"For heaven's sake, Barbara," he said, with ostentatious indignation, "go and dress yourself properly.Had you neither money nor credit to purchase clothes? I declare I didn't know you at first; and when I did, I was shocked; before Mrs.Markham, too!""Mrs.Markham, I fear, has quite enough to occupy her now," said Mrs.Brimmer shortly, as she turned away, with hysterically moist eyes, leaving her husband to follow her.
Oblivious of this comedy, Richard Keene and Eleanor had already wandered back, hand in hand, to their days of childhood.But even in the joy that filled the young girl's heart in the presence of her only kinsman, there was a strange reservation.The meeting that she had looked forward to with eager longing had brought all she expected; more than that, it seemed to have been providentially anticipated at the moment of her greatest need, and yet it was incomplete.She was ashamed that after the first recognition, a wild desire to run to Hurlstone and tell HIM her happiness was her only thought.She was shocked that the bright joyous face of this handsome lovable boy could not shut out the melancholy austere features of Hurlstone, which seemed to rise reproachfully between them.When, for the third and fourth time, they had recounted their past history, exchanged their confidences and feelings, Dick, passing his arm around his sister's waist, looked down smilingly in her eyes.
"And so, after all, little Nell, everybody has been good to you, and you have been happy!""Everybody has been kind to me, Dick, far kinder than I deserved.
Even if I had really been the great lady that little Dona Isabel thought I was, or the important person the Commander believed me to be, I couldn't have been treated more kindly.I have met with nothing but respect and attention.I have been very happy, Dick, very happy."And with a little cry she threw herself on her brother's neck and burst into a childlike flood of inconsistent tears.
Meantime the news of the arrival of the relief-party had penetrated even the peaceful cloisters of the Mission, and Father Esteban had been summoned in haste to the Council.He returned with an eager face to Hurlstone, who had been anxiously awaiting him.When the Padre had imparted the full particulars of the event to his companion, he added gravely,--"You see, my son, how Providence, which has protected you since you first claimed the Church's sanctuary, has again interfered to spare me the sacrifice of using the power of the Church in purely mundane passions.I weekly accept the rebuke of His better-ordained ways, and you, Diego, may comfort yourself that this girl is restored directly to her brother's care, without any deviousness of plan or human responsibility.You do not speak, my son!" continued the priest anxiously; "can it be possible that, in the face of this gracious approval of Providence to your resolution, you are regretting it?"The young man replied, with a half reproachful gesture:
"Do you, then, think me still so weak? No, Father Esteban; I have steeled myself against my selfishness for her sake.I could have resigned her to the escape you had planned, believing her happier for it, and ignorant of the real condition of the man she had learnt to--to--pity.But," he added, turning suddenly and almost rudely upon the priest, "do you know the meaning of this irruption of the outer world to ME? Do you reflect that these men probably know my miserable story?--that, as one of the passengers of the Excelsior, they will be obliged to seek me and to restore me," he added, with a bitter laugh, "to MY home, MY kindred--to the world Iloathe?"
"But you need not follow them.Remain here.""Here!--with the door thrown open to any talebearer OR PERHAPS TOMY WIFE HERSELF? Never! Hear me, Father," he went on hurriedly:
"these men have come from San Francisco--have been to Mazatlan.
Can you believe that it is possible that they have never heard of this woman's search for me? No! The quest of hate is as strong as the quest of love, and more merciless to the hunted.""But if that were so, foolish boy, she would have accompanied them.""You are wrong! It would have been enough for her to have sent my exposure by them--to have driven me from this refuge.""This is but futile fancy, Diego," said Father Esteban, with a simulated assurance he was far from feeling."Nothing has yet been said--nothing may be said.Wait, my child.""Wait!" he echoed bitterly."Ay, wait until the poor girl shall hear--perhaps from her brother's lips--the story of my marriage as bandied about by others; wait for her to know that the man who would have made her love him was another's, and unworthy of her respect? No! it is I who must leave this place, and at once.""YOU?" echoed the Padre."How?"
"By the same means you would have used for her departure.I must take her place in that ship you are expecting.You will give MEletters to your friends.Perhaps, when this is over, I may return--if I still live."
Padre Esteban became thoughtful.
"You will not refuse me?" said the young man, taking the Padre's hand."It is for the best, believe me.I will remain secret here until then.You will invent some excuse--illness, or what you like--to keep them from penetrating here.Above all, to spare me from the misery of ever reading my secret in her face."Father Esteban remained still absorbed in thought.
"You will take a letter from me to the Archbishop, and put yourself under his care?" he asked at last, after a long pause."You will promise me that?""I do!"