CHAPTER XXII
MRS. HAIGH REVIEWS HER PLANS
Ledward went to the London office and for a time was at the bookkeeper’s desk. At the beginning the bookkeeper, who did not need much help, speculated about his employer’s object, but he soon admitted that Ledward had qualities he had not thought to find in a fashionable loafer. Jasper Carson, however, did not want a clerk. All he really wanted only he himself knew. In the meantime, he meant Harry to be useful.
Ledward was something of a Hedonist. He took the pleasures he could get without much risk and effort, and when he did make an effort he wanted a reward. He was not remarkably scrupulous, but he observed conventional rules and went soberly because he knew one must pay for indulgence.
For all that, he was interested and Jasper’s business transactions fired his imagination. Ledward frankly acknowledged the old fellow’s cleverness. Jasper was not as rich as his relations thought; for the most part, he used others’ money and all he earned was re-invested in fresh ventures. His finance, however, was sound and honest, and his shares were worth a considerable sum.
Ledward began to think himself fortunate. Engineering was not his line, but he had a talent for calculation. He knew his help was worth something and Jasper had indicated that his reward might be generous. He wanted money; for one thing he wanted to marry Evelyn.
Ledward was not romantic, and he knew Evelyn. Then he knew Mrs. Haigh, and Evelyn was her daughter. In a sense, she was not fastidious, and he knew her shallow; shallow was perhaps the proper word, because her cleverness, so to speak, was surface cleverness and selfish. For all that, she attracted him and he was moved by her beauty. When he could support a wife he meant to marry Evelyn, and her having engaged to marry Kit was not an obstacle. After a time, Jasper one morning came to the office.
“My relations have not heard you have joined me, and since you are going to stay, perhaps they ought to know,” he said. “On Wednesday my sister-in-law and her party will arrive. She and Alan go to Hampshire, and Mrs. Haigh visits with some friends in Surrey. They will be in town for a day or two and will dine with me on Wednesday evening. I thought we might announce our agreement. You perhaps are not engaged?”
Ledward said he had not an engagement, and his satisfaction was keen, for he had not known if Jasper wanted him to stay. Sometimes the old fellow indulged his freakish humor, and Ledward knew he studied him. Although he had said nothing about Evelyn, Ledward supposed she would arrive with Mrs. Haigh. Perhaps Jasper had wanted to see if he would inquire.
“Then we’ll fix it,” said Jasper, and presently went off.
The dinner was at a famous hotel, and Ledward had thought to get there early and meet Evelyn before his employer was about, but he was occupied by some intricate accounts. Jasper had given him the awkward job, which could not be left for the morning, and when Ledward reached the hotel the party waited in the big glass-roofed court.
Crossing the floor, he gave the others an interested glance. Mrs. Carson’s smile was friendly and Mrs. Haigh’s polite. Ledward thought she speculated about his being Jasper’s guest. Evelyn’s look was puzzled, and he doubted if Jasper had told his guests for whom they waited.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I felt I must finish the piece of work, and when I got away the traffic stopped my cab.”
Jasper nodded, and Alan Carson laughed.
“For you to be strenuously occupied is something fresh!”
“Harry’s business was rather important and I’m accountable for his being late. The work that delayed him was mine,” Jasper remarked. “However, I expect our table’s ready. Shall we go in?”
The head waiter led them across the polished floor, and when they sat down Jasper engaged the others in careless talk. Ledward said nothing; he felt when Jasper wanted him to speak he would get his cue. The old fellow, so to speak, was a good stage manager. In the meantime, Harry studied the group.
Jasper was urbanely inscrutable, but one got a sense of command. Alan tried to control his curiosity. Mrs. Carson’s clothes were out-of-date, but she and Jasper wore a stamp the others did not. Yet Mrs. Haigh and Evelyn were fashionable and harmonized with the expensively dressed crowd. By and by Mrs. Carson turned to Ledward.
“You are quiet, Harry, and we have not heard from you since you went back to town. Have you begun your studies for the Bar?”
“I have not,” said Ledward smiling, and noting Jasper’s glance, resumed: “I rather think I have got a better job!”
“Harry tries to flatter me,” Jasper remarked. “Not long since I admitted I got old, and now he has agreed to help. I’m glad to acknowledge his help is worth something.”
“Then, he’s at your office?” said Alan with keen surprise.
