The Avenger by E. Phillips Oppenheim
CHAPTER VII
THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER
After all, the garden party was not so bad. The weather was perfect, andthe grounds of Shirley House were large enough to find amusement for allthe guests. Wrayson, who had made great friends with the Colonel'syounger daughter, enjoyed himself immensely. After a particularlystrenuous set of tennis, she led him through the wide-open French windowsinto a small morning-room.
"We can rest for a few minutes in here," she remarked. "You can considerit a special mark of favour, for this is my own den."
"You are spoiling me," Wrayson declared, laughing. "May I see thosephotographs?"
"If you like," she answered, "only you mustn't be too critical, for I'monly a beginner, you know. Here's a bookful of them you can look through,while I go and start the next set."
She placed a volume in his hand and swung out of the room, tall, fresh,and graceful. Wrayson watched her admiringly. In her perfect naturalnessand unaffected good-humour, she reminded him a good deal of her father,but curiously enough there was some other likeness which appealed to himeven more powerfully, and yet which he was unable to identify. It puzzledhim so that for a moment or two after her departure he sat watching thedoor through which she had disappeared, with a slight frown upon hisforehead. She was undoubtedly charming, and yet something in connectionwith her seemed to impress him with an impending sense of trouble.Everything about her person and manners was frank and girlish, and yetshe was certainly recalling to his mind things that he had beenstruggling all the afternoon to forget. Already he began to feel theclouds of nervousness and depression stealing down upon him. He struckthe table with his clenched fist. He would have none of it. Outside wasthe delicious sunshine, through the open window stole in the perfume ofthe roses which covered the wall, and mignonette from the trim borders,and stocks from the bed fringing the lawn. The murmur of pleasantconversation was incessant and musical. For a time Wrayson had escaped.He swore to himself that he would go back no more into bondage; that hewould dwell no more upon the horrors through which he had lived. He wouldtake hold of the pleasant things of life with both hands, and grip themtightly. A man should be master of his thoughts, not the slave ofunwilling memories. He would choose for himself whither they should leadhim; he would fight with all his nerve and will against the unholyfascination of those few thrilling hours. He looked impatiently towardsthe door, and longed for the return of his late companion that he mightcontinue his half-laughing flirtation. Then he remembered the album stillupon his knee, and opened it quickly. He had dabbled a little inphotography; he would find something here to keep his thoughts from theforbidden place. And he did indeed find something--something which sethis heart thumping, and drew all the colour, which the sun and vigorousexercise had brought, from his cheeks; something at which he stared withwide-open eyes, which he held before him with trembling, nervelessfingers. The picture of a woman! The picture of her!
It had lain loose in the book, with its back towards him. Only chancemade him turn it over. As he looked he understood. There was thelikeness, such likeness as there may be between a beautiful woman, alittle sad, a little scornful, with the faint lines of mockery about hercurving lips, the world-weary light in her distant eyes, and the fresh,ingenuous girl with whom he had been bandying pleasantries during thelast few hours. He had felt it unknowingly. He realized it now, and thethought of what it might mean made him catch at his breath like adrowning man. Then she came in.
He heard her gay laughter outside, a backward word flung to one of thetennis players, as she stepped in through the window, her cheeks stillflushed, and her eyes aglow.
"We really ought to watch this set," she declared. "That is, if you arenot too much absorbed in my handiwork. What have you got there?"
He held it out to her with a valiant attempt at unconcern.
"Do you mind telling me who this is?" he asked.
She glanced at it carelessly enough, but at once her whole expressionchanged. The smile left her lips, her eyes filled with trouble.
"Where did you find it?" she asked, in a low tone.
"In the album," he answered. "It was loose between the pages."
She took it gently from his fingers, and crossing the room locked itin her desk.
"I had no idea that it was here," she said. "It is a picture of myeldest sister, or rather my step-sister."
The change in her manner was so apparent that, under ordinarycircumstances, Wrayson would not have dreamed of pursuing the subject.But the conventions of life seemed to him small things just then.
"Your step-sister!" he exclaimed. "I had no idea--shall I meet her thisafternoon?"
"No!" she answered, gravely. "What do you say--shall we go out now?"
She took up her racket, but he lingered.
"Please don't think me hopelessly inquisitive, Miss Fitzmaurice," hesaid, "but I have really a reason for being very interested in theoriginal of that picture. I should like to meet your step-sister."
"You will never do so here, I am afraid," she answered. "My father andshe disagreed years ago. He does not allow us to see or hear from her. Wemay not even mention her name."
"Your father," Wrayson remarked thoughtfully, "is not a stern parent byany means."
"I should think not," she answered, smiling. "Dear old dad! I have neverheard him say an unkind word to any one in my life."
