The Forsyte Saga, Volume 3(38)

‘It almost looks like repentance, dear.’

‘That fellow repent! Not he! There’s something behind it.’

‘Yes, I am.’

‘You!’

Dinny quailed behind her smile.

‘I met Hallorsen at Diana’s in London; he was at Lippinghall, too. So I – er – got at him.’

‘You asked – you begged –?’

‘Oh! no!’

‘What then?’

‘He seemed to take rather a fancy to me. It’s odd, but I couldn’t help it, Hubert.’

‘He’s done this to curry favour with you?’

‘You put it like a man and a brother.’

‘Dinny!’

Dinny flushed too, angry now behind her smile.

‘I didn’t lead him on. He took this highly unreasonable fancy in spite of plenty of cold water. But, if you ask me, Hubert, he has quite a decent side to him.’

‘You would naturally think so,’ said Hubert, coldly. His face had resumed its sallow hue and was even a little ashened.

Dinny caught impulsively at his sleeve.

‘Don’t be silly dear! If he chooses to make a public apology for any reason, even such a bad one, isn’t it all to the good?’

‘Not when my own sister comes into it. In this thing I’m like – I’m like a – ’ he put his hands to his head: ‘I’m in Chancery. Anyone can punch my head, and I can’t move.’

Dinny’s coolness had come back to her.

‘You needn’t be afraid that I shall compromise you. This letter is very good news; it takes the wind out of the whole thing. In face of this apology, who can say anything?’

But Hubert, leaving the paper in her hand, went back into the house.

Dinny had practically no ‘small’ pride. Her sense of humour prevented her from attaching value to her own performances. She felt that she ought to have provided against this contingency, though she did not see how.

Hubert’s resentment was natural enough. If Hallorsen’s apology had been dictated by conviction, it would have soothed him; arising from a desire to please his sister, it was only the more galling; and he clearly abhorred the Professor’s fancy for her. Still, there was the letter – an open and direct admission of false criticism, which changed the whole position! At once she began to consider what use could be made of it. Should she send it to Lord Saxenden? Having meddled so far, she decided that she would, and went in to write the covering letter.

Condaford Grange.

Sept. 21.

DEAR LORD SAXENDEN,–

I am venturing to send you the enclosed cutting from today’s ‘Times’, for I feel it excuses me to some extent for my effrontery the other evening. I really ought not to have bored you at the end of a long day with those passages of my brother’s diary. It was unpardonable, and I don’t wonder that you sought refuge. But the enclosed will show you the injustice from which my brother has suffered; and I hope you will forgive me.

Sincerely yours,

ELIZABETH CHARWELL.



Enclosing the cutting, she looked up Lord Saxenden in Who’s Who, and addressed the envelope to his London abode, marking it ‘Personal’.

A little later, trying to find Hubert, she was told that he had taken the car and gone up to London….

Hubert drove fast. Dinny’s explanation of the letter had disturbed him greatly. He covered the fifty odd miles in a little under two hours and reached the Piedmont Hotel at one o’clock. Since he had parted from Hallorsen nearly six months ago, no word had passed between them. He sent his card in and waited in the hall with no precise knowledge of what he wanted to say. When the American’s tall figure approached behind the buttoned boy, a cold stillness possessed his every limb.

‘Captain Cherrell,’ said Hallorsen, and held out his hand.

With a horror of ‘scenes’ deeper than his more natural self, Hubert took it, but without pressure in his fingers.

‘I saw you were here, from The Times. Is there anywhere we could go and talk for a few minutes?’

Hallorsen led towards an alcove. ‘Bring some cocktails,’ he said to a waiter.

‘Not for me, thank you. But may I smoke?’

‘I trust this is the pipe of peace, Captain.’

‘I don’t know. An apology that does not come from conviction means less than nothing to me.’

‘Who says it doesn’t come from conviction?’

‘My sister.’

‘Your sister, Captain Cherrell, is a very rare and charming young lady, and I would not wish to contradict her.’

‘Do you mind my speaking plainly?’

‘Why, surely no!’

‘Then I would much rather have had no apology from you than know I owed it to any feeling of yours for one of my family.’