Tommy and Co.

“What is the shortest time in which a marriage can be arranged?”

“I do not know,” he answered listlessly. “I do not intend to marry her.”

“You would leave her to bear it alone?”

“It is not as if she were a poor woman. You can do anything with money.”

“It will not mend reputation. Her position in society is everything to that class of woman.”

“My marrying her now,” he pointed out, “would not save her.”

“Practically speaking it would,” the girl pleaded. “The world does not go out of its way to find out things it does not want to know. Marry her as quietly as possible and travel for a year or two.”

“Why should I? Ah! it is easy enough to call a man a coward for defending himself against a woman. What is he to do when he is fighting for his life? Men do not sin with good women.”

“There is the child to be considered,” she urged – “your child. You see, dear, we all do wrong sometimes. We must not let others suffer for our fault more – more than we can help.”

He turned to her for the first time. “And you?”

“I? Oh, I shall cry for a little while, but later on I shall laugh, as often. Life is not all love. I have my work.”

He knew her well by this time. And also it came to him that it would be a finer thing to be worthy of her than even to possess her.

So he did her bidding and went out with the other woman. Tommy was glad it was press-night. She would not be able to think for hours to come, and then, perhaps, she would be feeling too tired. Work can be very kind.

Were this an artistic story, here, of course, one would write “Finis.” But in the workaday world one never knows the ending till it comes. Had it been otherwise, I doubt I could have found courage to tell you this story of Tommy. It is not all true – at least, I do not suppose so. One drifts unconsciously a little way into dream-land when one sits oneself down to recall the happenings of long ago; while Fancy, with a sly wink, whispers ever and again to Memory: “Let me tell this incident – picture that scene: I can make it so much more interesting than you would.” But Tommy – how can I put it without saying too much: there is someone I think of when I speak of her? To remember only her dear wounds, and not the healing of them, would have been a task too painful. I love to dwell on their next meeting. Flipp, passing him on the steps, did not know him, the tall, sunburnt gentleman with the sweet, grave-faced little girl.

“Seen that face somewhere before,” mused Flipp, as at the corner of Bedford Street he climbed into a hansom, “seen it somewhere on a thinner man.”

For Dick Danvers, that he did not recognise Flipp, there was more excuse. A very old young man had Flipp become at thirty. Flipp no longer enjoyed popular journalism. He produced it.

The gold-bound doorkeeper feared the mighty Clodd would be unable to see so insignificant an atom as an unappointed stranger, but would let the card of Mr. Richard Danvers plead for itself. To the gold-bound keeper’s surprise came down the message that Mr. Danvers was to be at once shown up.

“I thought, somehow, you would come to me first,” said the portly Clodd, advancing with out-stretched hand. “And this is – ?”

“My little girl, Honor. We have been travelling for the last few months.”

Clodd took the grave, small face between his big, rough hands:

“Yes. She is like you. But looks as if she were going to have more sense. Forgive me, I knew your father my dear,” laughed Clodd; “when he was younger.”

They lit their cigars and talked.

“Well, not exactly dead; we amalgamated it,” winked Clodd in answer to Danvers’ inquiry. “It was just a trifle too high-class. Besides, the old gentleman was not getting younger. It hurt him a little at first. But then came Tommy’s great success, and that has reconciled him to all things. Do they know you are in England?”

“No,” explained Danvers; “we arrived only last night.”

Clodd called directions down the speaking-tube.

“You will find hardly any change in her. One still has to keep one’s eye upon her chin. She has not even lost her old habit of taking stock of people. You remember.” Clodd laughed.

They talked a little longer, till there came a whistle, and Clodd put his ear to the tube.

“I have to see her on business,” said Clodd, rising; “you may as well come with me. They are still in the old place, Gough Square.”

Tommy was out, but Peter was expecting her every minute.

Peter did not know Dick, but would not admit it. Forgetfulness was a sign of age, and Peter still felt young.

“I know your face quite well,” said Peter; “can’t put a name to it, that’s all.”

Clodd whispered it to him, together with information bringing history up to date. And then light fell upon the old lined face. He came towards Dick, meaning to take him by both hands, but, perhaps because he had become somewhat feeble, he seemed glad when the younger man put his arms around him and held him for a moment. It was un-English, and both of them felt a little ashamed of themselves afterwards.

“What we want,” said Clodd, addressing Peter, “we three – you, I, and Miss Danvers – is tea and cakes, with cream in them; and I know a shop where they sell them. We will call back for your father in half an hour.” Clodd explained to Miss Danvers; “he has to talk over a matter of business with Miss Hope.”

“I know,” answered the grave-faced little person. She drew Dick’s face down to hers and kissed it. And then the three went out together, leaving Dick standing by the window.

“Couldn’t we hide somewhere till she comes?” suggested Miss Danvers. “I want to see her.”

So they waited in the open doorway of a near printing-house till Tommy drove up. Both Peter and Clodd watched the child’s face with some anxiety. She nodded gravely to herself three times, then slipped her hand into Peter’s.

Tommy opened the door with her latchkey and passed in.