Witness to the Deed Part 43

She tried _that_, and attacked her niece in a very blunt, rough way, keenly watching the effect of her words the while.

"I do wonder at a girl of your spirit wearing your heart out for the sake of a scoundrel. That's done it!" she added to herself, for a complete change came over Myra's aspect.

"Aunt!" she cried indignantly.

"I can't help it, my dear," said the old lady sharply. "I've kept it back too long, and it's only just that I should tell you how reprehensible your conduct is. Here is a wretched man who professes to love you--"

"Malcolm Stratton did love me, aunt," said Myra proudly, as stung beyond endurance she gave utterance to the thoughts she had kept hidden so long.

"Looks like it!" continued Aunt Jerrold. "Bah! the horsepond is too good for such as he!"

Myra turned upon her fiercely.

"Aunt," she cried, "it is not true!"

"But it is true, my dear, or the wretch would have said a few words in his defence."

"I cannot stay here and listen to you, aunt," cried Myra, rising with dignity. "It is cruel of you to speak of Mr Stratton like this."

"Oh, of course. Silly girl! The worse a man is, the more weak, infatuated woman defends him."

"I defend him, aunt, because I am sure there must be some good reasons for Mr Stratton's conduct. He was not the man who could have acted so.

His whole career gives your charges the lie."

At that moment Edie and Guest returned, the former joyous and bright, but forcing a serious look as soon as she saw her cousin's agitated face.

"I am waiting for you, Edie," said Myra coldly; and, turning to her aunt, she bent her head slightly. "Good-afternoon, Mr Guest," she said, and she left the drawing room.

"Aunt, dear, what is the matter?" whispered Edie.

"We've been quarrelling, my dear; thank goodness!" said Miss Jerrold dryly. "There, good-bye. Run after her, little woman. Kiss me; I haven't quarrelled with you."

She embraced the girl affectionately; and as Guest followed to the door, and held out his hand, Miss Jerrold whispered:

"Come up again when you've seen them to the carriage."

In five minutes Guest was back looking at his hostess wonderingly, for the old lady was standing in the middle of the room with her face full of wrinkles, and her arms folded across her chest. She did not seem to see him, and he made a slight movement to attract her attention, when she waved her hand toward a chair.

"Sit down, boy," she said, without looking in his direction; "I'm thinking. I'll attend to you directly."

He obeyed, more puzzled than ever; and at last she took a chair by the back, dragged it across the carpet in a masculine way, and thumped it down in front of him.

"It's not a pleasant subject for a lady--an unmarried lady--to talk about, Percy Guest," she said; "but I'm getting such an old woman now that I think it's time I might speak plainly."

"What about?" said Guest, wondering of what breach of good manners he had been guilty.

"What about, you silly boy? Here's poor Myra eating her heart out, Edie miserable, my brother a perfect bear, I'm worried to death, and you say, what about! Malcolm Stratton, to be sure."

"Oh!" cried Guest, very much relieved.

"Well, I do not see anything to look pleased about, sir."

"No, of course not; only I thought I had been doing something."

"You have been doing nothing, it seems to me," said Miss Jerrold sharply.

"Really, I have done my best."

"But I thought barristers were such clever people!"

"Oh, dear no," said Guest seriously. "Very stupid folk as a rule. Sort of gun a barrister is. The solicitor is the clever man, and he has to load the barrister before he goes off."

"Then for goodness' sake get some solicitor to load you, and then go off and shoot something."

"I wish you would load me, Miss Jerrold."

"Well, look here, my dear boy. We seem to have settled down to a belief that Malcolm Stratton has been a great scamp, and that he drew back on his wedding morning in consequence of the interference of some lady who had a hold upon him."

"Yes, that is what we thought," said Guest sadly.

"And then tried to commit suicide out of misery and shame?"

"Yes, I have been able to get no further, poor fellow. He is utterly dumb, as soon as I try to get anything from him."

"What does that friend of his--that Mr Brettison say?"

"Mr Brettison? I have not seen him."

"Why not? He has known Mr Stratton many years. You should have consulted him, and tried to find out from him what might have happened in days gone by."

"I did think of that."

"And did not act?"

"I have had no chance. Mr Brettison is out of town. I have not seen him since the wed--"

"Ah!" cried Miss Jerrold warningly.

"Since that unhappy day."

"On that day?"

"No. It was a day or two before, but I think I heard Stratton say Mr Brettison came to see him that day, and that he was going out of town."

"Humph! That's strange!"

"Why?" said Guest.

"He was very fond of Malcolm Stratton, wasn't he--I mean, isn't he?"