DELILAH DELILAH BY PAUL TRENT AUTHOR OF "THE vow," "ADAM," "EVE," ETC. FOURTH IMPRESSION LONDON : ROBERT HAYES LTD. ROSEBERY HOUSE, BREAM'S BUILDINGS, E.G. 4 CONTENTS PACK CHAPTER I ...... n CHAPTER II 28 CHAPTER III . . . . . 31 CHAPTER IV ...... 40 CHAPTER V ...... 49 CHAPTER VI ...... 58 CHAPTER VII 66 CHAPTER VIII ...... 74 CHAPTER IX ...... 83 CHAPTER X . . . . . .91 CHAPTER XI ...... 100 CHAPTER XII ...... 109 CHAPTER XIII . . . . . .117 CHAPTER XIV . . . . . .124 CHAPTER XV ...... 132 CHAPTER XVI . . . . , .141 2138512 CONTENTS CHAPTER XVII . . . . . CHAPTER XVIII PAGE M9 CHAPTER XIX . , , . . . 165 CHAPTER XX .... ., 174 CHAPTER XXI ..... . 182 CHAPTER XXII ..... . 190 CHAPTER XXIII . . . IQS CHAPTER XXIV . t 2O7 CHAPTER XXV . . , . . CHAPTER XXVI . , . . 216 CHAPTER XXVII . . . . . 231 CHAPTER XXVIII . ... 239 CHAPTER XXIX ..... . 247 CHAPTER XXX . 255 DELILAH CHAPTER I " IT'S dull, deadly dull. I hate the country, and I'll go to London," Dawn Odell cried petu- lantly, and threw a look of defiance at the woman who, with a gentle understanding expression in her eyes, sat opposite, at the breakfast table. " Lady Anstruther may arrive any day. Exer- cise your patience just a little longer, my dear. Your father wished you to stay here until your aunt returned to England." " I don't remember Aunt Eva. I was a child when she went to India. Life may be just as weary and dull with her. ... I want to live not to stagnate. Do you realise I've never met a real man? . I want to live !" Dawn repeated with emphasis. " You know Mr. Sinclair," Mrs. Langon, her companion, interposed reproachfully. " A curate and he daren't say boo to a goose. I don't call him a real man." " Mr. Sinclair is straightforward and trust- worthy. Moreover, he has never tried to conceal ii i* DELILAH the deep affection he has for you. Just lately you have been treating him very cruelly." " He bores me, utterly. There are times when I could scream. His manner is so suave, and his voice so carefully modulated. I want to meet a man with a spice of the devil in him." " My dear, you forget yourself," Mrs. Langon said reprovingly. Whereat Dawn rose and walked to the open French windows, which led to the lawn. Two years ago she had been summoned from school on account of her father's illness, and for eighteen months she had proved herself a devoted nurse. His death had been the first real grief of her life, and she had mourned him deeply. By his will he had appointed his sister, Lady Anstruther, to be his only child's trustee and guardian, and had directed Dawn to remain at Crayford Tower until her aunt returned from India, where she had been long resident with her husband, who had been a judge, and who had recently died. Until the last few weeks Dawn had been content to carry out her father's wishes, but it was now spring-time, and the blood of youth was coursing strongly through her veins. During her father's illness not a complaint had escaped her lips, but now she was more than twenty years of age, and it seemed as though she had not drawn anything that mattered from life. Mr. Odell had chosen for her a small and DELILAH 13 extremely select school, where discipline was strict and the teaching of the very best. A studious recluse of choice and inclination, the Tower had rarely received visitors, and those that came were elderly and dry-as-dust, so that Dawn had met but few men of her own age, and had known none of them at all intimately. Her home was in the depths of the country, and now she was longing for the hum of a great city. Fortunately her father had bequeathed to her an adequate income, and she was in a position to satisfy any reasonable whim. How- ever, Lady Anstruther had been appointed her guardian until she was twenty-five years of age, or until she married with her aunt's approval. Dawn drew in a deep breath and her pace quickened, as the invigorating air brought the colour to her cheeks. Soon she reached a stream, from which she had caught many a trout, and regretted that she had not brought her rod, for it was an excellent day for sport. A hundred yards ahead a man was casting, and as she drew near, a smile came to her face, for his line had become entangled in a bush. The smile deepened when she heard him gently swearing to himself he was quite unaware of her approach. " That bush is always getting in the way," she remarked cheerfully, as she sat on a boulder, watching him with a mischievous look in her eyes. 14 DELILAH Royle Weldon turned round sharply, and his eyes, frankly admiring, rested on her. The irritable look vanished, and he smiled pleasantly. " After all, it doesn't matter very much. The fish aren't rising this morning," he said, and placed the rod on the ground. " I should have thought it was an excellent day," she answered demurely. " Perhaps you aren't using the proper flies." As Dawn spoke, she went to the bush, and with deft fingers removed the cast, and in a few minutes the line was freed. Weldon continued to examine her, but she seemed quite unconscious of his insistent stare, and after a look of inquiry, took up his fly-case and inspected the contents. A change was made to tb e cast and she poised the rod. " May I ? . . . There is usually a good one in that pool ahead," she said, and he nodded his head in assent. Her tall lithe body, with its graceful carriage, appealed to him immensely, for she was the type that he preferred, and Royle Weldon had known many beautiful women. Were her eyes grey or blue or green? . . . possibly they were hazel, and her hair was of a dull red gold, and there could be no doubt that it did not owe its charm to art. However, she was so fresh and dainty, and he was utterly tired of the women whom he had been DELILAH 15 meeting, and loving, and liking for years. This girl was quite unspotted from the world, and was well worth cultivating. His quick brain told him that he could see a little quiet amusement ahead. Dawn made a cast, and he smiled his approval, for the flies dropped gently on to the water. " Excellent," he said, when the reel whirled, and he was lazily taking up the landing net and approaching her. It was not a large fish, and she handled it in a thoroughly workman-like manner, so that in a very short time the trout was lying on the bank. " You must give me lessons," he said with decision. There was no suggestion of a request. It was rather in the nature of a command, and Dawn liked the feeling of receiving orders from such an extremely handsome man. A quick glance, and she wondered if he were really handsome. At any rate he was a man, and his manner inspired confidence. His speech, each movement, showed decision, and yet there appeared to be nothing aggressive in his personality. His eyes with their blue of steel were a little hard and keen, and yet instinct told her that they could soften wonderfully. " My name is Royle Weldon, and I'm staying with the Hentons," he began, and then paused with a look of inquiry. 16 DELILAH " I'm Dawn Odell, and I'm living by myself," she answered shyly. " So now we know one another tell me all about yourself," he said, and she was conscious of a thrill at the peremptory note in his voice. At first she was inclined to say nothing, and remained silent for a while. " Start at the very beginning," he went on. " You . . . first. I only know your name." " The history of my life will keep. Have you always lived in the country? " he said, and now she no longer desired to oppose him. " Always . . . except when I was at school. There is really nothing to tell you. I've never really lived. Oh, I'm tired of being dull. Thank heaven, it won't last much longer." With deft questions Royle succeeded in learning all there was to know. His experience of women made him quickly realise that Dawn was virgin ground, and yet she possessed intelligence, and would learn very quickly. Now it was her turn to ask questions, and he answered them readily enough. But not in the manner he would have chosen had he been addressing a woman of the world. Such innocence as Dawn's must be care- fully guarded, and he was the last person in the world to sully it in any way. Royle Weldon had passed his thirtieth year and had deliberately lived every moment of his life. Upon reaching manhood he had very quickly DELILAH 17 learnt that he was a man who made a tremendous appeal to women. And he had very rarely found it necessary to be the wooer. To his credit, it must be said that the innocent had never suffered at his hands, and he had no great crime on his conscience where the other sex was concerned. There was nothing effeminate in his nature. On the contrary, he was virile and fond of all out-of-door sports. Moreover, men liked and trusted him even with their women-folk, in spite of his reputation, and he had never been known to belie their trust. Perhaps it was his easy successes as a lover that had given him rather an authoritative manner, when speaking to a woman. Curiously enough, Royle had not become in the least degree conceited, and had not developed into that detestable person, the male flirt. His past love affairs had been numerous, but that they had not overlapped was perhaps owing to a natural feeling of loyalty which he found it difficult to express. The present one had lasted for a very con- siderable time, and as his eyes rested on Dawn he found himself comparing her with Lucie Manett. They represented absolutely different types of womanhood, and it would be interesting to see them together. Lucie, with her black hair, the velvet-brown eyes, and the figure of the Southerner, had always made a strong appeal to his senses. This young girl struck a very i8 DELILAH different note, and to his amazement he found himself thinking that she would make an excellent wife. " So you are longing for excitement," he re- marked with a smile. " With every fibre of my being. I do wish my aunt would hurry up and come home." " Your aunt . . . did you tell me her name ? " " Lady Anstruther. I can't remember her, and so much depends on what she is like. Perhaps India has dried up her blood and she'll want to live very quietly. She may even wish to live at the Tower . . . but if she does " Weldon laughed for pure enjoyment, for Dawn's vigour of speech amused him. " There is always one way to freedom," he remarked. " What is that ? " she asked eagerly. " Marriage." " Oh ! I shan't marry for years and years. I must have a good time before I settle down." " A good time and marriage are not compar- able," he said lightly. His eyes were keenly regarding her, and Dawn suddenly became nervous and shy. She glanced at her watch and turned away. " I shall be late for lunch. Good-bye," she said, and gave him a stiff little bow. " Please come to-morrow and give me a lesson," he called to her. DELILAH ig "Is it quite proper? I don't know you, and . . ." " If you study the convenances you will never succeed in having the good time you are so anxious about. Of course you'll come." Again she was conscious of receiving an order, and this time she was a little resentful. " I shan't promise." " Just as you wish. At any rate, I shall be here at ten o'clock. I'll bring a luncheon basket with me; my car is at the inn. If there are no fish about, we might go for a run." " Good-bye," she called to him, and waved her hand. Royle watched her until she disappeared from sight, and was pleased that she did not give him a backward look. The study of women had never bored him, and he believed that he thoroughly understood the sex. Dawn had quite enjoyed the little adventure, and at luncheon Mrs. Langon quickly suspected that something had happened, but the latter was not curious and asked no questions. " I must drive to Melbury to-morrow, to do some shopping. Will you come with me?" Mrs. Langon asked. " Not to-morrow," Dawn answered swiftly, and to her annoyance she blushed. " It's rather a lonely drive," Mrs. Langon persisted gently. 20 DELILAH " I'm sorry, but I can't come, dear." " Very well." Soon afterwards Dawn went to her own sitting- room, and making herself comfortable in an arm- chair took up a novel by her favourite author. But it was impossible to concentrate her attention on a written romance when the real thing might be near at hand. Even now she could picture his face unerringly. She loved strength in a man, and he was strong. " He is a cave-man," she told herself delightedly, and compared him with Mr. Sinclair, the curate. It seemed right to her that the male should exercise authority, and command, rather than supplicate. She would prefer to be a man's slave rather than his spoilt darling. Imagination ran riot. . . . Suppose they grew to know one another intimately. But why should he wish to know her? A cry escaped her, and she rose quickly, and crossed the room to a mirror, examining her reflection with unusual interest. It was natural to believe that she was not ill-looking, but was she of the type to appeal to Royle Weldon? Hitherto she had not been greatly concerned about her personal appearance, but now it had become a matter of moment. " I believe I'm falling in love," she told herself with a laugh. In fact she was in such a good humour with the world at large, that when Mr. Sinclair called, she DELILAH 2i joined him in the drawing-room, and with un- intentional cruelty proceeded to flirt with him. His pale face flushed with pleasure at her gracious- ness, and once he had to stammer forth a declara- tion of his love, but Dawn did not wish him to proceed to such lengths, and skilfully changed the subject. Rupert Sinclair had many good qualities, and although he had entered the Church as a profession rather than from religious conviction, he carried out his duties conscientiously, and was liked and respected in the parish. For the third time, he explained to her that there was a family living which would be vacant shortly, and to which he would be presented in due course. " The Rectory is most comfortable. And " " I'm so glad for your sake," she intervened, for she saw that danger was again threatening, and shortly afterwards he was dismissed, but in the kindliest manner possible. When Dawn awakened in the morning, it was with a delightful sense of expectation, and she went down to breakfast in the highest spirits. Before the meal was over, a telegram was brought to her. " Aunt Eva has arrived at Plymouth, and will be here to-night. Hurrah ! hurrah ! " she cried excitedly. " Then we shall be busy all day. Of course 22 DELILAH you will drive to Melbury to meet her," said Mrs. Langon. " Yes. I'll wire to the town and tell them to send a car to fetch me. I'll go to the village and send off the telegram at once. And . . . and I may not be back for lunch." " Dawn . . . what do you mean? " " There is something I must do. But I can't stay to explain. You don't really want me, dear. I must have a last day of freedom before aunt arrives." " But I thought Lady Anstruther was to bring you your freedom," Mrs. Langon said dryly. " I can't be sure of that. She may be a terrible ogress, after years of India. I won't be very late." Dawn lightly kissed her companion's cheek and hastened away, stopping in the hall to pick up her rod and basket. It was perfect weather, with brilliant sunshine, but not a day she would have chosen for fishing. However, when she reached the stream, she affixed flies to the cast, and very soon was proceeding slowly up-stream. To her surprise, fish were rising, and by the time Weldon appeared in sight she had landed half-a- dozen. With intention she continued to cast, and did not take any notice of him, until he called to her. " Any luck? " he asked casually "Not bad . . . And you?" " All the luck of the world." DELILAH 23 " Let me see," she cried peremptorily, and then laughed when she saw that his basket was empty. " I felt sure you would come," he announced gaily. "Why?" " You liked me at sight, as I liked you." " You seem pretty sure of yourself," she said mockingly. " Yes, I am." " My aunt is coming back to-night. If it had been this morning ..." " You would still have found a way of coming to me," he answered quite calmly. " Why do you think that ? " she demanded, with heightened colour. " Because I know," he replied with supreme confidence. " Still, I suppose you will have to devote to-morrow to her. But I shall expect you the morning after; that will be Friday." " I shan't come," she said angrily. Really his assurance amounted to impertinence. " I shall be here at ten o'clock, and shall expect you. Then we will talk of something else. I have been looking up my diary, and it appears I met Lady Anstruther when I was passing through India. I may be fortunate enough to be remembered by her." " In a diary ? " she said with a laugh. " Yes. I have often found it very useful. 