Shattering Glass. John Russell Fearn

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СКАЧАТЬ a long time shaking off his frosty garments this year. “How about the servants?” she inquired presently. “Did Pearson fix it up?”

      “As well as he could under present conditions. All we have is a cook housekeeper and Pearson himself. The best we can do until the agency sends us some maids. We’ll get by. I have an idea, somehow, that you’re the managing sort.”

      Moira did not reply. She was gazing beyond the grounds at the dimly rising mists of evening. Perry studied her for a moment, then went over to her. To his surprise there were tears in her eyes as she turned to face him.

      “Crying?” he asked, amazed. “What in the world is there to cry about? Something I’ve said—or done?”

      “Of course not, Perry.” She made an effort to smile and rested a hand on his arm. “You’re the sweetest, gentlest man I have ever met. I was just thinking how awful it would be if I were to lose all this. There’s such peace and contentment here. I can feel it. It’s like a backwater, secure from the storm.”

      “What storm?” he demanded, bewildered; then his voice firmed, suddenly. “Moira, isn’t it about time you put pretence aside and admit you fear something? I haven’t forgotten how you behaved in the cafe that first night.”

      She was silent, but her tears ebbed slowly. Perry waited, then shrugged.

      “All right, you’re entitled to have your secrets—but I think I should tell you that’s one reason why I decided to marry you so quickly.”

      Moira looked at him sharply, puzzled. “Why? How do you mean?”

      “I like danger,” he explained, grinning. “To marry an ordinary humdrum woman would be too tame. That’s why I never have married. With you there’s none of that. There’s some mystery about you, and I like it. You’re afraid of somebody—and I think it’s a man in a soft hat—but I like that, too. Because of our marriage I’ll be able to share whatever danger may threaten you, and enjoy it; and I’ll be able to protect you. Money and influence can do a lot.”

      CHAPTER FIVE

      WEDDING DAY

      TO Moira the few intervening days before her marriage passed so swiftly that she hardly noticed them. So the morning of the wedding inevitably came. The organist from Brinhampton village church played the wedding march on the grand piano, Betty Mills and her husband supplied the flowers. After the ceremony came the signing of the register—and the business was all over.

      On the great desk in the center of the room were laid the offerings of countless friends from near and far. Helen surveyed them with her dark head on one side.

      “I’ve looked through most of them—glanced, that is,” she said “It’s a funny thing but everything seems to be from somebody you know, Perry. As for you, Moira, nobody seems to care whether you’ve married or not. I don’t see a single thing addressed to you personally.”

      “As if it mattered,” Perry retorted. “Everything here is intended for both of us, only you naturally would try to read something else into it. It’s just that Moira has very few friends who know her movements.”

      “Oh, I see.”

      Helen exchanged a glance with Betty Mills. Will Ransome looked at Dick Mills. Moira said nothing. She was studying the various gifts, among which were two heavy cut-glass decanters. Round the neck of one was a card that read: To Perry: Better to have loved and lost. Helen.

      “Thanks for the thought Hel,” Perry grinned, as Moira pointed it out to him. “Do you expect me to drink myself to death?”

      “Why not?” Helen suggested. “It’s about the best thing I can wish for you since I can’t have you myself”.

      “I have the idea,” said Betty Mills, “that Helen doesn’t much care for this marriage. It’s stroked her the wrong way.”

      “That I am afraid, is purely her own affair,” Perry replied indifferently. “And I don’t think we need attach all that importance to what she says. We all know Hel: too outspoken for her own good, sometimes. Anyway,” he added, “let’s have the wedding feast and then, my sweet, we’ve got to catch a train and boat for France.”

      Moira nodded and accompanied him from the library. As she sat down at the dining table, Perry noticed her expression was curiously waxen and she scarcely noticed him; her thoughts were far away. She hardly heard the toast that Will Ransome proposed to the happy couple. She only seemed to become conscious of her surroundings when Perry placed a glass of cham­pagne before her.

      “To ourselves, sweetheart,” he murmured, bending over her. “Didn’t you hear what Will said?”

      Moira hesitated, then suddenly jumped up and put a hand to her forehead.

      “No, I—I didn’t hear,” she said falteringly. “And—and I won’t drink either!” She glanced around at the startled assembly. “I hate champagne! I hate this stuff on the table! I hate all of you staring at me—!”

      She wheeled and without another word, strode from the dining room.

      Will Ransome sat down slowly and stared like a man who has seen a miracle.

      “Well, I’ll be thrice darned!” he burst out. “Say, what did we do?”

      Perry rushed upstairs to the bedroom the girl had been using. He tapped lightly on the door and entered. Moira was standing by the window hastily drying her eyes with a handkerchief.

      “Dearest, what on earth’s the matter? What’s gone wrong?”

      “I—I know my behavior was unforgivable,” Moira whispered. “It’s my nerves, I suppose. I’ve been under a big strain....”

      “Strain? But good heavens, this should be the happiest morning of your life!” He caught her shoulders and forced her to look at him. “Moira, what is it? Downstairs you behaved just as you did in that cafe—abruptly, as though driven by a sort of impulse.”

      “I often behave like that,” she said quietly. “All I ask is that you’ll forgive me.... Look, Perry, would you care very much if we didn’t go to France? I’m not at all keen on it, really.”

      “But it’s to be our honeymoon! Hang it all, Moira, you’re simply tearing things up by the roots—”

      “It doesn’t have to be the south of France for our honeymoon.”

      “We—ll, no, I suppose not, but everything’s fixed up.” Perry gave her a worried look then sighed. “All right, call it off. I’ll reserve a suite at Claridge’s instead.”

      “I’d rather we had our honeymoon here, dearest. I just don’t want to go away! Can’t I impress that point on you? I love this place; it’s so secure and peaceful.”

      He smiled and patted her hand gently.

      “All right, sweetheart, if that’s the way you want it. I knew I was marrying a girl with strange tastes, so I suppose it serves me right. Here we are—and we’ll stay. Now come downstairs again and let the folk see you. They just can’t understand your behavior.”

      Perry opened СКАЧАТЬ