort flesh and blood can to push ahead.”
Mrs. Haigh studied him. Kit was a handsome, athletic young fellow and his attracting Evelyn was not strange. His pose was firm. One got a sense of confidence and resolution, and Mrs. Haigh felt he stood for hopeful, conquering youth. Yet it was not his charm that moved her. Mrs. Haigh was not moved by things like that.
“Something must be stipulated,” she said. “I do not acknowledge an engagement, and you must not write to Evelyn as if you were her lover. I think a letter in three or four months must be all. Do you agree?”
“I dare not refuse. All the same, the stipulation’s hard. Are you satisfied my word goes?”
Mrs. Haigh smiled. “Had I doubted your sincerity, I would have broken the engagement for good, but I did not doubt, and I know the ship-building company was not just. Well, since I trust you, you must play up.”
“I’ll try. After all, you go farther than I hoped,” said Kit.
Kit stayed for dinner. At Netherhall he felt he was in disgrace, and where his relations were not frankly hostile they gave him a rather scornful pity. Mrs. Haigh, however, was kind, and her cheerful talk banished the strain he had for some time borne. She implied that he suffered unjustly and she expected him soon to vindicate himself. Kit did not remark her cleverness; he was flattered and grateful.
For all that, he was disturbed. Mrs. Haigh was frugal, but her frugality was not conspicuous. Kit noted the good glass and china and the flowers in the tall silver stands. The lamps had rose-colored shades; the soft light fell where one wanted light, and where one did not there was restful gloom. The long window was open, and one smelt flowers. In fact, Kit thought the small dining-room a charming room.
The important thing was, Evelyn harmonized with all he saw. Cultivated tranquillity was her proper background, and if she married him she must go without refinements she valued. It would be long before he could give her a house like Mrs. Haigh’s. When he thought about it, Mrs. Haigh’s indulging him was rather remarkable, but he must not exaggerate. After all, he had some useful abilities, and although the fight might be long, he would win.
Evelyn went with him to the gate, and for a time they talked hopefully. When Kit got to Netherhall nobody but Agatha was about. She occupied a corner in the hall, and he believed she waited for him.
“You were at Mrs. Haigh’s?” she said.
“That is so,” Kit agreed in an apologetic voice. “When I started I meant to say good-bye to Evelyn, but when I saw her my resolution melted. Perhaps I was selfish, for Evelyn was splendid.”
“You imply she means to stick to you?”
“She’s stanch as steel,” said Kit, and his eyes sparkled. “Sometimes I imagine you don’t like Evelyn; but you don’t know her. She doesn’t hesitate and think for herself. Her pluck’s fine.”
Agatha’s glance was cool and searching.
“And Mrs. Haigh? Does she approve?”
“At all events, she’s resigned. Evelyn, however, does not engage to marry me; for Mrs. Haigh to allow it would be remarkable. I get my chance to make good, and if I do so, I may claim my reward. In the meantime that is all, but I feel it’s much. Anyhow, your satisfaction isn’t very marked.”
Agatha got up and put her arm round his neck.
“You are all I’ve got, Kit, and I see obstacles,” she said gently. “Yet you’re not soon daunted, and Evelyn is fine. Well, now you have an object, you must fight hard, and I’ll hope for your success.”
Kit kissed her, and she went off. He saw she was not altogether satisfied, but he admitted she had not much grounds for satisfaction, and she was kind. He smoked a cigarette and went to bed.
In the morning he carried a newspaper to a bench in front of the house and began to study the steamship advertisements. Soon afterward Jasper Carson came along the terrace.
“My sister-in-law is across at Mrs. Haigh’s,” he said. “I understand Evelyn means to stick to you.”
“That is so, sir,” Kit agreed.
Jasper gave him a queer look and his mouth went crooked, as if he were amused.
“Then Miss Haigh is nobler than I thought! I suppose she has not persuaded you to stay in England?”
“I am looking up the Montreal steamers.”
“Very well. When I get back from the coast we must make some plans,” said Jasper, and went down the steps.
Kit frowned. The old fellow’s sneer annoyed him, and he resolved they would not talk about his plans. In fact, when Jasper arrived Kit imagined he would be on board ship. He wanted nothing from his relations. Mrs. Carson thought him a wastrel, and it looked as if Jasper thought him a romantic fool.
Jasper joined Agatha in the garden and inquired: “What do you think about your brother’s experiment?”
“On the whole, I don’t approve,” said Agatha in a quiet voice.
“Your habit’s not to exaggerate,” Jasper remarked. “I see you’re disturbed. For whose sake are you disturbed?”
“For Kit’s,” Agatha replied.
Jasper nodded. “You’re not a fool; my sister-in-law is a jealous fool, and we know Alan. Well, Kit’s my nephew, and I’d be sorry to see him start wrong.”
“I imagined something like that, but I doubt if Kit does,” said Agatha calmly. “Have you some grounds to think his marrying Evelyn Haigh would be a wrong start?”
“She’s her mother’s daughter.”
“Mrs. Haigh has some useful qualities.”
“She has all the shabby, utilitarian virtues,” Jasper agreed.
“Are some virtues shabby?”
“Don’t you know?” said Jasper with a dry smile. “However, we mustn’t philosophize. If Kit does marry Evelyn, I’d sooner she were like her father; Haigh was a humorous and rather generous wastrel. All the same, Kit is not yet married, and to get rich in Canada is harder than he thinks.”
“But you could help!”
“It’s possible. If my helping implies Miss Haigh’s rewarding Kit, I’m not very keen. In fact, there’s the trouble. Now perhaps you can account for my annoyance. I am annoyed, particularly since I want to be at Netherhall, but I must start for the coast.”
“Kit is obstinately independent,” said Agatha, and seeing Jasper pull out his watch, let him go.