24 DELILAH I'm afraid my memory is not good. Now, I'm going to wish you good-bye till Friday." Dawn was surprised, and glanced inquiringly at the luncheon basket. " Yes. Lunch is there, but if you eat it, it must be alone. I have just time to catch the London express." " A rather sudden change, isn't it ? " " Yes. Your aunt's arrival has disturbed my plans. But I'm beginning to think it is for the best. You'll be here at ten o'clock on Friday. I'll tell them at the inn to send for the luncheon basket. Good-bye, Dawn." " Dawn," she repeated in surprise. " Yes, and my name is Royle. I have no objection to your using my Christian name. Good-bye, Dawn," he repeated gaily, and raising his cap, walked quickly away. A glance at his watch, and he saw that there was no time to spare. At Melbury, it would be necessary to send off a wire to his host saying that he was going to town, but would return on Friday. It was a long run to London, and he settled himself down to do a couple of hours of hard thinking. Upon leaving Dawn the previous day, he had found it impossible to banish her from his thoughts. Accustomed to analyse his feelings where women were concerned, he was disturbed to discover that the impression she had made upon him was deep. He was thinking of her as his wife and the mother u, DELILAH 25 of his children a fresh experience that he found very sweet. There and then he registered a vow to cease to be a philanderer. Already he was regretting his past episodes, and wishing that he could take to her the freshness of youth. At any rate, his future should completely belong to Dawn, and he would not be tempted to indulge even in the mildest of flirtations. But in Lucie Manett there was a problem to be faced and dealt with at once. It was not Royle's nature to shirk a difficulty or to deceive deliber- ately. He must go to her, and tell her frankly what had happened. Doubtless there would be a painful scene, for he had no doubt of the depth of her affection for him. A successful actress, she had sacrificed every one for him, and was content to obey his slightest whim, and perhaps it was the whole-hearted adoration that she had made no attempt to conceal, that was responsible for the feeling of weariness that had latterly come to him. A taxi-cab took him to Hanover Square, and Royle entered the block of flats with a very unusual feeling of nervousness. Fortunately Lucie was taking a short rest from the theatre, and was at home when he arrived. The maid, Estelle, gave him a welcoming smile and hastened to take his hat. " Madame is in the little sitting-room," she announced. As soon as the door opened, Lucie rose quickly 26 DELILAH from a low divan, and came towards him with outstretched arms. " It is good to see you, Royle darling." Her voice was low and caressing, and her lips, slightly apart, approached his. " I have been hungering for you," she went on, and breathed a sigh of content. He released himself almost roughly from her embrace and drew back. " What is the matter ? . . . What has hap- pened ? " she asked breathlessly. A great fear had come to her that the moment had arrived, the moment that had always cast a shadow on her happiness. Love had not blinded her to Royle's faults, for she knew only too well his reputation for inconstancy, but deep down in her heart there had always been the belief that she could hold him. With great care she had avoided any word or act that might irk him. Never had she allowed him to suspect that he was in any way bound to her. And now the crisis had come. Full of courage, she was prepared to fight for her happiness, and was ready to use any weapon at hand to keep him. With a supreme effort she controlled herself, and sat down again on the divan, motioning him to come beside her. " You've returned sooner than you expected, dear," she said pleasantly. " I do hope you've had a good time." DELILAH 27 " I go back to-morrow," he announced, after a pause. " Then we must make the best of to-day. I'll tell Estelle that you are staying to dinner," she announced cheerfully. " I had an early dinner on the train . . . and ... I can't stay very long." Royle was finding his task even more difficult than he had anticipated. Perhaps it would be better to write, and yet he hated to be guilty of moral cowardice. After all, they had agreed always to be frank with one another, and to separate in the most friendly way should either of them grow tired of the other. Lucie's hand shook as she held the lighted match to his cigarette. She knew Royle through and through, and could no longer endure the suspense. Far better to know the worst, and if it should prove to be what she feared, he should not be allowed to see her suffering. Her face, which had grown white, was turned away from him when she spoke. " I understand she is young. . . . Yes, she would be young . . . and dainty and fresh." In spite of her effort to control it, her voice was not steady, and her breath came quickly, as she awaited his answer. CHAPTER 11 ROYLE watched Lucie as she rose and crossed the room, but even his keen eyes could not read beneath the surface, and he did not realise the depth of her suffering. When she faced him again her expression was almost tranquil, and her voice was cheerful when she spoke. " Well, my dear, who and what is she ? We have never failed to be frank with one another, and I must confess to being mighty curious about my successor. ... I hope she will care for you as much as " Lucie paused and gulped back a sob, but in an instant recovered command of herself. " Don't look so guilty, Royle," she went on with an effort, " none of us can love to order." " I care for you very much, Lucie and " " Don't for heaven's sake don't try to let me down lightly," she cried, with a fierceness that surprised him. Royle hesitated no longer, and approaching, placed his hand affectionately on her shoulder. " I think it's about time I settled down I'm going to be married " " And become a respectable member of society," she interrupted him. 28 DELILAH 29 " I hope so." " Royle Weldon the devoted husband. My dear, your friends will have a terrible shock. But isn't it a trifle sudden? When you left town . . . was this change in your mind ? " " No," he answered promptly. " So you've only just met her ? Was she staying with the Hentons? Is she a friend of theirs? " she asked breathlessly. " She doesn't know them. She has very few acquaintances." All the time she was questioning, Lucie was fighting to maintain her self-control. Her stage training helped her to deceive him, and when she motioned him to sit beside her on the divan he promptly obeyed, and a smile of relief appeared. After all, he might have known that Lucie was much too sensible to make a scene, but all the same it was not very complimentary to himself that she seemed so little concerned at the termina- tion of their life together. His vanity was touched, and he began to wonder if she could ever really have cared for him. " What is her name ? " Lucie asked quietly. " Dawn Odell." " Hike it. ... When are you to be married ? " ' You are looking too far ahead. She hasn't even said she would marry me. I'm not quite such a blackguard as to ask any woman to marry me until " 30 DELILAH " Until you have decently buried the past ? Well, Royle, my dear, you can now consider the affaire over. I have to thank you for very many happy hours. You have always treated me well, and I have no complaint to make. Before we part, let us arrive at a complete understanding. Although you no longer love me, I believe you like me eh? " " Yes, very much indeed. You are a real good sort." " Thank you." " Then we can be friends real friends? " " Very willingly." " That's settled, then. Now you can run away Look me up soon. Good-bye." Lucie led the way to the door and held out her hand to him, which he clasped gratefully. CHAPTER III DAWN glanced impatiently at the station clock, and then resumed her promenade of the platform. The train in which Lady Anstruther was travelling from Plymouth was late, and she was impatient to meet her aunt. So much depended upon the latter being sympathetic and understanding. At last the signal sounded, and the engine appeared in the distance. Dawn hastened back, and a few moments later was eagerly scrutinising the alighting passengers. Fortunately she had received a recent photograph of her aunt, and had no difficulty in recognising her. A warm embrace, and Dawn drew back, meeting the shrewd kindly eyes, and loving the smile in them. " I am so very glad," she said a little tremu- lously. Lady Anstruther laughed, and having given instructions to the porter, they walked arm-in-arm to the car. " You are prettier than I expected," Lady Anstruther remarked lightly she, in her turn, had been making a quiet examination. " I love your white hair and how smart you 31 32 DELILAH are, Aunt ! If you only knew how much I've been longing for you . . . and now that you are here. . . . You are a little bit like dad. You have his eyes, and " " I should have liked to have seen him again. . . . Dawn, I hope we are going to be real friends. Since my husband died, I have been lonely for the first time in my life. I, too, have been looking forward to meeting you. I only hope I shan't lose you for a very long time." " Lose me ? You mean " " Any serious love affair eh ? " "No," Dawn answered impetuously, and was annoyed to feel that she was flushing. " Since I left school I've been buried in the country, and met very few men." Lady Anstruther had not failed to notice the flush, but very wisely did not pursue her in- quiries. During the voyage home she had given a good deal of thought to the treatment of her charge, and had decided to interfere just as little as possible. Her main object was to secure Dawn's affection, and to accomplish that, must learn to understand her thoroughly. During the long years of her married life she had managed to conceal from her husband the great tragedy of her life, that of being childless, and now she was prepared to lavish on this girl the maternal affection that was natural to her. She approved of Mrs. Langon, and was most gracious to her, DELILAH 33 at once winning the companion's liking and respect. During the rest of the day and the following morning she studied Dawn very closely, and quickly realised that the future might not be altogether peaceful, for the girl evidently had a strong will, but to her relief she found Dawn to be generous-minded and warm-hearted. It was at lunch she launched her bomb-shell. " My dear, I suggest we run up to town at once. There are several important matters that I have to attend to ... among them, dress. Although you thought I was smart, I need some dresses. Is there anything to keep you down here ? " she asked. " No," Dawn answered, but showed signs of hesitation, for she was remembering that Royle Weldon had announced his intention of returning on the following day and had asked her to meet him. " Then I suggest we go this afternoon," Lady Anstruther went on quietly. " We only need to take a dressing-case. Have you plenty of clothes?" " They were all made at Melbury. I should love to have some Bond Street gowns." And so it was arranged that they should travel by the afternoon train, but before leaving, Dawn spoke to Mrs. Langon, and nervously asked her to go and explain to Mr Weldon that she had 3 34 DELILAH been unexpectedly called to London. Mrs. Langon regarded her with mild astonishment. " I was not aware that you knew a Mr. Weldon," she remarked quietly. " Please do as I ask. I don't wish him to think me rude," Dawn urged, and finally Mrs. Langon agreed to go. Lady Anstruther chose a quiet hotel in Mayfair, and the next morning they visited dressmakers and milliners. It was the first time Dawn had been " let loose," and she revelled in the ex- perience. At night they visited a theatre, and Dawn was delighted to discover that her aunt was by no means strait-laced, and was quite ready for a round of gaiety. " Before I went to India we used to know a number of theatrical folk. My husband loved the theatre, and has amused himself by writing plays. Soon I will look up some of the people I used to know," Lady Anstruther remarked. " How ripping ! I can see a splendid time ahead." " I'm afraid it has been very dull, my dear. At any rate, you have the knowledge that you played the game with your father. Poor Donald often wrote me how good you were to him." " Father was a dear . . . and, Aunt Eva, I'm so glad that you are his sister," Dawn answered happily. Lady Anstruther went to bed immediately on DELILAH 35 their return to the hotel. For a time, Dawn remained in their sitting-room, for she felt but little inclined to sleep. Life was going to prove to be a wonderful thing. And then she remem- bered Royle Weldon, and wondered if she would ever see him again. " I'm glad I asked Mrs. Langon to go ... but I do hope I shan't see him until I have my new clothes," she thought, and then blushed hotly. Lady Anstruther was not an early riser, and usually " breakfasted " in bed. It was after eleven o'clock when she appeared in the sitting- room, and began lazily to discuss the programme for the day. Dawn was quite content to leave herself in her aunt's hands, and they had decided to lunch at the Berkeley, when a servant came bringing a salver, on which was a visiting card. " Mr. Royle Weldon," she said reflectively. " I certainly remember the name . . . and the man . . . but " Then she glanced inquiringly at Dawn. " You know him? " she asked quietly. " Yes." Lady Anstruther thought for a few moments, and then addressed the servant. " Please tell Mr. Weldon that I will join him in the smoking-room," she said, and as soon as the door closed turned sharply to Dawn. " My dear, I thought you said you knew no men." 36 DELILAH " I have only just met Mr. Weldon," Dawn answered nervously. " Who introduced you to him? " came peremp- torily. Dawn's confusion increased, and Lady An- struther decided that it was necessary to know everything, but that she must not appear to be forcing Dawn's confidence. " I feel sure you won't mind my knowing," she went on gently. " Look upon me as an elder sister, and tell me everything. Please don't have any secrets from me," she urged. In an instant Dawn yielded, and told all there was to tell. Lady Anstruther did not allow her alarm to be seen, but rose, and crossing to Dawn, kissed her affectionately. " I'll go down and speak to Mr. Weldon. You may safely leave your happiness in my hands. I shan't be long, dear." " But you will bring him up to see me ? " " I won't make any promises," Lady Anstruther said gaily, and then went away. But when the door was closed, her expression became serious, for she remembered Dawn's ignorance of the ways of the world, and Royle Weldon was the last man she would have her know. Fortunately, there was no one in the smoking- room except her visitor, and she approached him, with a pleasant smile of greeting DELILAH 37 " How on earth did you find me out ? I've only just arrived from India, and you are absolutely my first caller. Please sit down, and you may light a cigarette/' she said graciously. " Thank you," he answered, and Lady An- struther smiled as she noticed the unusual nervousness of this man of the world. " My memory is not very good ... we met in Delhi ? Yes, I believe it was Delhi." " It was . . . and you were so kind " ' You dined with us once and I believe we met on one other occasion. Perhaps we exchanged a dozen sentences. I must indeed have made a tremendous impression for you to have remem- bered me and called to-day." Royle laughed, and now his self-confidence had returned. " I will be quite frank with you," he began. " That would be wisdom," she intervened dryly. " I have called because you are Miss Odell's aunt." " So you know my niece ? I was under the impression she had led a very retired life, and knew no one." " I was staying with the Hentons near Melbury and and ' ' " And they introduced you to my niece ? " " Yes," he lied deliberately. " But I was under the impression that my niece does not know the Hentons. . . . But I, in my 38 DELILAH turn, promise you frankness. My niece has told me of your meeting. I don't blame you for the lie, although it was quite unnecessary. To continue my frankness, I don't wish the acquaintanceship to ripen," said Lady Anstruther, and now her voice and expression had become serious. " May I ask the reason ? " " Yes, and I will give it to you with the utmost frankness. Your reputation as a a well we will say ' lady-killer,' although I don't like the expression had preceded you to India. Your arrival caused quite a flutter in the dove- cotes, and I found you an interesting man to meet. If we were in India, or if I were without responsibilities at home, I would gladly continue to know you; but under the circumstances it is quite impossible." As Lady Anstruther spoke the last words she held out her hand. " I hope you don't feel offended at what I've said, but it was necessary." " You are quite right. I admit the justice of what you've said; but yet I'm going to urge you to reconsider your decision. I love Dawn Odell with all that is best in me, and it has become the single aim of my life to win her love . . . and to marry her," he added with grim deliberation. His eyes were fixed steadily on hers as he continued DELILAH 39 " I have played the fool in the past. I regret it, but it can't be helped. But the past is behind me. I have no entanglement, and I swear on my honour that the future shall be Dawn's." " Can the leopard ? " she asked lightly. " I believe that love can do anything." " You ought to know rumour says that you have had a varied experience of the little god Cupid," she remarked maliciously. " I will call again, when you have had time to think over the position. Please remember me to Miss Odell," he said, and went away. CHAPTER IV AFTER Royle had left, Lady Anstnither did not return at once to the sitting-room, for she required a few moments in which to consider what she should say to her niece. In the mean- time, Dawn's excitement had been