The King's Stratagem, and Other StoriesWeyman, Stanley John
General
The King's Stratagem, and Other Stories
Weyman, Stanley John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
"'You will remember that you are no relation of mine!' he went on
viciously, for he had grown very crabbed of late. 'And I am not
going to leave you money. He is after my money. He is nothing but a
fortune-catcher!'
"'He is not!' she exclaimed, as hot as fire, and began to put on her
hat again.
"'Very well! We shall see!' answered Robert Evans. 'Do you tell
him what I say, and see if he will marry you. Go! Go now, girl, and
you need not come back! You will get nothing by staying here!' he
cried, for what with his jealousy and the mention of money he was
furious--'not a penny! You had better be off at once!'
"She did not answer for a minute or so, but she seemed to change
her mind about going, for she laid down her hat, and went about the
house place getting tea ready--and no doubt her fingers trembled a
little--until the old man cried, 'Well, why don't you go? You will get
nothing by staying.'
"'I shall stay to take care of you all the same,' she answered
quietly. 'You need not leave me anything, and then--and then I shall
know whether you are right.'
"'Do you mean it?' asked he sharply, after looking at her in silence
for a moment.
"'Yes,' said she.
"'Then it's a bargain!' cried Robert Evans--'it's a bargain!' And he
said not a word more about it, but took his tea from her and talked of
the Llewellyn Evanses, who had been to pay him a visit that day. It
seemed, however, as if the matter had upset him, for he had to be
helped to bed, and complained a good deal, neither of which things
were usual with him.
"Well, it is not unlikely that the young lady promised herself to tell
her lover all about it next day, and looked to hear many times over
from his own lips that it was not her money he wanted. But this was
not to be, for early the next morning Gwen Madoc was at her door.
"'You are to get up, miss,' she said. 'The master wants you to go to
London by the first train.'
"'To London!' cried Peggy, very much astonished. 'Is he ill? Is
anything the matter, Gwen?'
"'No,' answered the old woman very short. 'It is just that.'
"And when the girl, having dressed hastily, came down to Robert Evans'
room, she found that this was pretty nearly all she was to learn. 'You
will go to Mrs. Richard Evans, who lives at Islington,' he said, as if
he had been thinking about it all night. 'She is my second cousin, and
will find house room for you, and make no charge. A telegram shall be
sent to her this morning. To-morrow you will take this packet to the
address upon it, and the next day a packet will be returned to you,
which you will bring back to me. I am not well to-day, and I want to
have the matter settled and off my mind, Peggy.'
"'But could not someone else go, if you are not well?' she objected,
'and I will stop and take care of you.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account