The Story of Antony Grace Part 96

Still she made no reply.

"They say," he hissed, and thrusting out his face, he whispered something to her, when, in an instant, I saw her countenance change, and her white hand struck him full across the lips.

Uttering an oath, he caught her tightly by the arms, but I could bear no more. With my whole strength called up I leaped at him, and seized him by the throat, believing in my power of turning him forcibly from the room.

The events of the next few moments seem now as if seen through a mist, for in the brief struggle that ensued I was easily mastered by the powerful man whom I had engaged.

I have some indistinct memory of our swaying here and there, and then of having a heavy fall. My next recollection is of feeling sick and drowsy, and seeing Miss Carr and one of the servants bending over me and bathing my face.

For some few minutes I could not understand what it all meant but by degrees the feeling of sickness pa.s.sed away, and I looked hastily round the room.

Miss Carr, who was deadly pale, told the maid to fetch some brandy, and as soon as we were alone, she knelt by me, and held one of my hands to her lips.

"Are you much hurt, Antony?" she said tenderly. "I did not send for the doctor. That wretched man has made sufficient scandal as it is."

"Hurt? No--not much," I said rather faintly. "Where is he?"

"Gone," she said; and then she uttered a sigh of relief, as I sat up and placed one hand to my head, feeling confused, and as if I had gone back some years, and that this was not Miss Carr but Mary, and that this was Mr Blakeford's again.

The confusion soon pa.s.sed off, though, and after I had drunk the spirit that was brought me, I felt less giddy and strange.

Miss Carr sat watching me, looking very pale, but I could realise now that she was terribly agitated.

Before an hour had pa.s.sed I felt ready to talk to her, and beg her to take some steps for her protection.

"If I had only been a strong man," I exclaimed pa.s.sionately. "Oh, Miss Carr, pray, pray do something," I cried again; "this is horrible. I cannot bear to see you insulted by that wretch."

"I have decided to do something, Antony," she said in a low voice; and a faint colour came into her pale cheeks. "He will not be able to force his way to me again."

"I don't know," I said. "He is a madman. I am sure he had been drinking to-night."

"No one but a madman would have behaved as he did, Antony," she said.

"But be at rest about me. I have, after a bitter struggle with myself, decided what to do."

"But you will not go away?" I said.

She shook her head.

"No; my path lies here," she said quietly. "Antony, I want your help to-morrow."

"Yes: what shall I do?" I asked.

"Will you ask Miss Hallett to come here to me--will you bring her?"

"Bring Linny Hallett here?" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes: bring her here," she said softly; and there was a peculiar tone in her voice as she spoke. "And now about yourself. Do you feel well enough to go home? Shall one of the servants see you safely back?"

"Oh no," I said; "I am better now. I shall take a cab. But I do not feel comfortable to leave you alone."

"You need not fear," she said quietly. "The house will be closed as soon as you leave. To-morrow I shall take steps for my protection."

I left her soon after, thinking about her request, and as far as I could make out she intended to keep Linny with her, feeling that Lister would not dare to face her again, when the woman he had sought to injure had been made her companion.

Still I did not feel satisfied, and the only consoling thing was to be found in Lister's own words, that he had sent for Miss Carr's relative; and, in the hope that he might soon arrive, I reached home and went up at once to see Hallett, who looked very ill, but smiled sadly, as I sat down by his side.

"Better," he said; "I think I'm better, but I don't know, Antony: sometimes I feel as if it would be happier if I could be altogether at rest."

"Oh, Hallett!" I cried.

"Yes, you are right," he said. "What would become of them? I must get better, Antony, better, but sometimes--sometimes--"

"Don't speak to him any more," whispered Mary; "he is so weak that his poor head wanders."

"But, Mary, the doctor; does he say there is any danger?"

"No, no, my dear. He is to sleep all he can. There, go down now. I'm going to sit up to-night."

I went down, leaving Mary to her weary vigil; for my head ached terribly, and I was very giddy.

Linny was in the sitting-room, and she uttered an exclamation.

"Why, how bad you look, Antony!" she cried.

"Do I?" I said with a laugh; "I had a bit of a fall, and it has shaken me. But, Linny dear, I have a message for you."

"For me, Antony?" she said, turning white.

"Yes; Miss Carr bade me ask you to come with me to her house to-morrow."

"I go to her house!" faltered Linny.

"Yes, dear, you will--will you not? I am sure it is important."

"But I could not leave poor Steve."

"It need not take long," I said; "you will go and see what she wants?"

Linny looked at me in silence for a few moments, and there was something very dreamy in her face.

"If you think it right that I should go, Antony," she said at last, "I will. Shall I speak to Stephen first?"

"No," I said. "Hear first what she has to say."

She promised, and I went down to my own room, glad to lay my aching head upon the pillow; where I soon fell into a troubled sleep, dreaming of my encounter with John Lister, and feeling again the heavy blow as we fell, and my head struck the broad, flat fender with a sickening crash, that seemed to be repeated again and again.