“Yes,” said Madge, dutifully.”
He looked at her very suspiciously, and uttered a sort of growl, adding, “If you get hissed, occasionally, it will do you good; although you are more likely to get applauded and spoilt. Dont forget what I have taught you: you will see the use of it when you have begun to understand your profession.”
Magdalen protested that she mid never forget, and tried to express her gratitude for the trouble he had taken with her. She begged that he would not reveal her destination to anyone, as it was necessary for her to evade her family a second time in order to fulfill her engagement. He replied that her private arrangements were no business of his, advising her at the same time to reflect before she quitted a luxurious home for a precarious and vagabond career, and recommending Mrs Simpson to her as an old hag whose assistance would be useful in any business that required secrecy and lying. “If you want my help,” he added, “you can come and ask for it.”
“She can come and pay for it, and no thanks to you,” said Mrs. Simpson, goaded beyond endurance.
Jack turned on her, purple and glaring. Madge threw herself between them. Then he suddenly walked out; and, as they stood there trembling and looking at one another in silence, they heard him go upstairs to his garret.
“Oh, Polly, how could you?” said Madge at last, almost in a whisper.
“I wonder what he’s gone for,” said Mrs. Simpson. “There’s nothing upstairs that he can do any harm with. I didn’t mean anything.”
He came down presently, with an old washleather purse in his hand. “Here,” he said to Madge. They knew perfectly well, without further explanation, that it was the money she had paid him for her lessons.
“Mr Jack,” she stammered: “I cannot.”
“Come, take it,” he said. “She is right: the people at Windsor pay for my wants. I have no need to be supported twice over. Has she charged you anything for the room?”
“No,” said Madge.
“Then the more shame for me to charge you for your lessons,” said Jack. “I shall know better another time. Here: take the money, and let us think no more about it. Goodbye! I think I can work a little now, if I set about it at once.” He gave her the purse, which she did not dare refuse; shook her hand with both his; and went out hurriedly, but humbly.
Three days after this, Adrian Herbert was disturbed at his easel by Mr. Brailsford, who entered the studio in an extraordinarily excited condition,
“Mr. Brailsford! I am very glad to — What is the matter?”
“Do you know anything of Magdalen? She is missing again.” Herbert assumed an air of concern. “Herbert: I appeal to you, if she has confided her plans to you, not to ruin her by a misplaced respect for her foolish secrets.”
“I assure you I am as much surprised as you. Why should you assume that I am in her confidence?”
“You were much in her company during your recent visits to us; and you are the sort man a young girl would confide any crazy project to. You and she have talked together a good deal.”
“Well, we have had two conversations within the last six weeks, both of which came about by accident. We were speaking of my affairs only. You know Miss Sutherland is a friend of hers. She is our leading topic.”
“This is very disappointing, Herbert. Confoundedly so.”
“It is unfortunate; and I am sorry I know nothing.”
“Yes, yes: I knew you were not likely to: it was mere clutching at a straw. Herbert, when I get that girl back, I’ll lock her up, and not let her out of her room until she leaves it to be married.”
“When did she go?”
“Last night. We did not miss her until this morning. She has gone to disgrace herself a second time at some blackguard country theatre or other. And yet she has always been treated with the greatest indulgence at home. She is not like other girls who do not know the value of a comfortable home. In the days when I fought the world as a man of letters, she had opportunities of learning the value of money.” Mr. Brailsford, as he spoke, moved about constantly; pulled at his collar as if it were a stock which needed to be straightened; and fidgeted with his gloves. “I am powerless,” he added. “I cannot obtain the slightest clue. There is nothing for it but to sit down and let my child go.”
“Are you aware,” said Herbert thoughtfully, “that she has been taking lessons in acting from a professor of music during the last few months?”
“No, sir, I certainly am not aware of it,” said Brailsford fiercely. “I beg your pardon, my dear Herbert; but she is a damned ungrateful girl; and her loss is a great trouble to me. I did not know; and she could not have done it if her mother had looked after her properly.”
“It is certainly the case. I was very much surprised myself when Miss Sutherland told me of it, especially as I happened to have some knowledge of the person whom Miss Brailsford employed.”
“Perhaps he knows. Who is he and where is he to be found?”
“His name is an odd one — Jack.”
“Jack? I have heard that name somewhere. Jack? My memory is a wreck. But we are losing time. You know his address, I hope.”
“I believe I have it here among some old letters. Excuse me whilst I search.”
Herbert went into the ante-room. Mr. Brailsford continued his nervous movements; bit his nails; and made a dab at the picture with his glove, smudging it. The discovery that he had wantonly done mischief sobered him a little; and presently Adrian returned with one of Jack’s letters.
Church street, Kensington,” he said. *Will you go there?”
“Instantly, Herbert, instantly. Will you come?”
“If you wish,” said Adrian, hesitating.
“Certainly. You must come. This is some low villain who has pocketed the child’s money, and persuaded her that she is a Mrs Siddons. I had lessons myself long ago from the great Young, who thought highly of me, though not more so than I did of him. Perhaps I am dragging you away from your work, my dear fellow.”
“It is too dark to work much today. In any case the matter is too serious to be sacrificed to my routine”
Quarter of an hour later, Mrs. Simpson’s maid knocked at the door of Jack’s garret, and informed him that two gentlemen were waiting in the drawing room to see him.
“What are they like?” said Jack “Are you sure they want me?”
“Certain sure,” said the girl “one of ‘em’s a nice young gentleman with a flaxy beard; and the other his father, I think. Ain’t he a dapper old toff, too!”
“Give me my boots; and tell them I shall be down presently.”
The maid then appeared to Mr. Brailsford and Adrian, saying, “Mr Jax’ll be down in a minnit,” and