increasing with each passing moment, for she had not the slightest doubt that Royle had obtained her address from Mrs. Langon, and had immediately followed her to London. It was distinctly annoying of her aunt to leave her behind, and soon she became impatient. Finally she decided to go down to the smoking-room, and upon her arrival there was surprised to find that Lady Anstnither was alone. " Where is he? " Dawn asked breathlessly. " Gone ... he merely came to make a formal call. I didn't press him to stay I don't en- courage visitors in the morning," her aunt answered dryly. " Shall we see him soon ? " " My dear Dawn, you really must not expose your feelings in this indecent manner. One might almost imagine that you had fallen in love with the man." 40 DELILAH 41 " I believe I have . . . but I'm not quite sure." " When I was a girl, I should not have dared to admit such a thing." " But times have changed. Besides, he's the only real man I've ever known." " We'll very quickly change that, my dear, and you'll soon forget that Royle Weldon exists I know lots of clean-living, clean-minded soldier men or rather boys, who can give you some- thing that you could never receive from Mr. Weldon." " I don't believe I like boys," Dawn said doubtfully. " There's plenty of time before you need think of man or boy. I suggest that you play at love for a few months. A few mild flirtations won't do you any harm, and will give you a little knowledge of the other sex. From what I've seen this morning, you evidently need it, my dear. After this little lecture we'll go out to lunch. Come along." But Lady Anstruther was not at all easy in her mind, and later on in the day telephoned to an old friend, Colonel Wilmot, asking him to come round and see her. At the time arranged, she asked Dawn to go to the dressmaker's, so that she might have a confidential talk. The Colonel, late of the Indian Army, was a well-preserved man of sixty years of age. Of 42 DELILAH good family and with adequate means, he was popular in society in spite of his fondness for gossip, which, however, was rarely ill-natured. He had a genuine liking for Lady Anstruther, and showed his pleasure at meeting her again. It was not very long before she deftly turned the conversation in the required direction. " Royle Weldon called to-day. . . You know him, Colonel ? " " Yes he's a real good sort." " But isn't he just a trifle I mean when he came to India, his reputation " She broke off with a deprecating wave of the hand, and the Colonel chuckled to himself. " Poor old Royle . . . but the women never will leave him alone. Of course, I know at what you're hinting, but he's not nearly as bad as he's painted." " The devil rarely is. But, if report is true, Weldon generally has had some woman in tow. Who is the latest? " she asked bluntly. " Lucie Manett ; but he has been devoted to her for quite a long time. In fact, I've heard it said they are married." " An actress, isn't she? " ' Yes, and quite clever. I've often met her, and find her charming." " I believe I met her once with my husband. In fact, he sent her the last play he wrote," Lady Anstruther remarked thoughtfully. DELILAH 43 " Anstruther used to fancy himself in the play- writing line," the Colonel said with a laugh. " I used to encourage him. I think it's an excellent thing for a husband to have a hobby." " Yes," chuckled the Colonel, " so long as the hobby isn't another woman." He looked round quickly, and when the door opened jumped to his feet, and his face beamed at the sight of a pretty face. Dawn was charming to him, and the Colonel blessed his luck when he discovered that she knew no one in London. Soon he was making all sorts of suggestions for their amusement to Lady Anstruther, and the latter smiled quietly to herself, for she thoroughly appreciated what was passing through his mind. But she did not discourage him, and accepted his invitation to lunch with him the following day. " He's rather an old dear," Dawn remarked, when he had gone. " Yes, he admires you, but please don't let him know that you consider him old." " But he is old." " He's of opinion that he's just as old as he feels. It wouldn't surprise me a little bit if he were to marry," Lady Anstruther remarked with a laugh, and then went on : " You look tired, my dear, and we will dine quietly at home. Afterwards I must go out for an hour, but I shan't be late." 44 DELILAH She crossed the room and examined the tele- phone directory. Soon she was asking for a number, and then entered into a conversation, from which Dawn gathered that her aunt urgently desired an interview with a Miss Manett, and an appointment was made for half-past eight o'clock. " Miss Manett has a play which your Uncle Donald sent to her from India," explained Lady Anstruther. An early dinner was served in their sitting- room, and very soon after the meal was over Lady Anstruther prepared to go out, giving Dawn a final injunction to go to bed at an early hour. During the short drive to Hanover Square, she thought over her plan of campaign, and came to the conclusion that a policy of frankness would be the best. In the meantime Lucie had been going through a very bad time. Since the last interview with Royle, she had not left her flat. The blow had exhausted her both mentally and physically, but not for a moment had she lost her courage or abandoned the hope of holding the man she loved. When Lady Anstruther telephoned, she was feeling better, and welcomed her visitor as a distraction from her trouble. Indeed, she had kindly memories of Sir Donald and his wife, and had never scoffed at the ambitions of the judge, having detected a good deal of merit in DELILAH 45 his plays. A typescript of the last of them was before her when her visitor arrived. But Lucie very quickly saw that there was another object in view, and her curiosity was aroused, and became acute when the name of Royle Weldon was mentioned. " I believe that Mr. Weldon is a very great friend of yours?" Lady Anstruther said with quiet deliberation. " He was he is but why do you speak of him? " Lucie asked peremptorily. " He came to see me yesterday." " I didn't know you were friends. He has never spoken of you." " We were never friends merely acquaint- ances. I have a niece . . . are you bored by the subject, or shall I go on? " Lady Anstruther paused, and they regarded one another steadily for a while. At last Lucie turned away, and a sigh escaped her. " No I'm not bored." " Then may I ask you one or two questions ? " " Yes, but I may not answer them," Lucie answered wearily. " First, I will explain the position. Mr. Weldon has fallen in love with my niece, Dawn, and wants to marry her." " Yes yes." " I don't think he is the man for her. She is young, with no knowledge of life as life really is." 46 DELILAH " Is she pretty? " Lucie demanded abruptly. " Some people might even call her beautiful." " Young and beautiful and innocent," Lucie whispered to herself, but Lady Anstruther caught the words. " Innocent is hardly the right word. ... I don't want the affair to go any further. Royle Weldon is a man of the world. He has lived his life to the full. I'm aware that rumour usually exaggerates, but allowing for that, his love affairs have been notorious." " The latest being with myself. ... I admit it. I'm not ashamed. I love Royle and shall love him always." " Then he is bound to you ? " Lady Anstruther asked eagerly. "By no tie at all. I gave him his freedom a day or two ago. He came to me and told me he had fallen in love, but until you told me, I did not know who the woman was. Yes, Royle was quite frank with me. He has faults, but he plays the game." " Then you have given him up without a struggle." " He has given me up," corrected Lucie, " but " She paused and rose to her feet. Now her cheeks were aflame with colour, and her eyes bright with excitement. " But I shan't let him go. I intend to hold DELILAH 47 him. No chit of a girl shall take him from me," she cried fiercely, but quickly became calm again. " I have learnt wisdom in the handling of men. I intend to give Royle all the rope he needs. If I had made a scene, he would have grown to hate me. As it is, he is a little piqued that I let him go so easily. I know Royle thoroughly, and am convinced that he will quickly tire of a milk-and-water prettiness. In the meantime I shall bide my time, and try to be as patient as possible." And then her self-control snapped for an instant. " In the meantime I'm suffering the torments of the damned," she cried pas- sionately. Lady Anstruther rose, and placed her hand on Lucie's shoulder. " I understand, my dear. You have my sympathy, and I will help you by every means in my power. But you mustn't underrate Dawn. She has brains as well as beauty, and must be considered seriously. Would you like to meet her? " " Yes," Lucie answered promptly. " Then lunch with me at the Ritz to-morrow at one o'clock. We can then talk over my husband's play." " It's quite good, and with pulling together it might be worth while to produce it. I'm idle at present resting." " I'll find the money if it doesn't need a 48 DELILAH small fortune. I should dearly love to see Donald's work really played. If only he were alive to witness it ! " "I'll ask Maltravers to read it at once. . . Lady Anstruther, I am grateful that you came," Lucie said earnestly. " There is no need for gratitude. We have a common object in view; and I am prepared to help by any means in my power." " Poor Royle," Lucie said with a sigh. " He's the last person to be pitied. He's behaved disgracefully to you." " No. He has played the game from a man's point of view and I make no complaint. But I have the right to fight for what has been my own, and by heaven, I'll fight 1 " And upon this note they parted. CHAPTER V WHEN Weldon accepted his dismissal from Lady Anstruther, he went straight to his chambers, and sat down to think out his position. It was his nature to look facts in the face, and he had no difficulty in appreciating her point of view. Naturally, she judged him by the past, and could not trust him. But he himself knew that Dawn would be safe in his hands, and there was no possibility of his playing the fool with another woman, should she marry him. True, he had been inconstant, but he told himself that he had never before really loved. In support of this, his first thought had been of Dawn as a wife and not as a lover. " I must prepare myself for a long siege," he told himself with a sigh. It could be said with truth that there were no entanglements, and thanks to Lucie's generosity he could call himself a free man as far as women were concerned. Now he began to regret, for the first time, his many love affairs. If only he could have approached Dawn with a purity equal to her own ! How precious she was to him, and he would guard her innocence most carefully. 4 49 50 DELILAH Yes, he must turn over a new leaf, and his friends and acquaintances must be chosen with discretion. There were so many people that he would not care for Dawn to know. What a delightful task it would be to show her the world ! He could imagine himself with her in Italy. The picture galleries everything that was beautiful how she would love it all ! Curiously enough, he had no doubt that he could make her love him perhaps she cared already. Delay was unendurable, and he was determined to see Dawn at the earliest possible moment. Twice he telephoned to the hotel, but Lady Anstruther was out. He dined quietly alone, and the next morning, just before lunch, he called at the hotel, only to find that they had just left. Finally he decided that it would be wiser not to be too impatient, but to await an opportunity, when he might talk to Dawn without the chance of being interrupted by her aunt. That night he went to his club, and just before dinner Colonel Wilmot came into the smoking- room and joined him. " I've just left some charming people. They were talking of you, Weldon." " Indeed," Royle remarked with indifference. " Yes ; Lady Anstruther. Her niece is per- fectly charming. I'm lunching with them to- morrow," the Colonel remarked complacently I DELILAH 51 "Where?" " That's my business. I don't want you ' butting in.' Miss Odell is much too nice to well, you understand what I mean," the Colonel added quickly, when he saw the expression in Weldon's eyes. " Are they dining at the hotel ? " demanded Royle. " I think so I don't know." Royle finished the drink and then went to dinner. Afterwards he lighted a cigar, and strolled up St. James's Street. As he approached the hotel, a lady came out and got into a taxi-cab. It was Lady Anstruther, and to his delight she was alone. Fortunately, the cab was going the other way, and she did not see him. So he hastened to the reception bureau, and asked for Miss Odell, sending to her a request that she would see him. When the message came, Dawn did not hesitate for an instant. " Ask Mr. Weldon to come up," she said promptly. With a cry of delight, she ran to the mirror, examining herself critically. A pat of the hair here and there, and she was satisfied, for excite- ment had brought a becoming colour to her cheeks. And then it occurred to her that her aunt might be annoyed at her receiving Royle. '' I don't care," she told herself defiantly. 52 DELILAH But when Royle came into the room her manner was shy, and she was careful not to meet his eyes, which were fixed ardently upon her. ' Your aunt told you that I called yesterday ? " he began, and spoke abruptly. " Yes." " You wondered, perhaps, why I did not come up to see you." " I did rather. But won't you sit down, Mr. Weldon?" In answer, he took her hand and drew her across the room to the Chesterfield. " Did your aunt tell you why I did not come up to you? . . . But please don't answer. I will explain the reason. . . . She did not think that I was a suitable person to know. From her point of view, she was quite right. It is her duty to guard you most carefully." " Why do you say aunt was right ? " Dawn asked nervously. " Because of my reputation. In the past I've played the fool. ... I admit it freely. I've loved many women at least I imagined that I loved them. But when I met you I realised at once that I had never known the real thing." Dawn was listening attentively, and her eyes were widely opened in astonishment. Instinc- tively she drew away from him. " Don't be afraid. I'm not going to make love to you not vet. I want you to understand DELILAH 53 the sort of man I've been. Ask your aunt about me. I hope she will answer you very frankly. I've no wish to win you under false pretences. I'm afraid you will hear many things about me of which I am ashamed. But I promise you, in all good faith, the future shall be very different. I vow my life to your service. I wish to heaven I could bring to you the fresh love of a boy." "Why do you tell me all this? " she asked appealingly. " I don't believe that you are half as bad as you would make out." " Unfortunately I've never made a secret of my love affairs. . . . There is just one other thing I must say before I go away I am abso- lutely free. I'm not bound to a woman in any way. I ask you to give me a chance. Forget all you hear about me, and judge me only by my future behaviour. I swear that I will be good to you." Dawn suddenly took courage and began to assert herself. " Mr. Weldon, are you not rather taking things for granted ? " she remarked quietly, and her eyes were full of mischief. " I have given you no reason to believe that I'm unduly interested in you." " But you are you like me. And you'll love me. Of course, you are young, and I've taken you by surprise. But doesn't instinct tell you 54 DELILAH that I'm your man ? " he asked with supreme confidence. " I can't say that it does," she answered with well-assumed indifference. But her eyes failed to leave his, and a soft flush came to her cheeks. " Good-night," she said hurriedly, and held out her hand. " No. I won't touch your hand till my lips have " He broke off, and moved quickly to the door. " I long to kiss you and hold you in my arms," he called back to her and then hurried out, before she had time to make any remark. Upon reaching the street, he felt inclined for exercise, so refused the hail of a passing taxi-cab driver, and set out in the direction of his chambers. But his mind was so occupied with thoughts of Dawn, that he did not pay much attention to where he was going. Unconsciously, he took a turning which led to Hanover Square perhaps habit accounted for it and he pulled up abruptly at the entrance to the block of flats where Lucie lived. He stood there hesitating, and was about to turn away. " Perhaps I ought to have a last talk to her. She has always been good to me," he told himself. DELILAH 55 As he entered the hall, the lift came down, and the porter came out, smartly saluting Royle. But quickly after him came Lady Anstruther. " Good-evening, Mr. Weldon," she said sweetly. " Good-evening I've just come from your hotel. I called to see your niece," he announced boldly. " Indeed . . . and now you propose to visit Miss Manett. You will find her at home. Good- night. Porter, please call me a taxi-cab." " You know Lucie Miss Manett ? " "Yes; and we have been having a most interesting talk. It appears that you and she have been great friends for a long time. I think she is really a beautiful woman. . . . And yet knowing her, you profess to love my