Peregrine's Progress Page 9

  CHAPTER VII

  WHITE MAGIC

  Reaching the other room I found the squint-eyed maid had set forth oursupper--a goodly joint of cold beef flanked by a loaf, cheese and ajug of ale. A mere glance at this simple fare reminded me howextraordinary was my hunger which I was greatly tempted to satisfythen and there, but checked the impulse resolutely and sat down towait for Anthony. Nevertheless my gaze must needs wander from crustyloaf to mellow cheese and thence to juicy beef so that I was greatlytempted to begin there and then but schooled my appetite to patience.At last in strode Anthony who, seizing my hand, shook it heartily.

  "Peregrine," said he, staring very hard at the beef, "what perfectlyglorious hair--"

  "Hair?" said I.

  "So silky, Peregrine, and--ripply."

  "Ah!" said I, glancing from the beef to his ecstatic face. "Youmean--"

  "To be sure I do!" said he, and shook my hand again.

  "And her eyes--you must have observed her eyes?"

  "Somewhat red and swollen--"

  "Tush!" said he, and catching my hand again, led me to a small anddingy mirror against the wall.

  "An ill-looking scoundrel!" he exclaimed, pointing to his reflection."A miserable wretch, a friendless dog, and Peregrine, I tell you shestooped to trust this scoundrel, to touch this wretch's hand, to speakgentle words to this homeless dog. She's a saint, begad--a positiveangel and--oh, stab my vitals--she's hungry and I forgot it--"

  "So am I, Anthony--so are you--and here's supper--"

  "Where?" he enquired, still lost in contemplation of his villainousreflection.

  "On the table, of course."

  "Dammit, what a repulsive object I look!" he groaned. "And yet, whatmatter? Yes--it's just as well she should have seen me at my veryworst! And yet--these cursed bristles! I tell you she's an angel,Perry!"

  "And hungry, Anthony."

  "So she is, sweet soul!" he exclaimed and was gone as he spoke, toreappear in another moment ushering in our fair guest, whose merepresence and dainty grace seemed to make the dingy chamber more sweetand homelike.

  "Madam," said I, taking up the carving-knife and bowing as she seatedherself between us, "I fear we can offer you but the very simplest offare, but if you are hungry--"

  "Ravenous, sir!" said she, with a little upward motion of the eyesthat I thought very engaging. "I have eaten nothing since I ran awaythis morning--"

  "And this beef cuts very well!" said I. And so we began to eatforthwith, speaking but seldom (and Anthony not at all) until ourhunger was somewhat appeased.

  More than once I had noticed her bright eyes flit from the elegance ofmy garments to the ruin of Anthony's; at last she spoke:

  "And you are--two friends, I understand?" she questioned.

  "Yes, madam," answered Anthony, "of about six hours standing. Myfriend Mr. Vereker found me upon the road and took pity on mydestitution. It is to Peregrine we are indebted for the food we eat--"

  "And to Anthony for your safety. As to friendship," I pursued, "it isa gift of heaven, greater than time and born in a moment--and this Ihope may endure as long as time, because Anthony is the only friend Ipossess."

  Now at this she leaned back and glanced at us beneath wrinkled browsfor a moment, then suddenly and with sweet impulse she reached out ahand to each of us.

  "Then let us all be friends," said she, "for I am lonely too!"

  So for a long moment we sat thus, hand in hand, and neither speaking."And now," said she at last, "since we are friends, I want you to knowhow I came to run such risks. I am Barbara Knollys, and my fatherwishes me to marry a man I hate, so I determined to run away to myaunt Aspasia, because, though I fear my father, my father fears auntAspasia more. Captain Danby offered to escort me to aunt's house atSevenoaks, but once I was in his chaise I grew afraid of him andinstead of following the high road he drove by desolate lanes and--oh,he was hateful and so at last we came here. And now you say thatCaptain Danby has gone?" she enquired of Anthony.

  "Quite!" said he a little grimly. "He is, I believe, snug in bed."

  "I trust, sir, you--didn't--hurt him--more than was--necessary?"

  "Rest assured of it, madam."

  "Heaven is very kind to have brought me out of such danger and set mesafe in the care of--gentlemen," said she, glancing from one to otherof us.

  "Rest assured of this also, madam!" said I, while Anthony looked fromher to me with shining eyes. At this moment we started, all three, asborne to our ears came the distant rumble of thunder, followed by afierce wind-gust that rattled crazy door and lattice and, dying in adismal wail, left behind the mournful sound of pattering rain.

  "O heavens!" exclaimed our companion, clasping slender hands. "Astorm--and I am terrified of thunder--"

  "It will soon pass!" said I.

  "But I must start at once!" she faltered. "I must reach my aunt'shouse to-night."

  "There is the chaise!" suggested Anthony.

  "Ah, no, no--impossible!" she cried. "The chaise was engaged byCaptain Danby and the postillion is in his pay--"

  "The chaise shall be ready whenever you desire," said Anthony, rising,"and the postillion shall drive you wherever you appoint if--if youcan trust yourself to the care of such a--a down-at-heels rogueas--myself."

  "Mr. Anthony," said she, very gravely, "this morning I was a foolishgirl--to-night I am a woman--my adventure has taught me much--and awoman always knows whom she may trust. And you are a friend and agentleman, and one I can trust and so I accept your offer mostthankfully." Saying which, she reached out her hand to him and withsuch a look as made me half wish myself in Anthony's place. So he tookher hand, made as though to raise it to his lips, then loosed it andstood with bowed head, seemingly lost in contemplation of his brokenboots.

  "Thanks!" he mumbled. "I--I--thank you!"

  "Now I must prepare for the road!" said she and sped away with neverso much as a glance at me, leaving Anthony staring after her like onein a dream, and I saw his eyes bright with unshed tears.

  "Perry!" he exclaimed, "O Perry--did you hear her?" And crossing tothe little mirror he stood to behold his reflection again. "She hasgiven me back my self-respect!" said he. And then, "Oh, for a barber!"he groaned. "Damn this stubble. I look like an accursed gooseberry!And now for the chaise, she must be safe with her aunt to-night, sweetsoul. And she trusts me, Perry--me!" Here he turned to scowl at hisreflection again. "An angel!" he murmured.

  "But Anthony, if one of the horses has cast a shoe--"

  "Shoe?" he repeated dreamily. "The prettiest, daintiest shoe in allChristendom. I noticed it particularly as she stood there--on thatold, worn mat--"

  Seeing him so lost, I ventured to shake his arm and repeat my query,whereupon he roused and nodded.

  "To be sure. Perry, to be sure! We must persuade our ostler andpostboy to find us another--let us see to it forthwith!" So saying, hepicked up Captain Danby's heavy cane and with it gripped in purposefulhand, led the way from the room.