E, Pnillips Oppenheim
BOOK 1
CHAPTER S
THE MARQUIS OF ARRAN MORE
They had met almost on the steps of his office, and only a few minutes after he had left Mr Bullsom Brooks was attracted first by a certain sense of familiarity with the trim, well-balanced figure, and immediately afterwards she raised her eyes to his in passing He wheeled sharply round, and held out his hand
"Miss Scott, isnt it? Do you know [have just left your uncie?”
She smiled a little absently She looked red, and her boots and skirt were splashed as though with much walking
“Indeed! I suppose you see a good deal of him just now while the elecHon 1s
Trang 2“T must make myself a perfect muasance to him,” Brooks admitted "You see the work is all new to me, and he has been through it many times before Are you just going home?"
She nodded
"T have been out since two o'clock,” she said
“And you are almost wet through, and quite tired out,” he said "Look here Come across to Melor's and have some tea with me, and [ will put you in a car
afterwards.”
She hesitated and he led the way across the Street, giving her ne opportunity to frame a refusal The hitle tea-place was warm and cosy He found a comfortable corner, and took her wet umbrella and cape away
"I believe," he said, sitting down opposite her, “that [have saved your life.” "Then [am not sure,” she answered, “that [feel grateful to you I ought to have warned you that Lam not in the least likely to be a cheerful companion [ have had a most depressing afternoon.”
"You have been to your tailor’s,” he suggested, "and your new gown is a failure-
Trang 3She laughed dubiously Then the tea was brought, and for a moment their conversation was interrupted He thought her very graceful as she bent forward and busied herself attending to fis wants Her affinity to Selina and Louise was undistinguishable It was true that she was pale, but it was the pallor of
refinement, the student's absence of colour rather than the pallor of ill-health "Mr Brooks,” she said, presently, “you are busy with this election, and you are brought constantly into touch with all classes of people Can you tell me why it is that itis so bard just now for poor people to get work? Is it true, what they tell
me, that many of the factories in Medchester are closed, and many of those that
are Open are only working half and three-quarter ame?”
"Lam afraid that itis quite truc, Miss Scott,” he answered "As for the first part of your question, if is very hard to answer There seem to be so many causes at work just now
"Bul itis the work of the pohocian surely to analyze these causes
"Tt should be,” he answered "Tell me what has brought this into your mind.” = vi
“Some of the girls in our class," she said, “are out of work, and those who have
Trang 4which have made re ashamed sick at heart ashamed to go home and think how we live, while they die And these giris they have known so much misery lam afraid of what may happen to them.”
"These girls are mostly boot and shoe machinists, are they not?" “Yes But even Mr Stuart says that he cannot find thern work.”
“itis only this afternoon that we have all been discussing this matter,” he said,
gravely "It is serious enough, God knows The manufacturer tells us that he is sufferme from American competition here and in the Colomes He tells us that the workpeople themselves are largely to blame, that their trades unions restrict them to such an extent that he is hopelessly handicapped from the start But there are other causes There is a terrible wave of depression all through the country The working classes have no money to spend Every industry is Hageing, and every industry seems threatened with competition from abroad Do you understand the principles of Free Trade at all?"
"Not in the least T wish Í did."
“Some day we must have a talk about it Henslow has made a very daring
suggestion to-day He has given us all plenty to think about We are all agreed = v/ &= eo &
Trang 5people have the nght to live, and they have the right to demand that legislation
should interfere on their behalf.”
She sighed
“itis a comfort to bear you talk like this,” she said "To me it seems almost
maddening to see so much suffering, so many people sulfering, not only physically, but being dragged down into a lower moral state by sheer force of circumstances and their surroundings, and all the time we educated people go on our way and live our lives, as though nothing were happening as though we had no responsibility whatever for the holocaust of misery at our doors So few people stop to think They won't understand It is so easy to put things behind
f
One
“Cọne," he said, cheerfully, "you and [, at least, are not amongst those And there is a certain duty which we owe to ourselves, too, as well as to others to
look upon the brighter side of things Let us talk about something less depressing."
"You shall tell me," she suggested, "who is going to win the election.” "Henslow!" be answered, promptly
Trang 6“To his agent, of course You may laugh, Miss Scott, but Ican assure you that my duties are no srnecure | never knew what work was before.”
“Too much work,” she said, "is better than too little After all, more people die
of the Latter than the former."
