England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
There were many things in the place which Fielden had forgotten. Here
were boxes of cigars and cigarettes, while cards still lay scattered
about and the glasses had not been removed. Fielden had learnt much in
the hard school of adversity, and he began to realize that he had about
him the means to secure a considerable sum of money. Despite the dust
and gloom and air of decay, the library was intact. Fielden was
surprised at this, for he had frequently heard his father say that the
books were valuable. Perhaps it had occurred to nobody to look for rare
books in the house of a man who gave himself over entirely to sport, but
here they were and possibly a little later they might appear to
advantage in a London auction-room. Fielden was not so sanguine as he
once had been, but at a modest computation he thought they would fetch
at least a thousand pounds.
He went up to his bedroom and began idly turning out the drawers. At any
rate he would be able to cut a presentable appearance at Haredale Park.
He might venture in the open, too, for it was nearly dark. The lights of
Haredale gleamed hospitably as he walked up the drive. He had had no
formal invitation, nothing save May Haredale's suggestion, but he knew
Sir George well enough to be sure of his reception.
It all looked strangely familiar as the butler opened the door and asked
his name. Fielden knew the butler's face well, but it was plain the
latter did not recognize him. Yes, Sir George and Miss Haredale were at
home. They had arrived from London late in the afternoon, but, so far as
the butler knew, did not expect any guest. Still, so many people came
and went to that hospitable house that the advent of a stranger caused
no surprise in the butler's mind.
"If you will give me your name, sir," he suggested.
"Oh, tell Miss Haredale that Mr. Field is here. She expects me,
because----"
Fielden broke off suddenly, for May Haredale came across the hall at
that moment. She smiled a welcome and held out her hand. She dismissed
the butler, after giving instructions to him to take the visitor's bag
upstairs.
"I was almost afraid you wouldn't come," she said. "I feared you would
be too proud or something equally absurd."
"I plead guilty," Harry Fielden smiled. "Really I don't think I should
have had courage to come, only I found that not a soul knew me with the
exception of Joe Raffle. I have passed a score of people to-day whom I
know intimately. But it is just as well, May. Why, even Mason, your
butler, looked at me as if I were a perfect stranger."
"But I recognized you," May said quietly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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