The Green Mummy - Page 21/191

"You have repaid it already," said Hope, looking at Lucy.

Braddock's eyes followed his gaze and his brows contracted. "Humph!" he

muttered, "I don't know if I am right in consenting to Lucy's marriage

with a pauper."

"Oh, father!" cried the girl, "Archie is not a pauper."

"I have enough for Lucy and me to live on," said Hope, although his face

had flushed, "and, had I been a pauper I could not have given you that

thousand pounds."

"You will be repaid--you will be repaid," said Braddock, waving his hand

to dismiss the subject. "And now," he rose with a yawn, "if this tedious

feast is at an end, I shall again seek my work."

Without a word of apology to the disgusted Mrs. Jasher, he trotted to

the door, and there paused.

"By the way, Lucy," he said, turning, "I had a letter to-day from

Random. He returns in his yacht to Pierside in two or three days. In

fact, his arrival will coincide with that of The Diver."

"I don't see what his arrival has to do with me," said Lucy tartly.

"Oh, nothing at all--nothing at all," said Braddock airily, "only I

thought--that is, but never mind, never mind. Cockatoo, come down with

me. Good night! Good night!" and he disappeared.

"Well," said Mrs. Jasher, drawing along breath, "for rudeness and

selfishness, commend me to a scientist. We might be all mud, for what

notice he takes of us."

"Never mind," said Miss Kendal, rising, "come to the drawing-room and

have some music. Archie, will you stop here?"

"No. I don't care to sit over my wine alone," said that young gentleman,

rising. "I shall accompany you and Mrs. Jasher. And Lucy," he stopped

her at the door, through which the widow had already passed, "what did

your father mean by his hints concerning Random?"

"I think he regrets giving his consent to my marriage with you," she

whispered back. "Did you not hear him talk about that tomb? He desires

to get money for the expedition."

"From Random? What rubbish! Sooner than that--if our marriage is stopped

by the beastly business--I'll sell out and--"

"You'll do nothing of the sort," interrupted the girl imperiously; "we

must live if we marry. You have given my father enough."

"But if Random lends money for this expedition?"

"He does so at his own risk. I am not going to marry Sir Frank because

of my step-father's requirements. He has no rights over me, and, whether

he consents or not, I marry you."

"My darling!" and Archie kissed her before they followed Mrs. Jasher

into the drawing-room. All the same, he foresaw trouble.