Poor Adelaide's silence was fully explained later--practically explained when in June, returning to London, I was honoured by this admirable woman with an early visit.As soon as she arrived Iguessed everything, and as soon as she told me that darling Ruth had been in her house nearly a month I had my question ready.
"What in the name of maidenly modesty is she staying in England for?""Because she loves me so!" cried Adelaide gaily.But she hadn't come to see me only to tell me Miss Anvoy loved her: that was quite sufficiently established, and what was much more to the point was that Mr.Gravener had now raised an objection to it.He had protested at least against her being at Wimbledon, where in the innocence of his heart he had originally brought her himself; he called on her to put an end to their engagement in the only proper, the only happy manner.
"And why in the world doesn't she do do?" I asked.
Adelaide had a pause."She says you know."Then on my also hesitating she added: "A condition he makes.""The Coxon Fund?" I panted.
"He has mentioned to her his having told you about it.""Ah but so little! Do you mean she has accepted the trust?""In the most splendid spirit--as a duty about which there can be no two opinions." To which my friend added: "Of course she's thinking of Mr.Saltram."I gave a quick cry at this, which, in its violence, made my visitor turn pale."How very awful!""Awful?"
"Why, to have anything to do with such an idea one's self.""I'm sure YOU needn't!" and Mrs.Mulville tossed her head.
"He isn't good enough!" I went on; to which she opposed a sound almost as contentious as my own had been.This made me, with genuine immediate horror, exclaim: "You haven't influenced her, Ihope!" and my emphasis brought back the blood with a rush to poor Adelaide's face.She declared while she blushed--for I had frightened her again--that she had never influenced anybody and that the girl had only seen and heard and judged for herself.HEhad influenced her, if I would, as he did every one who had a soul:
that word, as we knew, even expressed feebly the power of the things he said to haunt the mind.How could she, Adelaide, help it if Miss Anvoy's mind was haunted? I demanded with a groan what right a pretty girl engaged to a rising M.P.had to HAVE a mind;but the only explanation my bewildered friend could give me was that she was so clever.She regarded Mr.Saltram naturally as a tremendous force for good.She was intelligent enough to understand him and generous enough to admire.
"She's many things enough, but is she, among them, rich enough?" Idemanded."Rich enough, I mean, to sacrifice such a lot of good money?""That's for herself to judge.Besides, it's not her own money; she doesn't in the least consider it so.""And Gravener does, if not HIS own; and that's the whole difficulty?""The difficulty that brought her back, yes: she had absolutely to see her poor aunt's solicitor.It's clear that by Lady Coxon's will she may have the money, but it's still clearer to her conscience that the original condition, definite, intensely implied on her uncle's part, is attached to the use of it.She can only take one view of it.It's for the Endowment or it's for nothing.""The Endowment," I permitted myself to observe, "is a conception superficially sublime, but fundamentally ridiculous.""Are you repeating Mr.Gravener's words?" Adelaide asked.
"Possibly, though I've not seen him for months.It's simply the way it strikes me too.It's an old wife's tale.Gravener made some reference to the legal aspect, but such an absurdly loose arrangement has NO legal aspect.""Ruth doesn't insist on that," said Mrs.Mulville; "and it's, for her, exactly this technical weakness that constitutes the force of the moral obligation.""Are you repeating her words?" I enquired.I forget what else Adelaide said, but she said she was magnificent.I thought of George Gravener confronted with such magnificence as that, and Iasked what could have made two such persons ever suppose they understood each other.Mrs.Mulville assured me the girl loved him as such a woman could love and that she suffered as such a woman could suffer.Nevertheless she wanted to see ME.At this I sprang up with a groan."Oh I'm so sorry!--when?" Small though her sense of humour, I think Adelaide laughed at my sequence.We discussed the day, the nearest it would be convenient I should come out; but before she went I asked my visitor how long she had been acquainted with these prodigies.
"For several weeks, but I was pledged to secrecy.""And that's why you didn't write?"
"I couldn't very well tell you she was with me without telling you that no time had even yet been fixed for her marriage.And Icouldn't very well tell you as much as that without telling you what I knew of the reason of it.It was not till a day or two ago," Mrs.Mulville went on, "that she asked me to ask you if you wouldn't come and see her.Then at last she spoke of your knowing about the idea of the Endowment."I turned this over."Why on earth does she want to see me?""To talk with you, naturally, about Mr.Saltram.""As a subject for the prize?" This was hugely obvious, and Ipresently returned: "I think I'll sail to-morrow for Australia.""Well then--sail!" said Mrs.Mulville, getting up.
But I frivolously, continued."On Thursday at five, we said?" The appointment was made definite and I enquired how, all this time, the unconscious candidate had carried himself.
"In perfection, really, by the happiest of chances: he has positively been a dear.And then, as to what we revere him for, in the most wonderful form.His very highest--pure celestial light.
You won't do him an ill turn?" Adelaide pleaded at the door.
"What danger can equal for him the danger to which he's exposed from himself?" I asked."Look out sharp, if he has lately been too prim.He'll presently take a day off, treat us to some exhibition that will make an Endowment a scandal.""A scandal?" Mrs.Mulville dolorously echoed.
"Is Miss Anvoy prepared for that?"