“That is so,” Jasper agreed, and called a waiter. “By and by I expect he will be my head man, and perhaps for you to wish the combine good luck would not be theatrical.”
Ledward thought Jasper theatrical. At all events he had given the announcement a dramatic touch, and Ledward saw he surveyed his guests with dry amusement.
Mrs. Carson’s approval was obvious, but it looked as if Alan were annoyed. Evelyn’s look got hard, and Mrs. Haigh’s face was slightly red. She had got a nasty knock, but she lifted her glass.
“We knew your helper’s cleverness, but it seems he has abilities we did not guess,” she said in a level voice. “I hope your experiment will go as you expect!”
“Thank you,” said Jasper. “One likes one’s friends’ approval. So far as the experiment has gone I have good grounds to be satisfied.”
“You have got the proper man,” said Mrs. Carson. “You would not have been satisfied with Kit.”
“It’s possible,” Jasper agreed, and Ledward fancied Mrs. Carson had unconsciously given him his cue. “I had meant the post for Kit. For one thing, he’s my relation and an engineer. I thought he might by and by carry on the forge, but I acknowledge I’m sometimes cheated.”
He began to talk about something else and Mrs. Haigh supported him, but the effort cost her much, and when the others joined she stopped and mused. The economy she was forced to practice jarred, and Netherdale was a dreary spot; she liked to dine at expensive hotels and mix with fashionable people. The music, the cultivated voices, and the women’s jewels excited her, and she had thought, for a day or two, to follow her bent and forget that she was poor.
Mrs. Haigh knew she had social talents, and had she the others’ chance, she could make her mark. Poverty was an awkward obstacle, and in order to mend her broken fortunes she had planned to use Evelyn’s beauty. Evelyn was young, and it looked as if she were romantic, but Mrs. Haigh knew she had inherited much from her. As a rule, she saw where her advantage was, and in puzzling circumstances her judgment was unconsciously, and perhaps instinctively, sound. For example, she had refused to let Kit go.
Now, however, Mrs. Haigh felt Kit had let her down. She doubted if Jasper were often cheated, but he had cheated her and calm was hard. All the same, Mrs. Haigh’s pluck was good, and she tried to be philosophical. Since the plan from which she had hoped for much would not work, she must make another. She was not yet beaten, and she thought Jasper did not know his antagonist.
After dinner, Jasper and Alan went off for a smoke. When Alan lighted a cigarette he frowned.
“You are a business man and perhaps I ought not to meddle; but do you think you can trust Harry?”
“Ledward is your relation.”
“He’s my wife’s relation,” Alan rejoined. “I don’t imply that he’d rob you; but, if he’s going to be useful, you must give him your confidence....”
“To some extent, that is so. Well?”
Alan hesitated. His habit was to hesitate and he said awkwardly: “Where you have keen competitors, your servants must be stanch. If I carried on a business like yours and engaged Harry, I’d use some reserve.”
“Oh, well,” said Jasper, “I reckon I can trust the fellow as far as I’m forced....” He stopped for a moment and lighted a cigarette, for he wanted to strike a note he had struck before. Alan was dull and would not think his doing so significant.
“Frankness is rather embarrassing,” he resumed. “You see. Kit is my relation, but I don’t feel I could reckon on his trustworthiness.”
“Kit’s straight; we don’t know all,” said Alan stubbornly. “In fact, I’m convinced he’s your proper helper and I thought you agreed.”
“You stated something like that before,” Jasper remarked, and added with a smile: “Well, it looks as if you, and perhaps others, bet on the wrong man.”
Alan frowned, and after a few minutes got up.
“My wife and Mrs. Haigh are going to the West End, and I believe Evelyn means to look up a friend. Perhaps I’d better inquire when they want to start.”
Soon after Jasper went to the smoking-room Ledward lighted a cigarette in the court. A band played quiet music and people walked about. Nobody came to Ledward’s corner and he was content to muse. He saw Jasper had meant the others to know he, so to speak, was the favorite, but the old fellow’s object was another thing. Anyhow, Jasper had undertaken to push him ahead, and since his word went, Ledward thought he was entitled to enjoy his satisfaction.
By and by he saw Evelyn on the other side of the court. He thought she looked for somebody, but he did not see the others and he crossed the floor. Evelyn went to a bench under a palm and Ledward sat down.