niece." " I don't intend to discuss Miss Odell " " Here's my cab. Good-night," Lady An- struther said coldly and sailed away. Weldon swore quietly to himself, and was tempted to go away, but finally decided that it would be wise to see Lucie and find out exactly what had passed between her and Lady Anstruther. Estelle gave him a smile of welcome, and opened the door of the small sitting-room. " Madame is here," she announced. " Thank you, Estelle." At the sound of his voice Lucie jumped to her feet, and her breath came quickly, but she 56 DELILAH controlled her agitation, and met him with a calm, smiling face. " It's good to see you again. I'm so glad that you are not going to give me up entirely. Estelle, bring the whisky-and-soda." Royle settled himself into an arm-chair, and Lucie reclined on the divan. " So you know Lady Anstruther. ... I met her just now. She told me that I had been the subject of your conversation." He spoke with unusual nervousness, and fidgeted with his cigarette-case. " Yes, we did talk about you." " She spoke of her niece? " " Yes. I understand that Miss Odell is pretty and charming. May I congratulate you? " " Lucie, you said nothing to Lady Anstruther which might " " Really, Royle, you must have an abominable opinion of me. I accepted my dismissal I hope with grace and our affair is at an end. Indeed, I sincerely wish you all happiness." " Thank you, Lucie. You are a good sort," he said gratefully. " I'm looking forward to meeting Miss Odell. It is probable I shall see a good deal of Lady Anstruther," she remarked, and went on to tell of the possible production of Sir Donald's play. Royle listened uneasily, but made no comment. DELILAH 57 He hated the idea of Dawn meeting Lucie, but it was impossible to raise any reasonable objection. He stayed for a while, and it was Lucie who first rose. "I'm very tired, and we must observe the decencies and now that we are only friends. Good-night. I wish you the best of luck." She held out her hand, which he shook, dropped quickly, and they parted. CHAPTER VI LADY ANSTRUTHER was by no means malicious, but the unexpected meeting with Weldon gave her keen delight, and it was with a feeling of satisfaction that she entered the sitting-room, hoping that her niece had not yet gone to bed. Dawn was seated on the Chesterfield, and rose to greet her aunt. After Royle had gone, she had wondered what she should say about his visit, and had decided to make no attempt at concealment. As a matter of fact, Lady Anstruther had determined not to divulge her knowledge, but to wait to see if Dawn would give her her confidence. Her anxiety ceased at once, for as soon as she entered the room, Dawn addressed her nervously. " Aunt, dear, a few minutes after you had gone Mr. Weldon called, and I invited him here." " I know that. I have just met him, paying a call upon Miss Manett." " Miss Manett," repeated Dawn. " Yes the lady with whom we are lunching to-morrow. She and Mr. Weldon are the very greatest of friends the very greatest of friends," 58 DELILAH 59 she repeated, with a significance Dawn could not fail to understand. Lady Anstruther glanced at the clock, threw down her cloak, and then sank back into an arm-chair. " Give me the cigarette box, child and a match. And I believe I will have a ' peg.' India teaches one abominable habits. . . Thank you, dear," she went on when Dawn placed the whisky-and-soda on a table beside her. " Make yourself comfortable. We must have a heart- to-heart talk, and I want you to speak as freely as you would have done to your mother. First of all, I must ask you to trust me. Although I have lived in India for a long time, I have a great deal of worldly knowledge. I really like you, Dawn, and already your happiness has become my one remaining object in life. We must discuss Mr. Weldon. I am prepared to admit that I admire much about him, and could like him in any other position except that of your husband." " You are assuming that I'm going to marry him," Dawn interrupted quietly. " Yes, and I believe you would have done, if I had not appeared on the scene. Such a girl as yourself, with no knowledge of the world, is attracted by a man like Weldon. He has all the tricks at his fingers' end that attract a woman. There are few that could resist him, and you are not among the number." 60 DELILAH " Thank you," Dawn remarked dryly. " You will meet Miss Manett to-morrow. When you see her, you will realise you could never hold a man for long if she were keen to take him from you." " Thank you once more," Dawn again inter- rupted her, and now she spoke with unusual sharpness. " Lucie Manett loves him, and will never let him go." " Tell me, aunt, is Mr. Weldon in any way bound to Miss Manett bound in honour? " " No, he is not," Lady Anstruther admitted reluctantly. " To your knowledge is he bound to any other woman? Would any woman have the right to complain, should he decide to marry? " " No. But he is not fit to marry any decent young girl. He has lived a hectic life. It has been one long succession of love affairs. He has become notorious as a roue"." " I love that word roue. It sounds so tremendously interesting," Dawn remarked de- murely. " Are you a fool or are you trying to annoy me?" " Neither one nor the other. But I have a certain pride and a certain confidence in myself. I confess that your account of Royle's past rather interests me than otherwise. His experi- DELILAH 61 ences with other women render him all the more attractive. I simply loathe the ' goody-goody,' ' namby-pamby ' sort of person. I prefer one with a leaven of wickedness. I like Royle I believe I love him, but I'm not quite sure. At any rate, he could never bore me, and that counts for very much with me. As a matter of fact, I shall probably marry him," Dawn ended up quietly. Lady Anstruther had listened to her with growing amazement, and had difficulty in con- trolling her temper. " My child, are you quite mad, or only stupid ? " she demanded impatiently. " Please don't be angry with me, aunt. I firmly believe that I can be happy with Royle, and that I can make him happy. I simply don't care a hang about his lurid past, so long as his present and future are mine." " His present," snorted her aunt. " At the present moment he is with Miss Manett. If you marry him, you will never know any peace." " That's better than being bored. Curiously enough, I'm not in the least degree jealous. Royle simply worships me, and would never dream of looking at another woman. As a matter of fact he has told me all about his lurid past." " Nonsense, my dear. He couldn't have been with you for more than half an hour, and an 62 DELILAH account of his past would fill a three-volume novel." " When we are married I shall make him tell me everything everything," she repeated with emphasis. " You are not jealous ? " " Why should I be ? He didn't know me then. Of course, if anything happened now . . . but that's impossible." " My child, you will have a very bitter awaken- ing. But I don't intend to waste more words at present. I can only pray that you will soon outgrow your infatuation. Just a word before we go to bed. In the future, I shall be glad if you will not receive visitors after dinner when you are alone. If it were known that Royle Weldon had spent half an hour with you alone to-night, your reputation would be eternally damned." " Very well, I won't do it again, but I felt I must see Royle to-night. By the bye, is Miss Manett very beautiful ? " Dawn asked indif- ferently. " Simply lovely." "Dark or fair?" " Dark, with a beautiful figure." " Beautiful you mean on the large side. What one generally calls a fine woman." " She has a magnificent figure." " Yes, I understand, but I shall see for myself to-morrow. Good-night, aunt dear I hope I DELILAH 63 am not making myself a horrible nuisance. You can't know how glad I am to be with you. Be patient, dear. I'll try not to worry you too much. . . . The gowns were promised for the morning, weren't they? " " Yes. Good-night, Dawn." They exchanged an affectionate kiss, and when the door had closed, Lady Anstruther sighed. This ward of hers was likely to prove to be a great responsibility, for she had evidently decided to marry Weldon, and it would not be an easy matter to prevent her from doing so. In spite of her knowledge of him, it was difficult to conjure up any dislike of Weldon. Apart from Dawn, she would be quite prepared to make a friend of him. At any rate he was a virile man, and it was impossible to treat him lightly. The next morning Dawn did not get up for breakfast, but stayed in bed until the gowns arrived. Then she bathed and dressed very leisurely, so that it was nearly twelve o'clock when she joined her aunt in the sitting-room. " That dress becomes you, my dear. You are looking really lovely," Lady Anstruther remarked with evident sincerity. j " Thank you. I wanted to look my best. I'm so glad you approve of me." As Dawn spoke, she crossed the room, and examined her reflection in the mirror. Her aunt watched her with amusement, but the 64 DELILAH amused expression left her face when a servant came in and announced that Mr. Weldon wished to see Lady Anstruther. " I'm not at home." But Dawn intervened quietly. " Aunt, I'll go down and see Mr. Weldon." The servant stood at the door hesitatingly. "I've changed my mind. Ask Mr. Weldon to come up here," Lady Anstruther said quietly, and the maid went away. Aunt and niece regarded one another steadily. " Open rebellion," commented Lady Anstruther. " Not at all. Merely the assertion of my rights," Dawn answered quietly. " The same thing. Mr. Weldon asked to see me not you." " I propose to go into my bedroom as soon as he arrives. I believe he has come to speak to you and not myself. He and I have nothing to say to one another at present," she said with a smile, and did not speak again until Weldon appeared, and then she merely wished him " Good-morning " and walked to the door which led to her bedroom. " Aunt did not wish to see you, but I insisted. So please do not detain her too long, as we have an appointment for lunch . . . with a Miss Manett, whom I believe you know. Perhaps you may be able to join us. Colonel Wilmot is also coming. You know him as well." DELILAH 65 Dawn nodded brightly and disappeared. Her aunt had listened in consternation, but as soon as the door had closed began to laugh, for she possessed a keen sense of humour. Royle smiled, for he was beginning to suspect what had hap- pened . . . he, too, had a sense of humour, and the smile became a laugh. " She is wonderful," he said appreciatively. " And so are you. Wonderful in your impu- dence. I must confess that I'm drifting out of my depth." " Can't I keep your head above water ? Is it quite impossible to be friends ? I hate to feel that you are my enemy. I swear that I will be good to Dawn. I love her devotedly, and not a hair of her head shall be harmed. I'll never look at another woman. . . . Lady Anstruther, don't be too hard on me. I've always tried to play the game in my way. I implore you to give me a chance," he said pleadingly. She realised that it was no light thing for this man to make such an appeal. To her amaze- ment she found herself wishing to help him, and, woman-like, she weakened. He saw his advantage, and quickly seized hold of it, and received an invitation to join the luncheon party. CHAPTER VII A FEW minutes later Dawn joined them, and not till then did Lady Anstruther realise what she had done. There could be no doubt she was not playing fairly towards Lucie Manett, and she was very annoyed with herself. But the deed was done and she must make the best of the situation. When they arrived at the Ritz Hotel the Colonel was awaiting them in the lounge, but he frowned when he saw Royle Weldon with the two ladies. However, his manner was suave and ingratiating as he greeted them. And then, to his blank amazement, he saw Lucie rapidly approaching them. Royle was prepared, but she was taken com- pletely by surprise. Her stage training enabled her to behave quite naturally, and there was a smile on her lips as she bowed to Dawn in answer to Lady Anstruther's introduction. The two women examined one another with an interest that neither could conceal, but the mutual inspec- tion gave no pleasure, for each found the other charming in appearance. The Colonel took possession of Dawn, and there 66 DELILAH 67 was malice in this move. At the table Royle sat between Lucie and Lady Anstruther, but for a time the conversation was general. " I congratulate you, Royle. Miss Odell is exceedingly pretty," Lucie said in a low voice. In spite of a natural pique, he was relieved to find that she accepted the situation without any sign of resentment. The table was a round one, and the two girls had adjoining seats. It was not until the sweets had been served that they exchanged a direct remark. " Mr. Weldon tells me that you have only just come to town," Lucie said politely. " Yes. Of course I've been in London for a day or two, but this will be my first long stay. I never wish to bury myself in the country again," Dawn answered pleasantly. " And I never wish to see London again. I long for a life of peace and quiet, but my work compels me to live here." " You are an actress the first I've ever met. I simply love the theatre. I do hope I shall soon be able to see you act." " Perhaps you will in a play written by your uncle." " How exciting ! " cried Dawn, and then she turned to Royle. " You will take us to the first night?" " With pleasure," he answered promptly. It was difficult for him to keep his eyes from 68 DELILAH her face, but he was struggling hard to do nothing that might make Lucie feel uncomfortable. He had forced this invitation from Lady Anstruther, because he had realised it would be impossible to keep Lucie and Dawn apart. Therefore it would be better if he himself were present at their meeting. Man-like he did not like the calm way in which Lucie was accepting the rupture of their relations. It would have pleased his vanity if she had shown a little more concern at losing him, but her acceptance of the position certainly made things more comfortable all around. After the meal was over coffee was served in the lounge, and Dawn purposely took the next chair to Lucie. Royle had been manoeuvring to get the former alone, but had to be content with a seat on the other side. There was no chance of any conversation, for Dawn deliberately addressed herself to Lucie. " I do hope we shall be friends. I know no one in London no one of my own age," she said earnestly. " I am much older than you, Miss Odell. And I hardly think that we shall mix with the same people," Lucie answered quietly. " I don't wish to know a lot of ' stodgy ' people. May I come and see you some day ? " " Perhaps your aunt will bring you," Lucie answered evasively, for she had no wish to be intimate with her rival DELILAH 69 However, it soon occurred to her that it might be convenient to be on good terms, and so proceeded to be very gracious, and soon the two women were talking together with animation. Royle moodily looked on and finally turned to Lady Anstruther. Colonel Wilmot had just gone, pleading an engagement. " I hope you are enjoying yourself, Mr. Weldon," Lady Anstruther remarked dryly, and then glanced at her niece and Lucie. " I am afraid I'm still a little old-fashioned in my ideas. Don't you feel uncomfortable in seeing Miss Manett talking to the woman you want to marry ? " " The position was forced on me. Are you not responsible for it ? " " It was you who insisted upon coming to lunch. I merely assented to your strongly ex- pressed wish." " Why did you go to see Miss Manett the other night? Was it not on my account? Did you not wish to find out something to my discredit ? " " Perhaps," she admitted frankly. "Did you?" " No. Miss Manett spoke most highly of you. I was amazed at her generosity, which, under the peculiar circumstances, was simply wonderful. Don't you agree with me ? " she asked sweetly. " I do. . . . Will you tell me one thing? In the future, am I to regard you as an enemy or a friend ? " 70 DELILAH " You mean in regard to Dawn." " Yes," he answered impatiently. " For the present my position will be neutral." " Do you forbid me to see Dawn? " " I recognise it would be useless to do so. The girl has a strong will of her own." " I give you permission to tell her anything you like about me." " Thank you," she said dryly. " But there are some subjects one does not care to discuss with a young girl." " I have concealed nothing from her." " You are a very brave man . . . but you are wise. You have had the intelligence to see that Dawn is attracted by such a man as your- self. I believe it is your reputation she is in love with, and not yourself." " Heaven forbid," he breathed fervently. " This new world is so strange to her. The few men she has met have been your opposite in every respect, and they have bored her. I have already noticed that Dawn is very easily bored. If you take my advice you will not cease to be the ' swashbuckler ' in love. Don't confine all your attention to Dawn. Don't become servile. Culti- vate a mild flirtation or two." " Never," he said emphatically. " I've abso- lutely finished with that sort of thing." " You are really a wonderful sort of man. My reason tells me to oppose you in every way, DELILAH 71 and I find myself giving you most excellent advice, which you promptly scorn. . . . Dawn, we have an appointment with the dressmakers. Come along, my dear. No, Mr. Weldon, please don't disturb yourself." He had risen, but Lady Anstruther drew Dawn along with her. " As a matter of fact, I really don't want you. Stay and look after Miss Manett," the elder woman remarked. Before Royle could say anything, she was walking rapidly away. He turned round and met Lucie's smile of amusement. " I'm not in a hurry for half an hour. ... So that's the girl you are going to marry. I'm so glad I have met her," she said pleasantly. " You like her ? " he asked eagerly. " Yes, but I'm not quite sure " " Go on," he said peremptorily, when she paused. " No. I won't say any more. You'll only put it down to jealousy. Besides, I see no reason why I should give you good sound advice." " I insist." " Very well. Don't spoil the girl. Continue to be your natural self . . . that's all." " Lady Anstruther said something of the same thing. Lucie, you have been awfully decent, and I'm very grateful." 