"Nature meant me," he said, "for a hazy man I have all the qualifications for a first-class idler And circumstances and the misfortune of my opimons are going to keep me going at express speed all my life [can see if coming Sometimes H makes me shudder.” " "You are too young,” she remarked, "to shrink from work [have no sympathy to offer you.” "| begin to fear, Miss Scott,” he said, "that you are not what is called sympathetic.”
she smiled and the smile broke into a laugh, as though some transient idea rather than his words had pleased her
“You should apply to my cousin Selina for that,” she said "Every one calls her most delightfully sympathetic.”
Trang 7Phat is either enmgmeatical or rude,” she answered "But, after all, you don't
know Selina.”
“Why not?" he asked "Ihave talked with her as long as with you and I feel that I know you quite well.”
"Í can't be responsible for your feelings,” she said, a little brusquely, "but fm quite sure that [don't know you well enough to be sitting here at tea with you
even.”
"T won't admit that,” he answered, "bul it was very nice of you to come "The fact of it was,” she admitted, "my headache and appetite were stronger than my sense of the conventions Now that the former are dissipated the latter are beginning to assert themselves And so "
she began to draw on her gloves Just then a carriage with pastilions and ladies with luggage came clattering up the street She watched ut with darkening face That is the sort of man I detest,” she said, motioning her head towards the window "You know whose carriage if is, don't you?"
He shook his head
Trang 8“itis the Marquis of Arranmore He has a place at Enton, | beheve, but he is only here for a few months in the year."
Brooks started and leaned eagerly forward
“Why do you hate him?" be asked "What has be done?"
“Didn't you hear how he treated the Mayor when he went out for a subscription to the Unemployed Fund?"
Brooks shook his head
"No! [have heard nothing.”
“Poor old Mr Wensome went out all that way purposely to see him He was kept waiting an hour, and then when he explained bis errand the Marquis
Trang 9to hear him talk, and he came away without a penny Yet bis property in this country alone is worth fifty thousand a year
“itis very surprising,” Brooks said, thoughtfully “The more surprising because
T know of a kind action which he once did."
"Sh! they're coming here!" she exclaimed "That is the Marquis.”
The omnibus had pulled up outside A tall footman threw open the door, and held an umbrella over the two ladies who had descended The Marquis and two other men followed They trooped into the little place, bringing with them a
strange flavour of another world The women wore wonderful furs, and one who
had ermine around her neck wore a great bunch of Neapolitan violets, whose perfume seemed to fill the room
“This 1s a delightfial idea,” the taller one said, turning towards her host "An eight-mile drive before tea sounded appallmg Where shall we sit, and may we
have muffins?"
“Phere is nothing about your youth, Lady Sybil, which Lenvy more than your digestion,” he answered, motioning them towards a table "To be able to eat muffins with plenty of butter would be unalloyed bliss Nevertheless, you shall
have them No one has ever called me selfish Let us have tea, and toast, and
Trang 10ordered "And will you send out some tea to my servants, please? It will save them from trying to obtain drinks from the hotel next door, and ensure us a safe
drive home.”
"And don't forget to send out for that pack of cards, Arranmore,” the elder lady
said, "We are going to play bridge driving hore with that wonderful litle electric lamp of yours
"Twill not forget,” he promised "We are to be partners, you know.”
He was on the point of sitting down when he saw Brooks at the next table He
held out his hand
"How do you do, Mr Brooks?" he said "lam glad to see that you are going to get your man in
"Thank you,” Brooks answered, rising and waiting for his companion, who was buttoning her gloves "I was afraid that your sympathies would be on the other side.”
“Dear me, no,” the Marquis answered "My enemies would tell you that I have neither sympathy nor politics, but I assure you that at heart lam a most devout Radical [have a vote, too, and you may count upon me
“Lam very glad to hear it," Grooks answered “Shall I put you down on the list
Trang 11The Marquis laughed
“YH come without,” be declared "I promuse Just remind me of the day.”
He glanced towards Mary Scott, and for a moment seemed about to include her in some forthcoming remark But whatever it might have been it was never made She kept her eyes averted, and though her self-possession was absolutely unruffled she hastened her departure “Lam not hurrying you, Mr Brooks?” she
asked “Not tn the least,” he assured her,
He raised his hat to the Marquis and his party, and the former nodded good- bumouredly There was silence until the two were in the street Then one of the men who had been looking after them dropped his eye-glass
"I tell you what,” he said to his vis-a-vis "There's some chance for us in
Medchester after all Ldon't believe Arranmore is popular amongst the ladies of his own neighbourhood.”
The Marquis laughed softly