Page:Once a Week Jun to Dec 1864.pdf/396

 24, 1864.] repeat it. What delusion can you have been giving way to?”

In truth Laura hardly knew. Except that it was one that had blinded her judgment and made her miserable. A conviction flashed into her mind that she had been altogether mistaken; and the chief sensation struggling through all the rest was one of shame, mingled with repentance, for having in this instance unjustly wronged him; for having betrayed her jealousy to the world, comprising Lady Jane and Judith; for having picked the lock of Mr. Carlton’s hiding-places.

She raised her hand, took his from her shoulder, and left her own within it, the tears trembling on her eyelashes. Mr. Carlton bent his face to hers.

“We will soon begin a new life elsewhere, Laura,” he whispered. “It shall not be my fault if clouds come between us then.”

Laura wiped her eyes and turned to the luncheon table. Two or three tempting little dishes were laid there. Lady Laura liked good living just as much as the earl had liked it. It was her pleasure not to be waited upon at luncheon, and she seized hold of two of the plates, now nearly cold, and held them to the fire. Mr. Carlton took them from her to hold them himself.

“You’ll take a bit with me to-day, Lewis?”

“It must be very little,” said he, sitting down. “I always make a good breakfast. What’s this? Stewed oysters. I’ll try one or two of these. Shall I give you some?”

Laura chose to take some. He had just helped her, and was about to put some on his own plate, when the door opened and Jonathan’s head came in. It was rather an unusual fashion for a footman to enter a room, and they both gazed at him. The man looked pale; as one scared.

“What is it, Jonathan?” asked his master.

“You are wanted, if you please, sir.”

“In the surgery? I’ll come in a minute.”

“No, sir; now please,” stammered Jonathan, looking more scared with every passing moment.

Mr. Carlton, struck with the servant’s manner, rose hastily. The thought which crossed him was, that some accident had been brought to the house. In the hall stood two policemen. Jonathan shut the dining-room door after his master.

Another minute and it was opened again. Lady Laura, curious to know what the wonder was, came to see. The matter-of-fact officers, with their impassive faces, had closed round Mr. Carlton, one of them showing what looked like a piece of paper, as he spoke in an under tone; and the servant Jonathan stood apart, with open mouth and staring eyes. The moment Mr. Carlton perceived Lady Laura, he drew the policemen into the opposite room and closed the door.

“Jonathan, what’s all that?”

“Goodness knows, my lady,” replied Jonathan, swallowing down his breath with a gulp.

“What do those policemen want? You are looking frightened. What did they say? What did you hear?”

“I wish you wouldn’t ask me, please,” hesitated the man, in his simple good-nature. “It would not do you good to hear it, my lady.”

“How dare you refuse, Jonathan?” she imperiously returned. “Tell me instantly.”

“Oh, my lady—I heard something about murder, and taking my master before the magistrates for examination.”

She did not believe it; she quite laughed at Jonathan. But at that moment they came out again, and Mr. Carlton advanced to her. There was that in his aspect, which caused his wife to cower against the door-post. Or was it that her own vague fears were frightening her?

“Laura, I am going out on business to the town hall. I shan’t be longer than I can help.”

Her faint cry resounded through the hall. It seemed such a confirmation of the words spoken by the servant.

“Oh, Lewis, what is it? Jonathan says it is something about murder!”

“Nonsense, nonsense,” heo peevishly exclaimed. “It is some absurd mistake, which I shall soon set right. Don’t be foolish; I shall be home to dinner.”

There was no time for more. It seemed but the work of a moment. Mr. Carlton went out and walked up the street, one of the policemen by his side, the other strolling behind.

Utterly bewildered, as much with the suddenness of the affair as anything, Lady Laura gazed around her for some explanation; but all she met was the startled face of Jonathan, not a whit less astounded than that of his mistress. Passionate and impetuous, she dashed out to the front gate, looking after them, as if that would afford her some explanation. It was just what the sailor-earl would have done.

And there Lady Laura became aware of the fact that a genteel mob were attending on the steps of Mr. Carlton and his escorters. The fact was, some version of the affair had got wind in the town, and people were up in arms. More and more astonished, Lady Laura perhaps would have run after them, but she caught sight of Mrs. Pepperfly, who had come into contact with the running mob at the gate, and was not improved in temper thereby. Lady