72 DELILAH " Don't," she cried quickly, and for the first time allowed a sign of her suffering to escape her. " Most women would have been spiteful and beastly. You are one of a million." " Royle, my one wish is for your happiness." " I believe that, and I don't deserve such consideration. There is just one other thing I want to say. You aren't working just now. As you know, I have more money than I can possibly spend, and " " How dare you " she interrupted him fiercely, and then broke into a laugh. " As you are going to be married, you will doubtless find a use for your surplus bank balance. Besides, there will be settlements and all that sort of thing." " But if you are hard up " he persisted. " Thanks to your generosity I've been able to save quite a decent sum. Moreover, I shall soon be working again. No, Royle, dear, there is absolutely nothing which need worry you, so far as I am concerned. Now that I'm free, I may even contemplate the possibility of mar- riage," she said reflectively, but she gave him a quick glance to note the effect of this announce- ment. "Have you any particular man in view?" he asked, and she was delighted to see that he was disturbed. " Do you think you have the right to ask that question ? " DELILAH 73 " But we are friends, and I like you very much indeed." " Thank you for nothing," she said dryly. " Now I must go. By the bye, Miss Odell appears anxious to be friends have you any objection ? " "No . . . but don't be too intimate with her." " Are you afraid that I might contaminate her innocence ? " she demanded scornfully. " Well, good-bye and good luck. No, I don't want you to come with me." Her car was awaiting her, and as soon as she was seated in it, the expression of her face changed completely. Gone was the self-control which had been so rigidly imposed. All the time she had been with Dawn, she had been tormented with jealousy. Now she was more determined than ever that Royle should not marry the girl. To do her justice, she was convinced that Royle and Dawn were unsuited to one another, and that in a very short time he would be bored. " She shan't have him," she told herself, and began to make plans to keep them apart. Now she had met Dawn, she recognised that in her she had a foe worthy of her steel; the girl was quite capable of putting up a good fight, for she possessed wit and intelligence as well as beauty. CHAPTER VIII A WEEK later, Dawn realised that Royle was no sluggard lover, and that he did not intend to give her much time in which to make up her mind. His whirlwind methods appealed to her, and she liked the feeling of being " carried off her legs." Lady Anstruther took her about a good deal, and Dawn met many people. It was extremely interesting when Royle was the topic of conversa- tion, especially when he was discussed by a new acquaintance, a girl of her own age, Myrtil Robinson by name, an actress of some promise. It was Lucie Manett who brought the two girls together. " She has been most awfully good to me," explained Myrtil. " A few months ago I was on my ' beam ends,' but I met Lucie and she gave me a chance in London. More than that, she lent me twenty-five pounds, and I shall never forget her kindness ... I would do anything for her," Myrtil wound up enthusiastically. " She is very beautiful," Dawn commented. " And she's good. But just lately she hasn't been happy. Oh ! I do loathe men. They can be such beasts." 74 DELILAH 75 " Are you thinking of any man in particular ? " Dawn asked quietly. " Yes. Royle Weldon. I hate the type of man." " Do you know him ? " " I've met him and that's quite sufficient," Myrtil said dryly. " But I thought he was generally popular with women." " Too popular he has the power to make fools of them, and he has abused his power. Lucie was not the only one. Before her, there was a long list. I can't conceive why on earth the man couldn't marry and settle down." " Perhaps he will," suggested Dawn. " Then I shall be sorry for his victim. At any rate he has ' chucked ' Lucie, and I only hope that he will marry some woman who will make him suffer a little of what he has made other women suffer," Myrtil said vindictively, and then she laughed. " But let us talk of something more interesting. Lucie is going to produce a play written by your uncle, and she has promised to give me a decent part." After they parted, Dawn was very thoughtful. It was curious that she felt no real dislike at what she had heard. She argued that Royle's past did not concern her. It was the present and future that mattered, and he was proving himself to be the most devoted of lovers. Each whim and wish 76 DELILAH was instantly gratified, and he spent every possible moment with her. He behaved with such discre- tion that Lady Anstmther found it impossible to interfere effectively. One night after they had come back from the theatre, where Royle had taken them, she spoke very seriously to Dawn. " I must confess that I don't understand you, my dear. You appear to have eyes for no one but Mr. Weldon. You encourage him most outrageously, and if you do not marry him . . . the man is making a perfect fool of himself. Hitherto, his success with women has been due to his cavalier treatment of them at least I believe that's the reason. But he has become a slave, and to a chit of a girl like yourself." " Perhaps he's really in love for the first time," Dawn suggested demurely. " It may be the case, extraordinary as it seems," her aunt said reflectively. " But I should have thought you would have been the last to attract him. You are such a complete change from what has appealed to him in the past." " Doesn't that rather bear out my idea ? " came the laughing answer. When Dawn was alone in her room she sat down to think over the events of the last week or two. Since her aunt's return there had been no time for thought. All the time they had been doing something exciting, and when she retired to DELILAH 77 bed she had fallen asleep immediately. But now she must make up her mind. That night Royle had been very serious, and had told her that he was going to call at twelve o'clock the following morning, and asking her to try to arrange to be alone. " There is something I want to say to you something that means everything to me," he had whispered earnestly. Dawn had no doubt that she loved him, but there was a natural reluctance to renounce her freedom. After all she had tasted little of the enjoyments of a girl she realised that she lacked knowledge of life, but under Royle's tuition she would learn very quickly. Of course, she might retain her freedom for a while, by telling him that she was not yet sure of her feelings towards him, but with a man of his character there would be a degree of danger in taking that course. He was not to be trifled with, and might quickly find consolation in some other woman. The fact that he was so popular with her sex formed one of his great attractions. It was pleasant to feel that she owned something that others desired. Already Dawn had noticed that men liked her. All that she had met showed her marked attention, and she could not misread the expression of their eyes. If it had not been for Royle she could have had a really good time. It would have been delightful to indulge in flirtations and have felt 78 DELILAH her power as a woman. But Royle was a host in himself, and she must consider herself extremely lucky to have won him. For the first time she began to wonder if she could keep him. The history of his past suggested that he was inconstant, and if he could grow tired of such an attractive woman as Lucie, might he not weary of herself ? But the self-confidence of youth reassured her. She rose quickly, switched on the light and regarded herself critically in the long mirror. Her shoulders were bare and the silk night-dress revealed her figure. Her hair, with its sheen of gold, fell below her waist, and the masses of it formed an effective background. Her slender figure was full of grace, and she was content with herself. Perhaps Lucie was more beautiful, but youth gave Dawn the advantage. " I have no one to fear," she told herself, as she slipped into bed. In the morning she lay in bed, dreaming of what was before her. Her aunt, who had an early appointment in Bond Street, came into the room, and gently chided her for her laziness. " Royle is coming at twelve o'clock. Please don't come back till till one o'clock," Dawn said in a low voice, and a faint colour appeared in her cheeks. " I suppose he's going to ask you to marry him. Well, my child, I shan't presume to advise. If DELILAH 79 you accept him, you will do so with your eyes open, and if the marriage is not a success, please don't come to me for sympathy. I'll dare a prophecy and tell you what will happen. You'll probably keep Royle to you for well I'll give him six months. Then some strange face will appeal to him. The leopard can't change his spots. He's a decent sort at heart, and will put up a sort of fight to remain faithful to you. But nature will have its way. . . . But I won't say any more. You are looking very pretty this morning, dear. And I wish you all happiness." So saying, Lady Anstruther took Dawn in her arms and kissed her affectionately. " In spite of your faults you have a few, my child I am growing to love you," she went on, and Dawn was moved by this show of affection, and returned the embrace. " I know I am a silly little idiot, but I do know what I want, and what I want, I want awfully. And I'm quite willing to pay for it. I know that I shall be running a risk by marrying Royle, but after all isn't life one huge gamble ? " " You are learning wisdom, Dawn, but you will find in the long run that it pays to play for safety." " But that is so uninteresting. . . . May I ask Mr. Weldon to stay to lunch ? if I wish him to stay," she added hastily. " You can do just as you please," was the kindly 8o DELILAH answer, and Lady Anstruther hastened away, pausing at the door to wave an adieu. Dawn dressed leisurely, taking great pains with her toilet, and it was eleven o'clock when she went into the sitting-room. A feeling of restlessness possessed her, and she could not sit down quietly, but paced up and down. There was a knock at the door, and in answer to her call to " come in," Lucie appeared. " They told me you were at home, so I came straight upstairs," Lucie began, and spoke a little nervously. " Aunt has just gone out and won't be back for a couple of hours," answered Dawn, and she pointedly omitted to ask her visitor to sit down. " I came to see you. Perhaps you can spare me half an hour." Lucie had not contemplated paying this visit, but had acted upon the impulse of the moment. She had spent a night of agony, for her acquaint- ances and friends had not failed to tell her of the marked attention that Royle was paying to Dawn. His temperament to her was an unsealed book, and she knew his methods thoroughly well. At first she had thought of making a last desperate appeal to him, but reason said that such a move would be quite hopeless; there remahied Dawn, but even when facing her, Lucie did not know what to say. Normally a proud woman, she hated to humiliate herself, but there was so much at stake DELILAH 81 that she was prepared to go to any lengths to gain her object. Dawn looked questioningly at her, and glanced at the clock. " Yes, I can spare half an hour, but then I expect a caller." " Royle Weldon ! " Lucie said swiftly, and at once knew that she had hit upon the truth. " It is about him that I wish to talk to you. Rumour says that you will marry him. Is the rumour true ? If not, I shall have nothing more to say, but shall go away at once." " But if it is true ? . . . Afte rail, there is no reason why I should confirm or deny it." " There is every reason in the world why I should know. Hasn't Lady Anstruther spoken to you about about Royle and myself? " " I have heard your namts coupled by several people. But I understand that the episode has closed," Dawn said coldly. " He gave me up after a long intimacy, and I made no protest to him. I come here to throw myself on your mercy. You are just at the be- ginning of your life he is the first man you have known. Your beauty will attract many others. You can't have grown to care for Royle in this short time. Please be generous and give him back to me. It can mean so little to you, but so very much to me." " How can you know how much he means to 82 DELILAH me? Am I not as capable as you of loving? The depth of one's affection cannot be measured by one's years. Miss Manett, you should not have come to me. I hate to be unkind " " You are cruel, but some day you yourself will suffer, as I am suffering. Perhaps you will ask for mercy of the woman who supplants you ; and then you will remember this day. But I agree with you I should not have come and humbled myself. Please forget that I have been here this morning. Good-bye." " Good-bye. I am sorry. I'm afraid I have been hard. Please forgive me. As you say, I am young and " Lucie stood at the door and looked back at her rival. " You may make him happy. I sincerely hope so Good-bye." And the door closed behind her. CHAPTER IX JAMES MURDOCH, a barrister of rapidly increas- ing fame, had been in Paris on a commission, and upon returning to London, visited his club, where he asked for Weldon. The two men had been friends since their school-days, and perhaps their friendship had endured because they each made a point of not interfering in the other's affairs. Upon finding out that Weldon had not been seen for a day or two, he went to the smoking-room and asked for news of him from a mutual acquaint- ance. " Haven't you heard ? Weldon has fallen in love with some young girl from the country, and rumour says he's going to marry her," was the laughing answer. Murdoch proceeded to ask questions, and when he had learnt all there was to know, went to Royle's chambers, where he was told by Royle's servant that his master had gone to the theatre. " I'll come back at eleven o'clock," Murdoch remarked, and left. During dinner he thought over what he had heard, and could not believe that Royle really 83 84 DELILAH intended to marry and settle down. He knew his friend's disposition so well, and could not imagine him living a respectable family life. It was with a feeling of curiosity that he sat down in Weldon's comfortable sitting-room to await his return. There was no display of women's photographs formerly there had been a single one of Lucie Manett and the furniture was by no means luxurious. On the walls were hung a few good sporting prints and a pair of excellent landscapes. It was nearly half-past eleven when Royle came in, and he gave Murdoch a hearty welcome. " Glad you're back, old chap. I was going to write to you ; and you know how I loathe writing letters," he said with a laugh. " If rumour doesn't lie, you might have found this letter a particularly difficult one to write," Murdoch remarked dryly. " What rumour? " asked Royle, but he looked away from his friend. " That you are going to marry some chit of a girl. Of course, it's no business of mine, and if you wish, I'll shut up." He paused inquiringly, but Royle made no sign. " All right, I'll get along with it. Is it a flirta- tion or " " No, Jim. I shall marry if she'll have me. I was completely bowled over on sight. It's the real thing at last." DELILAH 85 " One generally believes that of the latest. How old ? " " Twenty-two . . . Jim, she's beautiful, and thank God, unworldly. She's so different to all the women I've met. All her life she's been care- fully guarded and " " Then she has the innocence of ignorance. Well, Royle, that's the last sort of a woman I should have thought would have interested you." " Since I met Dawn I seem to have changed completely," Royle said earnestly. " Ye gods, you have got it badly; and you've roused my curiosity. When can I meet her? " " To-morrow. Lunch at one-thirty at the Carlton. If we are late, sit down in the palm garden and wait for us." " Are you formally engaged ? " " Not yet, but perhaps " " So you are going to perpetrate the fell deed before lunch. Well, Royle, I am not sure that I can honestly wish you luck. Lucie would have made you an admirable wife. By the bye, has your love caused you to forget Lucie? " " No. I told her at once." " Forgive my curiosity, but what did she say ? " " Very little. She accepted