The Black Moth

"You must allow me to thank you, sir, for your goodness in undertakingwhat I know must have been a painful task. I am very grateful."

Mr. Warburton bowed low.

"I beg you will not mention it, sir. Nothing I might do for theCarstares could be aught but a pleasure."

Again he bowed, and the next instant was gone.

CHAPTER IV

INTRODUCING THE LADY LAVINIA CARSTARES

Richard went slowly back to his chair. After a moment he sat down,staring blankly out of the window, his hands loosely clasped on the deskbefore him. So he remained for a long while, immobile. At last, with thefaintest of sighs, he moved and picked up a quill. He dipped it in theink, and, with his other hand, drew towards him a sheaf of papers.Presently he was writing steadily.

For perhaps twenty minutes the quill travelled to and fro across thepages; then it paused, and Richard looked up towards the door.

It opened to admit Lady Lavinia. She came rustling into the room withher embroidery in her hand. She dropped her husband a mock curtsey andwent over to a high-backed armchair, stretching out a dimpled hand todraw it forward. But even as her fingers touched it she had changed hermind, and fluttered over to the couch, there to seat herself with muchswirling of brocades and arrangement of skirts. She then proceeded tooccupy herself with her work, plying her needle hurriedly and jerkily.

Richard watched her in silence, following each turn of the pretty handand each movement of her fair head.

The silence was evidently not to my lady's taste, for she presentlybegan to beat an impatient tattoo on the floor with one slender foot.Still he said nothing, and she raised her pure china-blue eyes to hisface.

"Why so glum, Dick? Why do you not talk to me?" Her voice was ratherhigh-pitched and childish, and she had a curious way of ending eachsentence with an upward lilt and a long drawn-out accent, veryfascinating to listen to.

Richard smiled with an obvious effort.

"Am I, my dear? I crave your pardon. Warburton has just been."

Her face clouded over instantly, and the full-lipped mouth droopedpetulantly.

"He has seen him."

"Oh?" She made the word twice its length, and filled it withdisinterest.

"Yes. Jack will have none of it. He asks me to be his steward and to useWyncham as I will. He is very generous."

"Yes, oh yes. And you will, Richard?"

He ignored the question.

"He--Warburton--says he is not much changed."

"Oh?" Again the long-drawn monosyllable, accompanied by a tiny yawn.

"He says he does not think--Jack--bears me ill-will--" He paused, as ifexpecting her to speak, but she was absorbed in arranging twoflowers--culled from a bowl at her side--at her breast, and took nonotice. Carstares turned his head away wearily.

"If it were not for you, my dear, I would tell the truth. I believe Ishall go crazed an I do not."

"Dick!" ... She dropped the flowers on the floor and thought no moreabout them. "Dick!"

"Oh, you need have no fear! I do not suppose," bitterly, "that I havethe courage to face them all now--after six years."

Lavinia moved restlessly, brushing her hand along the couch.

"You will not do it, Richard? Promise! You _will_ not? I could not bearthe disgrace of it; promise me you will never do it?"

"No," he said slowly, not looking at her. "No, I cannot promise that."

She sprang to her feet, flinging her broidery from her carelessly, andwaved fierce, agitated little hands.