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"You lucky fellow! My godson, you say? Could you not find anyone moreworthy for that? I want to see him."
"So ye shall presently. Have ye seen Richard?"
"A year ago I held up his coach. 'Twas dark, and I could scarce see him,but I thought he seemed aged."
"Aged! Ye wouldn't be afther knowing him! 'Tis an old man he is. ThoughI swear 'tis no wonder with that hussy about the house! Lord, Jack, youwere well out of that affair with her ladyship!"
Carstares nursed his foot reflectively.
"Lavinia? What ails her?"
"Nought that I know of, save it be her shrewish temper. 'Tis a dog'slife she leads poor Dick."
"Do you mean to say she does not love Dick?"
"I cannot say--sometimes she's as affectionate as you please, but atothers she treats him to a fine exhibition of rage. And the money shespends! Of course, she married him for what she could get. There wasnever anything else to count with her."
Jack sat very stil
l.
"And anyone but a young fool like yourself would have seen that!"
A gleam of amusement shot into the wistful blue eyes.
"Probably. Yourself, for instance?"
O'Hara chuckled.
"Oh, ay, I knew! 'Twas the money she was after all along; and nowthere's not so much, it seems, as Dick won't touch a penny that belongsto you."
"M'm. Warburton told me. Foolish of him."
A grunt was the sole response.
Jack's eyes narrowed a little as he gazed out of the window. "So Lavinianever cared? Lord, what a mix-up! And Dick?"
"I'm afraid he still does."
"Poor old Dick! Devil take the woman! Does she bully him? I know what heis--always ready to give in."
"I am not so sure. Yet I'll swear if 'twere not for John his life wouldbe a misery. He misses you, Jack."
"Who is John?"
"Did not Warburton tell you? John is the hope of the house. He's fourand a half, and as spoilt a little rascal as you could wish for."
"Dick's child? Good Lord!"
"Ay, Dick's child and your nephew." He broke off and looked into theother's face. "Jack, cannot this mystery be cleared up? Couldn't ye goback?" He was clasping Jack's hand, but it was withdrawn, and the eyeslooking down into his were suddenly bored and a little cold.
"I know of no mystery," said Carstares.
"Jack, old man, will ye be afther shutting me out of your confidence?"
A faint, sweet smile curved the fine lips.
"Let us talk of the weather, Miles, or my mare. Anything rather thanthis painful subject."