the position quite calmly. I must admit I had been dreading a scene." " And were half-disappointed when a scene was not inflicted upon you." 86 DELILAH "Yes; but of course it was a relief," Royle admitted with a laugh. " I'm inclined to think that Lucie had ceased to care for me. We had become too much like husband and wife. We'd been seeing too much of one another. Yes, things have turned out very well. Lady Anstruther Dawn's aunt knew Lucie, and " " By the bye, does Dawn I may be permitted to call her Dawn, eh? does Dawn know about Lucie and her predecessors ? " " Lady Anstruther knows all there is to know, and will probably have felt it her duty to tell Dawn. In fact, I gave her permission to do so. I've no wish to win Dawn under false pretences. I prefer her to know the very worst of me." " But won't her innocence be horribly shocked ? Besides, such a story is quite unfitted for the ears of the young girl you have described," Murdoch said lightly, but his eyes were grave as they rested on his friend. " Dawn has good sound common sense." " She'll need it all with you as a partner." " But I've changed absolutely changed. I'm disgusted with myself for the way I've behaved. I swear I'll never look at a woman again." " A long engagement, eh ? " " Why do you ask? " " Don't give yourself too long a time in which to test this new resolve." " I can see I shall never make you understand." DELILAH 87 " There is a saying that the reformed rake makes the best husband, and if there's any truth your wife should be an ideally happy woman. But I'm worried about Lucie. Now I'll tell you a thing I've been careful never to allow you to suspect. You met her before I did, and I was too late. If I had had the chance I I should have done my utmost to make her my wife." " Ye gods ! " Royle cried in astonishment. " Often I've been tempted to talk of it, and try to persuade you to marry her. If I hadn't known she loved you deeply, I believe I should have done my utmost to take her away from you. Do you imagine that she liked the idea of being your mistress ? " " She never hinted at at my marrying her." " She loved you too much, and was afraid of driving you away. She was content to hold you at any price. And she did pay a big price." " I never suspected " " You wouldn't, but I don't blame you. All the time, I understood you did not care for her in the same way that I did. Now we'll talk of something else. Or rather I think I'll go home to bed. See you at one-thirty to-morrow. By- bye." Murdoch walked slowly back to his chambers, which were in an adjacent street, and thought over what had just passed between his friend and himself. At first he regretted having made the 88 DELILAH confession upon the impulse of the moment, but after reflection decided that he had acted wisely. While Royle and Lucie had been together his lips had been sealed. He had seen nothing very immoral in their relationship so long as they loved one another. He was one of the men who think that there is infinitely more sin in the living together of a man and wife who have no love for one another. But Murdoch possessed no religious scruples. In the morning he decided to take a day's holiday before returning to his work in the Temple, and soon after twelve o'clock he entered Lucie's flat. She had returned from her interview with Dawn, and had at once gone to her bed- room. When Estelle came to announce her visitor, she quickly dried her eyes and composed herself. " I will be with him in a quarter of an hour," she said. Lucie had a genuine liking for Murdoch, and as Royle's friend had grown to look upon him as a brother to be trusted. At the moment he was the only person in the world that she cared to see, and when she joined him, it was difficult to detect any sign of the suffering which she had undergone. " Hello, Jim. You are looking very fit. When did you get back? " she said cheerfully. " Yesterday." " Have you seen Royle ? " DELILAH 89 " Last night." " Then it is not necessary for me to break the astounding news." " No. Is it any use discussing it ? " he asked, and to his annoyance could not keep the sym- pathy from his voice that he was feeling for her ; for he knew how much she would hate to be pitied. " I don't think so. She is a charming girl." " You mean that or do you say it from generosity ? " " No, I really mean it." " Is she the sort of woman Royle should marry? " " Do you think he is the sort of man who should marry any woman ? " she asked bitterly. " He assures me he has changed completely." " Royle is in love with her. I now know that he never really loved me, and it makes it so hard to bear. But you were right, Jim. It's no use discussing it," she said wearily. " He told me that you accepted the position. He was inclined to feel hurt that you made no effort to hold him." " But you understand the reason," she said with confidence. " I'm not sure that I do. Anyhow, I'd rather not know. Royle is the only real friend I've ever had, and I'm very fond of him. Now I'll tell you something else. You are the one woman I've 90 DELILAH ever loved. . . . Please don't say anything. I tell you this now because " " I understand. Please don't put your reason into words. You are a good sort, Jim." " You have nothing to give me but friendship, and I shan't worry you in any way. But I don't want to lose my pal and " " There's no necessity. I have too few friends. . . . With Royle I couldn't " " Shut up, Lucie. Dine with me to-night, and we'll ' do ' a theatre afterwards. . . . One last word before I go. If I can do anything anything," he repeated, " please let me know. I am always at your service." " Oh, Jim, if it only had been you I cared f or ! " " I wish to heaven it had been," he cried, and took a step towards her. In an instant his arms were around her, and she was sobbing piteously, her head on his breast. Very wisely Jim made no attempt to comfort her, but at last she released herself and hurried from the room. With a sigh, he took up his hat and went away. In an hour he would be with Royle and Dawn. " I believe I dislike the girl before I've met her," he thought. " Poor Lucie," he said under his breath. CHAPTER X WHEN Royle had finished breakfast he went to the library, and sat down at an old bureau. Naturally careless with his correspondence, he proceeded to examine the contents of the drawers, tearing up many of the letters, and putting others aside. Those from Lucie he destroyed at once as soon as he recognised her handwriting, but now and again he could not fail to read a sentence, which recalled the past and gave him a feeling of discomfort. The disclosure by Murdoch of the previous night that he loved Lucie added to his uneasi- ness, and deep down in Royle's heart was the knowledge that he had not behaved fairly to her. But love is innately selfish. A new personality had taken possession of him, and he could only think of Dawn she was now the one person that mattered. His task over, he lighted a cigarette and dreamt of the future. Since reaching manhood he had valued his freedom above everything else, and now he longed to fetter himself. His bachelor days were over, and he must view life from a different point of view. Dawn's wishes should be 91 92 DELILAH his first consideration. Moreover, it would be necessary to live in a house, and he had grown to love these rooms. But very soon he was only thinking of the coming interview with Dawn. In an hour his lips might be pressed to those of the woman who enthralled him. At last he took off his dressing- gown and chose a new tie with some care. As a rule dress did not trouble him very much, but to-day he was difficult to please. Punctually to the moment he arrived at the hotel, and was immediately taken up to Lady Anstruther's sitting-room. There was no one there when he arrived, so he sat, but had not very long to wait, for a few moments later Dawn came in, a shy smile of welcome on her face. " Dawn, I love you. Will you marry me ? " he cried tensely. She had expected to be wooed, and his blunt declaration disconcerted her. " Really, Mr. Weldon, you are just a little bit abrupt," she answered nervously. " Forgive me, but I can't play about with a thing that means so much to me. Since we first met you have never been out of my thoughts. Before we parted, that day, I had made up my mind that you should be my wife." " Without asking my permission ? " she suggested demurely " I knew that such love as mine must com- DELILAH 93 mand a return. But, Dawn, dear, don't trifle with me. Just come to me and say you will marry me." He approached her with open arms, but she drew back instinctively. " You haven't asked me if I love you." " But you do you do," he cried triumphantly. " It seems to me you are taking too much for granted." " I adore you. I'm only happy when you're with me. I know I'm not worthy of you. But I swear that you shall have nothing to complain about in the future," he said appealingly. Royle had none of the old domineering way. He no longer spoke as a master, and Dawn resented the change in him. The temptation to tease him became too strong. " You are the only man I've ever really known. And aunt tells me I'm too young to know my own mind. Wouldn't it have been better if you had waited awhile ? " she said quietly. " You are right, but I simply couldn't wait any longer. Dawn, you do love me ? " No longer was it a statement made, but a question asked, and she became impatient. " First tell me what love is," she said evasively, and it was with difficulty that he controlled himself. There was a mischievous, tantalising expression in her eyes that was new to him. 94 DELILAH " Look at me and deny that you love me." " Won't you wait for a month and let me make sure? It would be terrible if I were to make a mistake." It gave her pleasure to witness his anxiety, for he deserved a lesson for having been so con- fident that she would accept him. " Real love cannot be mistaken. Dawn, I want you oh so badly, dear." " I'm afraid you've been spoilt. You are too used to getting everything for the mere asking for it. You are asking me for all I have to give." " And if you are the woman I believe you to be, you will give it willingly. You are generosity itself, and haven't a mean bone in your body. Dawn, I love you body and soul," he cried passionately. " Give me a month. Aunt doesn't think " " Hang your aunt. This affects you and me no one else." Now he spoke peremptorily, and she was pleased. She wanted the domineering lord, not the humble slave. She preferred to be mastered than to be wooed. Royle was rapidly losing his patience. He believed that she was playing with him, and he was not accustomed to being treated lightly by women. "If I go away, I shall never come back," he said quietly. DELILAH 95 " It isn't wise to threaten me," she said angrily, for he had hurt her pride. Their eyes met for the first time his alight with love and hers . . . But what he read in them caused him to forget everything, and with a half -suppressed cry he seized her in his arms, and kissed her again and again. " You are my woman. I know it. Kiss me, darling," he cried fiercely. Now he had become the man she believed him to be. She thrilled from the touch of his lips, and her bosom rose and fell quickly. His arms were still around her, but he released her and firmly took her face between his hands and looked deep into her eyes. " I vow to devote my life to your happiness," he said gravely. " May God deal with me as I deal with you. I have been a bad lot, but your love has regenerated me. I hate I loathe the past. The present the future every moment is yours, dear one. You possess me entirely, and you can do with me as you will. If you are ambitious, I will make a name. I know I have ability, although it has lain fallow." Dawn listened to him eagerly, and then of her own accord her arms went around his neck, and she kissed him. " Then you do love me," he cried, and his voice shook with emotion. " Yes." 96 DELILAH " And you will marry me very soon," he continued impetuously. " When you like," she answered simply. " We'll say in a week." " But my clothes ! " she protested. " We can buy them in Paris. Dawn, darling, I simply can't live without you." " I wonder how many women you have said that to," she asked, and there was no jealousy, only curiosity, in the question. " To none, except yourself." " Nonsense 1 You must have told many that you loved them." " Yes," he admitted, " but there are different kinds of love, and I have said more to you than just expressing my love. I have never before given myself to a woman as I have given myself to you. . . . Dawn, you must believe me ! " he cried vehemently. " Yes, I believe you, and you have made me very happy." Once more they embraced, and his arms were still around her when Lady Anstruther appeared. " I should have knocked at the door," the latter began dryly. " Well, I suppose I ought to con- gratulate you both. At any rate, I can honestly wish you happiness." " Isn't it splendid ? " Royle said impetuously. " And Dawn has promised to marry me in a week " DELILAH 97 " Nonsense. . . . We'll say in six months," Lady Anstruther corrected him severely. " No. I simply can't wait, and Dawn agrees." " Young man, you haven't yet asked my permission." " I'm sorry, but Dawn is of age." " But I'm her guardian, and she won't have a penny if she marries without my consent." " I don't want her money," Royle said impatiently. " But she'll need it. A wife should be inde- pendent of her husband in money matters." " I see no reason for it. I have plenty, and what is mine is Dawn's." " Although you haven't asked for it, I give my consent. I'm afraid it would be useless to refuse it. But I shall insist upon a proper marriage settlement being drawn up." " I'll hurry the lawyers. Shall we say a fort- night ? " he pleaded. " I think I could be ready in a month," remarked Dawn, and spoke with quiet decision. " Very well," consented Lady Anstruther, and shrugged her shoulders. " But I must say a few words to protect myself. Mr. Weldon ... I suppose I must call you Royle. Well, Royle, I told Dawn that I don't altogether approve of you as a husband. At any rate, she can never say that she has gone to you blinded as to your faults. I shall expect neither of you to worry me with your quarrels." 7 98 DELILAH " We shan't quarrel," Royle answered con- fidently. " Royle, I warned Dawn against you, and before it's too late I warn you against Dawn. I believe you to be eminently unsuited to be husband and wife. She's not the simple little girl you believe her to be. She has a strong will so have you and your wills will clash. That is inevitable. Don't treat her as the innocent, ignorant country girl. Rather treat her as you have been wont to treat women. Treat her with just as little con- sideration as you have treated the others. Then you may command happiness . . . other- wise " She broke off and again shrugged her shoulders. " Now I've had my say, and we'll talk of some- thing else." " Come with us to lunch to meet Jim Murdoch. Dawn, darling, he has been my great ' pal,' and I want you to be very nice to him. There'll be just time to stop in Bond Street and chose a ring," he said cheerfully. " No, I don't believe I'll join you. But you may dine with us to-night, Royle," Lady Anstruther said, and gave him a kindly smile. Dawn went to her room for her hat, and as soon as she had gone, her aunt placed her hand on Royle's shoulder. " I meant what I said just now. My advice was good, and you'll be wise to follow it. You've DELILAH 99 mastered Dawn continue to be the master," she urged him. " There should be equality with love," he answered gravely. " Tosh ! I know Dawn, and I know what I'm talking about. As a matter of fact, I believe you to be a good sort, and I like you. Now that it's settled, I'll do all I can to help. . . I can forgive you everything but Lucie. That business rather sticks in my throat. See you at dinner," she said, and departed. CHAPTER XI WHEN Murdoch left Lucie, he set out for the Carlton Hotel, and had become very curious to meet Dawn. It was only natural that his sym- pathy should be with the woman he loved, and he was inclined to dislike the girl who had sup- planted her. Upon reaching the palm garden, he sat down and ordered a " cocktail." Yes, he would greatly miss Royle common sense told him that he would not see nearly so much of his friend when married. He would infinitely have preferred him to marry Lucie. Murdoch's cynical manner covered a really kindly heart, and his sole desire was for her happiness. At last Weldon appeared and looked around. Murdoch rose, and by the time he had gone up the few steps, Dawn was there, and she approached them smiling. " Dawn, this is my friend, Jim Murdoch," said Royle. " I am so glad to meet you," Dawn said, with evident sincerity. Murdoch made a quick examination, and real- ised her beauty to the full. It was easy to under- 100 DELILAH 101 stand Royle's infatuation, but he began to wonder if she were as intelligent as she was pretty. As they sat down in the restaurant, he noticed the flash of diamonds on her " engagement " finger, and knew that Royle had triumphed. He pointedly glanced at the ring and then looked inquiringly at his friend. " Yes ; Dawn has promised to marry me. With the exception of her aunt, you are the first to know of our engagement. Jim, I'm the happiest man in the world." Murdoch expressed a wish for