"And yet--" Wrayson began, hesitatingly.
"Do you mind if we don't talk any more about it?" she interrupted simply."I think you can understand that it is not a very pleasant subject. Doyou feel like another set, or would you rather do something else?"
"Tennis, by all means, if you are rested," he answered. "We will find ourold opponents and challenge them again."
Wrayson made a supreme effort, and his spirits for the rest of theafternoon were almost boisterous. Yet all the time the nightmare wasthere behind. It crept out whenever he caught sight of his host movingabout amongst his guests, beaming and kindly. His daughter! The Colonel'sdaughter! What was he to do? The problem haunted him continually. All thetime he had to be pushing it back.
The guests began to depart at last. By seven o'clock the last carriagewas rolling down the avenue. The Colonel, with a huge smile of relief,and a large cigar, came and took Wrayson's arm.
"Good man!" he exclaimed. "You've worked like a Trojan. We'll have onewhisky and soda, eh? and then I'll show you your room. Say when!"
"I've enjoyed myself immensely," Wrayson declared. "Miss Edith has beenvery kind to me."
"I'm glad you've made friends with her," the Colonel said. "She's aharum-scarum lot, I'm afraid, and a sad chatterbox, but she's the rightsort of a person for a man with nerves like you! You're looking a bitwhite still, I see!"
Wrayson would have spoken then, but his tongue seemed to cling to theroof of his mouth. He had been asked to bring his clothes and dine, andin the minutes' solitude while he changed, he made a resolute effort toface this new problem. There was not the slightest doubt in his mind thatthe girl whom he had surprised in his rooms, ransacking his desk, andwhom subsequently he had assisted to escape from the Mansions, wasidentical with the original of this portrait. She was the Colonel'sdaughter. With a flash of horror, he remembered that it had been theColonel himself who had pointed out the possibility of a woman's handshaving drawn that silken cord together! Half dressed he sat down in achair and buried his face in his hands.
The dinner gong disturbed him. He sprang up, tied his tie with tremblingfingers, and hastily completed his toilet. Once more, with a greateffort, and an almost reckless resort to his host's champagne, hetriumphed over the demons of memory which racked his brain. At dinner hisgayety was almost feverish. Edith Fitzmaurice, who was his neighbour,found him a delightful companion. Only the Colonel glanced towards himnow and then anxiously. He recognized the signs of high-pressure, and thelight in Wrayson's eyes puzzled him.
There were no other men dining, and in course of time the two were leftalone. The Colonel passed the cigars and
"If you don't care about any more wine," he said, "we might have a smokein the garden."
Wrayson rose at once.
"I should like it," he said abruptly. "I don't know how it is, but I seemhalf-stifled to-day."
They passed out into the soft, cool night. A nightingale was singingsomewhere in the elm trees which bordered the garden. The air was sweetwith the perfume of early summer flowers. Wrayson drew a long, deepbreath of content.
"Let us sit down, Colonel," he said; "I have something to tell you."
The Colonel led the way to a rustic seat. A few stars were out, but nomoon. In the dusky twilight, the shrubs and trees beyond stood out withblack and almost startling distinctness against the clear sky.
"You remember the girl--I told you about, whom I found in my flat, andafterwards?" Wrayson asked hoarsely.
The Colonel nodded.
"Certainly! What about her? To tell you the truth, I am afraid I--"
Wrayson stopped him with a quick, fierce exclamation.
"Don't, Colonel!" he said. "Wait until you have heard what I have to say.I have seen her picture--to-day."
The Colonel removed his cigar from his mouth.
"Her picture!" he exclaimed. "To-day! Where? My dear fellow, this is veryinteresting! You know my opinion as to that young--"
Again Wrayson stopped him, this time with an oath.
"In your house, Colonel," he said. "Your daughter showed it to me--inan album!"
The Colonel sat like a man turned to stone. The hand which held his cigarshook so that the ash fell upon his waistcoat.
"Go on!" he faltered.
"I asked who it was. I was told that it was your daughter! Miss Edith'sstep-sister! Forgive me, Colonel! I had to tell you!"
The Colonel seemed to have shrunk in his place. The cigar slipped fromhis fingers and fell unheeded on to the grass. His mouth trembled andtwitched pitifully.
"My--my daughter Louise!" he faltered. "Wrayson, you are not serious!"
"It is God's truth," Wrayson answered. "I would stake my soul upon itthat the girl--I told you about--was the original of that picture! When Ilook at your daughter Edith I can see the likeness."
The Colonel's head was buried in his hands. His exclamation soundedlike a sob.
"My God!" he murmured.
Then there was silence. Only the nightingale went on with his song.