“I don’t think you congratulated me about my good luck,” he said.
Evelyn’s eyes sparkled. “For you to expect my congratulations was rather remarkable! Although you were Kit’s friend, you took his post.”
“I sympathize with your annoyance, but you’re not just. You see, I took nothing he wanted from Kit. All I got he, in a sense, had already refused. Although he’s Jasper’s nephew, he made it plain that he would sooner his uncle left him alone.”
“Perhaps that is so, Kit is independent,” Evelyn admitted.
“Very well! I’m not independent; for one thing I’m not rich and for me to refuse a useful occupation and first-class pay was ridiculous. Since Kit had gone off to Canada and joined his uncle’s competitors, I seized the opportunity he rather scornfully neglected.”
Evelyn’s color got high and her look was hard, but it was not because Ledward offended her. After all, Harry was logical, and Kit was not. He was not rich and he ought to have cultivated his relation, but he indulged his romantic pride. Then, when he began to make progress, he again gave up his post. In fact, Kit did not think for her. Ledward saw her pre-occupation and knew he had struck the proper note.
“We mustn’t dispute about it and I like your championing Kit,” he resumed.
“Ah,” said Evelyn moodily, “perhaps Kit needs a champion!”
Ledward let it go, and for a few minutes they talked about something else. Then Mrs. Haigh and Mrs. Carson arrived.
“We must start, and I rather think you ought to go with us,” Mrs. Haigh said to Evelyn.
“Clara expects me, and I can get a cab.”
Ledward thought Mrs. Haigh hesitated, and he saw his opportunity.
“If you like and Evelyn agrees, I will take her to Miss Chisholm’s.”
Mrs. Haigh thanked him and soon afterwards the party went off. Ledward imagined Evelyn had gone for her coat and he waited, but when she rejoined him she wore her evening clothes.
“Mother is rather old-fashioned,” she remarked. “Since you offered to see me out, I expect you have not an engagement?”
“I have not,” said Ledward. “When you are ready I’ll send for a cab.”
Evelyn smiled. “If you don’t mind, we might stay for a time. I like the music and I like to see the people.”
“Then, we’ll stay as long as you like. But what about Miss Chisholm? Will she not wait for you?”
“I’m not very keen about seeing Clara. All I wanted was not to be forced to go with mother. Perhaps you know the Lomaxes?”
Ledward said he did not, and Evelyn resumed: “Oh well, they’re sober, old-fashioned bores and I imagine Mrs. Carson will stay until midnight and talk about people they knew when she was young. Mother will play up; I rather think she’ll like it. But I’d soon be horribly tired.”
“Then, let’s wait,” said Ledward. “The band is pretty good, and you can study the fashions.”
Evelyn saw he wanted to wait, but she had reckoned on his agreeing and her annoyance was gone. After all, his apology was logical, and she was willing to use him.
“Perhaps I’m shabby, but I don’t mind very much,” she said. “Since I’m in town only for a day or two, I want to use every minute. I admit I like hotels and shops and fashionable crowds. All is interesting, and after Netherdale, one needs some stimulation. Then, you see, although Clara’s an art student, she’s not the modern sort. She paints seriously, and I don’t know much about pictures. Now I am in town I want to be excited and to feel I am alive.”
On the whole, Ledward thought she did not exaggerate. For a young, ambitious girl Netherdale was dull, and he knew Mrs. Haigh’s frugality. He sympathized with Evelyn and thought he could indulge her.
“I’ve got something like an inspiration,” he remarked. “Suppose you cut out your engagement with Miss Chisholm and we go to a theatre? I know a good musical comedy and perhaps the house is not full.”
“Oh,” said Evelyn, “it would be splendid! The drawback is, I’m afraid mother would not be pleased.”
Ledward had remarked Mrs. Haigh’s willingness for him to convey Evelyn to her friend’s studio. Moreover he thought a hint of intrigue attracted the girl.
“We might look up Miss Chisholm for a few minutes and perhaps take her with us,” he suggested carelessly. “Then, if our relations are some time at the Lomaxes and we don’t stay for the last act——”
“I ought to refuse,” said Evelyn, and then gave Ledward a smile. “Sometimes one does things one ought not. Let’s go!”
She went for her cloak. Ledward went to the telephone and ordered a cab.