their happiness, but a grim smile had appeared on his face. He had seen Royle with many women, and had admired his manner with them; but the manner had completely changed. There was no attempt to conceal his love for the girl. Royle's whole attitude breathed adoration, and he anticipated her every wish. It was strange to see Weldon behaving like a love-sick youth, and the sight did not please Murdoch. " I called to see Lucie this morning," he remarked with cruel deliberation. " Why didn't you bring her with you to lunch ? She came to see me this morning, but I didn't know that we were coming here, or I would have asked her," Dawn said quietly. " You like Miss Manett ? " asked Murdoch. " Very much indeed and so does aunt." " She is a splendid woman. Now that she will 102 DELILAH be able to concentrate on her work, I prophesy she'll reach the top of the tree." " She is producing a play written by my uncle," Dawn said pleasantly, but all the time she was wondering why Murdoch had introduced Lucie's name. He must necessarily be aware of Lucie's former relations with Royle, and perhaps his sympathies were with the woman who had been discarded, and there might be a consequent dislike for herself. If that were the case, it must be her object to remove the feeling as quickly as possible. And so Dawn went out of her way to be very pleasant to him. She liked his face, and judged him to be a man whom one could trust. On his side, he went more than half way to meet her approach, for it was necessary that he should be on good terms with his friend's wife. Royle smiled, pleased to see them talking together with animation, but as soon as lunch was over, he excused himself to Murdoch. " We are going to be married in a month, and we have a good deal to talk over. First of all we must find a house," he began. " I should prefer a flat," intervened Dawn. " Just as you wish, dear," he said at once. Murdoch noticed his ready acquiescence, and again a grim smile came to his face. It was such a reversal of Royle's attitude towards the other DELILAH 103 sex, and he judged that the change was not likely to prove successful. Before they parted Dawn asked Murdoch to join them at dinner. "I'm sure my aunt will be glad to see you," she said graciously, and the invitation was accepted; but suddenly he remembered that he had asked Lucie to dine with him. " I am so sorry, but I have an engagement that I had forgotten," he said hurriedly. " Couldn't you get out of it ? " suggested Royle. As a matter of fact, he was thinking that if Murdoch came, it would be much easier to snatch an hour alone with Dawn, and there was so much he wished to say to her. " I'm afraid it's impossible," Murdoch answered quietly. He accompanied them to the door, and watched them drive away in Royle's car. Then he strolled along to the Temple and called at his chambers, but only remained there for a very short time. It was Lucie who occupied his thoughts, and he was trying to devise some plan to help her in her trouble ; for he knew that there would be a great deal of gossip as soon as Weldon's engagement became generally known, and that her pride would suffer. Fortunately there would be work to occupy her mind, and she would wear a brave face to the world, for she had plenty of courage. He decided to call for her, and reached Hanover 104 DELILAH Square soon after six o'clock, and when Estelle opened the door he asked her to bring him a whisky -and -soda. " I am early," he said pleasantly, " and please tell madame not to hurry." " Lady Anstruther is here," said Estelle. Murdoch hesitated, but Lucie had heard his voice, and came to the hall. " Don't run away. You haven't met Lady Anstruther? Come in." Lucie welcomed the interruption, for she had been going through a bad time. Lady Anstruther had come to announce the engagement with the kindliest of motives she felt that Lucie had the right to know of it at the earliest possible moment but she had made the mistake of allowing her sympathy to be seen too plainly, and Lucie had retired into her shell. " I am surprised, but I believe that Mr. Weldon really does care for my niece. Perhaps it's only a wild infatuation, but " It was at this moment that Murdoch had called, and Lucie did not stay to listen to the end of the sentence. When she returned, and introduced Murdoch, she explained that he was Royle's greatest friend. " Then we can talk quite frankly," remarked Lady Anstruther. " Miss Manett is also a very great friend of mine," Murdoch said pointedly. DELILAH 105 " And of mine, I hope," Lady Anstruther broke in quickly, and smiled at Lucie. " Did you enjoy your lunch ? " she asked of him. " Very much indeed. Your niece is a beautiful woman." " There can be no question of that ; but do you think she'll be able to hold Mr. Weldon ? That is my one anxiety." " It depends upon herself. . . But stay, I'm not altogether sure you are right. At lunch I was rather doubting if Royle would be able to hold your niece." " Nonsense," Lucie cried hotly. " Tosh ! " ejaculated Lady Anstruther. " Well, we shall see. In my opinion, Royle will utterly spoil her; and her nature requires a master. It seems to me that he is much more likely to become her slave." " Royle the slave of any woman ! " Lucie cried contemptuously. " I admit the idea sounds weird, but at lunch he was playing the part of the love-sick swain," Murdoch remarked dryly. Lady Anstruther had been thinking, and her expression had become grave. " Mr. Murdoch, I'm inclined to believe you are right," she said slowly. " And I'm quite sure he's wrong," broke in Lucie. " I remember Dawn's mother. My brother had rather a bad time with her. He loved her 106 DELILAH devotedly, and she domineered over him com- pletely. I was glad when she left him. ... I ought not to have said that. Please forget it," Lady Anstnither added hurriedly. Murdoch's curiosity was roused, but he was too polite to ask any questions, and soon after- wards Dawn's aunt rose to go. " At any rate, we'll do all we can to make them happy," she said cheerfully, and then wished them " good-bye." After she had gone they remained silent for a while. " It sounds as if Dawn's mother is alive," Murdoch remarked at last. " Yes. I wonder if Royle knows." " I was wondering if Dawn knows. I should think it improbable." " Jim, what do you really think of her ? Can she hold Royle ? " Lucie asked eagerly. " As I said before, the question is rather can he hold her? The girl is undeveloped, but I shrewdly suspect she possesses her share of the devil. I can see signs of a temper, which would be pretty warm when she lets herself go. As yet, she hasn't really lived. Their future ought not to be uninteresting from the point of view of the observer." " I don't believe you really like her, Jim." " It's prejudice, if I don't. You see, I happen to love you, Lucie," DELILAH 107 " I wish to heaven I could love you," she cried impetuously. " Try, my dear. One never knows one's luck. Go and get your things on, and we'll dine." " I don't feel like changing my clothes. Take me to some place in Soho." "All right. What about Treviglio's? It's quiet and the cooking is excellent." " And we are not likely to meet any one we know. Jim, dear, I'm feeling rather a coward, and should like to run away for a week." " Then go." " But there's the new play. Besides, I don't wish people to say I've run away. . . . And I hate to be alone. That's why I'm going to dinner with you. And, Jim, I intend to drink quite a lot of champagne. Last night was horrible. I didn't sleep and oh, my dear, I'm so miserable !" " Get your hat and come along," he said peremptorily. Lucie obeyed him at once, and a few minutes later they were in a taxi-cab on the way to Soho. He held her hand and pressed it gently. " We'll see a great deal of one another. I, too, shall be a lonely sort of person when Royle is married. It doesn't seem as if I shall see much of him during the engagement," he remarked ruefully. The dinner was a success, and the wine drove away Lucie's depression. Murdoch chatted away DELILAH with animation, and when he took the trouble, he could be quite amusing. They sat in the restaurant until closing time, and afterwards he walked back with her to Hanover Square. " Won't you come up and have a whisky -and- soda ? " she said, but he shook his head. " You need a good night's sleep. Good-night." " Jim, you've done me a world of good, and I'm very grateful. Good-night." Murdoch walked slowly away, and he was filled with admiration of Lucie. " She's a good-plucked 'un," he said to himself CHAPTER XII THE next morning Royle and Dawn started their search for a flat, and the former enjoyed their task. But on visiting a house agent and examining his list, Dawn was vaguely annoyed that he seemed to have no decided opinion of his own, but deferred to her in everything. " But haven't you any preference ? " she asked impatiently. " Not the slightest, so long as you are satisfied, my dear," he answered cheerfully. Moreover, she wished that he would not display his feelings so openly when there were other people present. Of course it was pleasant to be adored, but she thought she detected amuse- ment in the eyes of the clerk who accompanied them, and instinctively she turned inwards the diamonds of her engagement ring. " Don't look at me like that, dear," she whis- pered to him, and he was surprised at her request. Royle was becoming uneasy at her manner, and wondered if he had done anything to offend her. However, she was soon laughing merrily, and was very pleased with a flat they visited in Curzon Street. There and then they decided to 109 no DELILAH take it, and returned to the agent with instructions to draw up an agreement at once. At lunch, Royle suggested to Lady Anstruther that she should join them in choosing the furniture, and Dawn backed up his request. At any rate, her aunt would not acquiesce in every suggestion that she made. That night Murdoch came to dinner with them at the hotel, and afterwards he and Dawn had a long talk together. Royle was anxious that they should get to know one another, and seized the opportunity of discussing with Lady An- struther the settlement that he proposed to make upon his wife. Dawn took the cigarette which Murdoch proffered her, and looked at him, smiling whim- sically. " Well, Mr. Murdoch, have you decided that you don't quite like me or ? " " I think you should call me Jim," he answered lightly. " As the promised wife of my best friend " " Very well, Jim. I suppose it is on Miss Manett's account that you don't approve of me. It is a sentiment that does credit to your loyalty, but it is hardly quite fair to me, is it ? " "No, it isn't. But I don't admit that I dislike or disapprove of you. Royle is the only real friend I've ever had and " " And you are anxious about his happiness. DELILAH in That, too, is a very natural feeling, and also does you credit. But I don't think you need concern yourself. By the bye, have you noticed any change in him lately? " " What sort of change, and from what time ? " he asked evasively. " Since your return. When I first met him he seemed so so I can't quite find the word I want." " I'm afraid I can't help you." " So much of a man," she went on quietly. " Well, isn't he so much of a man now ? " he asked dryly. " Of course he is but " " Do you complain that he is too indulgent ? " he asked banteringly. " Not that, exactly . . . but I wasn't com- plaining at all," she added with indignation. Murdoch knew the exact meaning which she wished to convey to him, but was not inclined to help her to put it into words. He, too, had noticed the change to which she wished to refer. Any one who knew Royle well could not help observing it. " But I do wish that he would be more like what he was when I first met him. Then he seemed so sure of himself he seemed to compel one. His personality impressed me tremend- ously. I felt his force and " " Perhaps love has shorn Samson of his locks." H2 DELILAH " Do I look a Delilah ? " she demanded, with a pretence of anger. Jim stared at her squarely in the eyes, and did not answer for a moment. " Yes, I could imagine you playing the part of a Delilah," he said, with quiet deliberation. " When I know you better, you and I will have a heart-to-heart talk. Royle is not an easy man to handle. At least I used to think so, but this love business may have completely altered him. You are young, and have only known him for a very short time. He is in love with you, and of course you return the feeling. They do say that love is blind. I am a ' looker-on,' and I'm not in love. Therefore I suggest I may be able to give you a few hints that'll help you to avoid the snags of married life." " You are very kind Jim." " Yes, I am. For I'm not in the habit of interfering in other people's affairs. Only a strong sense of duty makes me do so in this case. But, if you don't wish " " But I do wish. You interest me tremen- dously. Do let us have this heart-to-heart talk before the wedding-day." " I'll give you some advice now. Don't flaunt yourself before Lucie Manett," he said quietly. " Flaunt myself 1 " she repeated angrily. " Yes. Many nice women have a streak of DELILAH 113 cruelty, and I'm afraid you are one of them. Lucie has been very good to Royle. She has acted with the greatest generosity. Won't you do the same ? " " I'm sorry if I have been cruel I'm afraid I have. Perhaps I am jealous." " No. It wasn't jealousy. If you play the game, I feel sure that Royle will never give you any real cause for jealousy." " How extremely uninteresting ! " she said flippantly. He looked his disapproval, and she laughed again. " Royle has the patience of Job himself, but when he once makes up his mind he is obstinacy itself. At the present moment you have him completely in your hands, and you can do with him as you wish. To me, it is extraordinary that you should possess this power over him knowing him as I do," he said, and gave her a scrutinising look as though he were weighing her up. "I'm inclined to think you haven't a very high opinion of me. But I like you, Jim, and am quite ready to be friends." He did not show any great anxiety to meet this overture. " Thank you," he said at last. " I do not easily give my friendship, but when it is once given " 8 114 DELILAH " I suppose you are afraid I may disappoint you." " Only with reference to Royle." " Then you are only interested in me because of Royle. Really, Jim, you are not altogether complimentary." " You'll only get the plain truth from me, Dawn," he answered bluntly. Soon afterwards Royle joined them, and Jim attempted to withdraw, but Dawn insisted upon including him in the conversation. " You have a most devoted friend in Jim," she remarked to Royle. " Already he has taken me in hand, and has been giving me the best of advice." " Good old Jim," Royle said, and his eyes were full of affection as they rested on his friend. " He has a lot of sound common sense, and you'll do well to listen to what he says." Lady Anstruther dismissed them at an early hour, and Royle asked Jim to accompany him back to his chambers. There he mixed whiskies- and-soda, and they settled down in armchairs. " I was glad to see you getting on so well with Dawn. Isn't she splendid ? " Royle asked, and he was plainly astonished when his friend hesi- tated in answering. " What do you think of her? " he demanded, with a touch of peremp- toriness. " Do you want a straightforward answer ? " DELILAH 115 " Yes. I've not often known you to give any other sort." " Well she's young and unformed. Her character is yet in the making, and a great deal depends on yourself." " I don't quite understand." " At the present moment, you are doing your best to spoil her. It is a mistake to let her realise how great a hold she has over you. I have been keeping my eyes open, and it seems to me " " Yes go on," Royle cried impatiently. " It seems to me you have lost your indi- viduality. You look at the girl with adoring eyes. You keep nothing of yourself back. You agree with everything she says. Every wish is gratified. . . . Royle, old chap, that wasn't the way you succeeded with women in the past. They don't like a worm it's the man who attracts them, and until now you were very much of a man." " Worm ! " Royle repeated, with a laugh. " You aren't very complimentary." " Pull yourself together. Dawn will need firm guidance. If you value your future happi- ness, you will insist upon being the master." " But I wish her to have everything I can give her. It is a delight to give her what she wants." " Too many sweets are good for no one they cloy and become sickly." n6 DELILAH " I don't believe you like Dawn." " I would rather you were going to marry Lucie," Murdoch said with quiet deliberation. " You don't really mean that." " Yes, I do. I should have felt much more comfortable about you. Now I feel that any- thing may happen. At any rate, I will prophesy that your future will not be without excitement. Dawn is a young lady who is brimming over with the joy of life. She is determined to have a good time and she'll have it." "I'll help it. Nothing could give me more pleasure than to watch her enjoyment." ' You'll long for peace and quietness. But I won't croak any more. I do wish you every possible happiness. Now I'll go home and turn in. Good-night, Royle." The two friends looked at one another, and as Jim turned away a sigh escaped him. He feared that their friendship would never be the same. Dawn would demand too much of her husband. CHAPTER XIII IT was Dawn's wedding-eve, which she was spending quietly with Lady Anstruther at their hotel. Dinner was over, and for a long time they were silent, for each was deep in thought. There had been no rest for either of them since the engagement, for there was so much to be done and so little time in which to do it. Lady Anstruther had a vague feeling of uneasiness for which she could not account. Royle in all respects had behaved splendidly. The settle- ments were handsome, and he had promptly agreed to every suggestion that had been made. There could be no doubt of the depth of his love for Dawn and yet "What are your thoughts, dear?" she de- manded suddenly of Dawn. " Of to-morrow morning, naturally. Aunt, I'm not at all sure that I've been wise. Perhaps I should have followed your advice, and waited awhile before " " Rather late in the day to come to that conclusion, isn't it ? But what's troubling you ? " " I don't know." " Are you disappointed in Royle? " n8 DELILAH " No; at least I don't know." " In my opinion, you are an extremely for- tunate young woman. Royle is proving himself all that you could possibly wish. He has lavished presents on you. No sooner do you express a desire than " " Yes, it's gratified at once," she broke in wearily. " And yet it doesn't seem to content you." " To-day I deserved a good shaking." " You mean about Paris." " Yes. I don't really wish to go to Paris " " Then why did you compel him to change all the arrangements at the last moment ? The tickets were taken for Cornwall." " I didn't compel him. All the time, I was hoping he would insist upon going where we had planned to go." " Where do you wish to go Paris or Corn- wall?" " I don't mind a little bit. When he agreed to go to Paris, I was tempted to change my mind again and declare for Italy." Lady Anstruther rose and came to Dawn, sitting beside her, with an arm around hei shoulder. " What's the matter, dear ? Aren't you happy ? Don't you love Royle ? " " Of course I love him, or I shouldn't be marrying him," Dawn answered impatiently. DELILAH 119 " Then what is it ? " " He isn't the man I thought him to be." " No man ever is," Lady Anstruther remarked with a smile. " He disappoints me all the time. I have tried often and often to make him angry, but " " You will try once too often." " But he just beams on me. Oh, Aunt, why does he always give way to me ? " " Because he's in love. But, Dawn, I must warn you seriously not to go too far. I've had plenty of opportunities of studying Royle. He is not the weakling you are thinking him to be. He is infatuated with you, and perhaps his infatuation may not last. Indeed, I've become concerned about your future. I've also been studying you, my dear, and the result does not altogether please me. You are inclined to be foolish and exacting." " It's Royle's fault." " Perhaps it is. Now you had better go to bed. You will naturally want to look your best to-morrow." As soon as Dawn had gone to her room, Lady Anstruther telephoned to Royle's chambers, and a few minutes later was on her way there. Royle was alone, having dined with Murdoch, and he was surprised by her visit, but made no remark, being content to listen to what she had to say. 120 DELILAH " Dawn has gone to bed, and I've come round for a last talk about her. Royle, I do hope you won't look upon me as an interfering old woman. ... I sincerely desire your happiness both yours and Dawn's." " I'm sure of that," Royle said heartily. " You have been good to me, and I'm very grateful." " At first I objected to this marriage, and my objection was founded on your reputation. Royle, I now find myself wishing that you were acting a little more up to your reputation." " What on earth do you mean ? " " A great deal depends on the way you treat Dawn during the next month or two. She is not altogether satisfied with you." " What have I done ? I've tried hard to please her," he protested. " You've tried too hard to please her, and that has been the mistake. Royle, I implore you to change your attitude. When you go away to-morrow, become the master, and rule your wife. Don't defer to her wishes, but insist upon your own. Domineer and don't be subservient. That is my earnest advice to you. Already you have spoilt Dawn, but it is not too late yet. If you continue to give way to her, she will become even more exacting, and the result will be misery for both of you." Royle had been listening to her with increasing uneasiness, for he recognised there was a good DELTLAH 121 deal of truth in what she was saying. Moreover, an hour or two previously, Murdoch had been giving him much the same sort of advice. " I can't oppose her I love her too much," he said, with a simplicity that moved her. " I can only hope you'll come to your senses before it's too late. Anyhow, I've done my best in warning you. You can rely upon my helping you when trouble comes, and I won't even say ' I told you so.' Good-night, Royle." To his surprise, she approached him and kissed his cheek. " I really do like you, Royle. Good-night." He accompanied her to the front door, and as he was returning noticed a " registered " packet on the table. There had been many wedding presents, and he judged this to be yet another. The paper covering was removed, disclosing a flat leather case which contained a cigarette-case of platinum and gold. His initials were formed of diamonds and sapphires, and with some curiosity he sought the name of the sender. Inside the case was a letter, and he recognised the handwriting as that of Lucie. " My dear Royle," he read, " / hope you will use the case, and sometimes give me a thought. I do hope you will be very, very happy, dear. I owe you a great deal. You came into my life at a time that I needed you. I am sorry that it was not in me to give you all that you desired for happiness. 122 DELILAH " I am grateful that I may be your wife's friend. Royle, dear, I dare to send you advice. Don't spoil the child. Be firm with her. Be the master. If you fail to be . . . but I will not be a pro- phetess of ill. " Good-bye. LUCIE." An exclamation of anger escaped him as he read. It was curious that he should receive identical advice from three such different people in the space of an hour or two, and the advice was evidently given from the best intentions. Royle sat down and thought over the events of the last few weeks, from his first meeting with Dawn. There could be no doubt that he had consistently indulged Dawn, but he had done so deliberately and not from weakness. Would it be wise to change his plan of conduct ? To-day he had been annoyed by her insisting upon going to Paris; but he had given way without a protest, although his disappointment was acute. He had been looking forward to a real honeymoon in Cornwall, and not a round of amusements in a gay city, which in the past had been the scene of so many of his adventures. " Perhaps they are all right, and I'm wrong," he said suddenly On the table were the tickets for Paris. He took them up and looked at them. Suddenly he came to a decision, and began to write rapidly. The envelope was sealed and addressed to Mur- DELILAH 123 doch. This done, he summoned his servant and sent off the note. " It'll be a surprise for her," he told himself. An answer was brought back from Murdoch, which was evidently quite satisfactory. Then he undressed and went to bed, but it was a long time before he fell asleep. How good he would be to Dawn ! No woman should ever tempt him to indulge even in the mildest of flirtations. His one regret was of the past, and he wished that he had lived a different life. CHAPTER XIV ROYLE drew in a deep breath of relief as he followed Dawn into the car. " That's over, thank heaven," he said, and she crept closer, looking at him with shining eyes. The wedding had been a quiet one, only the personal friends of the bride and bridegroom having been invited. Lucie had not been present, although she had formally accepted the invitation. " I do love you, Royle," whispered Dawn. He was once more the man with whom she had fallen in love, for when they met her in the church, his manner had been full of confidence, and he seemed to have taken possession of her. There was a sense of mastery about him that delighted her. " I do love you," she repeated with growing passion. " And now you are mine," he said triumphantly, and his lips eagerly sought hers. A few of the guests came to the hotel for the wedding breakfast, but at last Dawn was ready to leave for their honeymoon. Murdoch drove away with their luggage a few minutes before they started, and was accompanied by Cynthia 124 DELILAH 125 Cranleigh, an old schoolfellow of Dawn's who had been the only bridesmaid. " But this isn't the way to Victoria Station, or does the boat-train start from Charing Cross ? " Dawn asked suddenly. " We are starting from Paddington," he announced quietly. " But surely that is not the station for Paris," she cried in surprise. " We aren't going to Paris." Dawn stared at him in blank amazement. " But I but we had decided to go to Paris." " I changed my mind and thought Cornwall would be better." "You changed your mind?" she said, with emphasis on the personal pronoun. " Yes, my dear," he answered cheerily. " You dared " she began, but the protest died away. His manner was so assured; his face showed no sign of weakening; and a gurgle of delight escaped her. " We can go to Paris later on," he announced. " I want you all to myself. I do hope you are not angry." " No, I'm rather pleased." " That's all right," he said, and took her a little roughly in his arms, kissing her again and again, and she gave a little sigh of contentment. Murdoch was awaiting them in the booking- 126 DELILAH office, with an amiable smile on his face. He had been wondering how Dawn would accept this enforced change of plan, and at the sight of her face, knew that Royle had acted wisely. A carriage had been reserved, and Murdoch spoke a few words to Royle on the platform before he entered the train. " Don't forget my advice. You have started uncommonly well, but mind you keep it up," he said earnestly. And then Dawn called to him. " I'm I'm so glad you thought Cornwall would be better for us than Paris," she said demurely. " It wasn't my idea." " But you suggested it," she persisted. "No. Late last night I received peremptory instructions from your husband, which I was very glad to carry out." Dawn was pleased to learn that Royle alone was responsible for the change, and when the train started husband and wife made a perfect picture of the happily-mated couple. They stayed the night at Exeter and the following day went on to Newquay, where they were welcomed by bright sunshine. A week of perfect happiness without a shadow of any description, and Dawn believed herself to be the most fortunate woman in the world. As for Royle, a great peace had fallen upon him, and his whole life seemed to be bound up in his wife. DELILAH 127 For the first few days, he bore in mind the advice Murdoch had given him, and quietly imposed his will on Dawn, she obeying without the slightest demur. One morning they were confined to their sitting-room, for heavy rain kept them from the golf-links. Dawn was seated at the window, with a newspaper lying on her lap. Suddenly she turned, and met Royle's admiring eyes, which were fixed on her face. " My darling, your beauty terrifies me," he said tensely. " Royle, don't talk rubbish," she answered with a laugh. " But I'm so afraid " " Of what ? " she asked impatiently, when he hesitated. " You are so lovely, and when we are in London you see, I know men and " " You are afraid I shall flirt ? " " There will be so much temptation, and you've never had the chance of having your fling," he went on nervously. " I hope you are not going to be a jealous tyrant." " I could be madly jealous of you. It's strange, for I don't believe I'm disposed to jealousy." " Were you ever jealous of Miss Manett ? By the by, she didn't come to our wedding," she added. 128 DELILAH " No." " But were you jealous of her? " " She never gave me cause to be ; but let us talk of something else." " I wonder if I ought to be jealous of her. Anyhow, I'm not." " I wish you were at least " He broke off with a laugh, and came across to her. " Dawn, my darling, this love of mine is tremendously worrying. You mean so much to me that if anything were to happen to you . . . I couldn't live without you." Her brow puckered into a frown, for she did not like this self-deprecating mood. During the last few days, since their marriage, she thought it had vanished for ever. But now his expression had changed, and the air of resolution had given place to a suggestion of weakness. " I wish the rain would stop. Let us order the car," she cried suddenly. " But you'll get wet," he protested. " What does it matter ? Let us go to Penzance for lunch. A little rain won't do me any harm." " You are so fragile." "I'm as strong as a mule. Come along," she cried peremptorily. As a matter of fact, Dawn was quite com- fortable, and had no real desire to leave the hotel. She wished him to forbid the excursion, DELILAH 129 but he meekly agreed to it; and half an hour later they were seated in the car, Royle at the wheel, and she beside him. Instead of clearing up, the rain fell in torrents, and the hood did not provide complete shelter. Every now and then Royle would look at her anxiously, and once he suggested that they should return, but she shook her head decidedly. At last Penzance was reached, and they lunched at an hotel facing the sea, but all the time Royle was inquiring if she were quite dry, until she lost patience. " Please don't fuss, dear. You behave like an old hen with but a single chicken. Were you the same with all the others? " she asked mis- chievously. " Really, Dawn " " But there have been others, and surely one may talk about them. I have quite made up my mind to hear all about your little adventures. You can't tell how interesting it is to a girl like myself. How old were you when you first fell in love?" " I was never in love until I met you," he answered with a touch of sternness. " Rot and rubbish." " It is true." " Then your reputation belies you, my dear." " They were never the real thing." " Then tell me about some of the imitations. 9 130 DELILAH Doubtless they will be equally as interesting," she said flippantly. Royle did not answer, but on glancing out of the window, noticed that it was no longer raining. " Let us go for a stroll," he suggested. " All right," she agreed promptly. " We will postpone the recital until after dinner. Of course, I won't be such a beast as to ask for their names. If you wish, you can call your heroines by the names of Greek goddesses. What a pity I can't write shorthand ! We might then have made a book of your adventures." She slipped her arm through his, when they had left the hotel, and they walked briskly along the front. All the time she had been hoping that he would tell her to " shut up," and was disappointed that he accepted her teasing without any sign of resentment. Newquay was reached in time for dinner, but afterwards Dawn complained of a headache, and in the morning she awoke in a feverish state, and it was evident that she had caught a severe cold. Royle was greatly concerned and insisted upon summoning a doctor. " I won't see him. It's all your fault. You shouldn't have taken me out in the rain," she cried angrily. All the time she was seeking a sign of resent- ment at her lack of reason, but he only smiled indulgently DELILAH 131 " You must stay in bed, and you'll soon be well." " But you did take me out in the rain. Why didn't you put your foot down, and insist upon staying in the hotel? " " You wished to go." " But you didn't. You're a man and should know what is best. I should have been quite happy here." " You didn't give me that impression yester- day," he said very patiently. " You should have made me stay," she main- tained. " I wished to give you pleasure." " Even when the pleasure isn't good for me ? " " I'll go and telephone for the doctor." " I forbid you to do so." " You have a high temperature," he said gently and went away. Dawn waited with the utmost impatience for his return. " Well? " she demanded. " He'll be here as soon as possible." A smile came to her face, and she held out her arms to him. " Royle, you may kiss me ... and I do love you." And he did not understand, and was surprised at the fervour of her embrace. CHAPTER XV LUCIE MANETT had secured a theatre, and was engaged in casting the play written by the late Sir Donald Anstmther. It was a month since Royle had been married, and she still missed him every hour of the day. So she was thankful for work to occupy her mind. Dinner had been served, and she was about to settle down to a cigarette when Estelle came to announce that Murdoch had called. " Why haven't you been to see me ? " she asked reproachfully, but there was a welcoming smile on her face. " I was suddenly called back to Paris . . . almost immediately after the wedding." " I read an account of the ceremony in one of the papers," she remarked casually. " Unfortun- ately I was prostrated with a migraine and had to stay in bed. But I have been longing to hear all about it. Of course, the bride was very beautiful." " Yes, she was lovely," Jim answered, and then began to laugh. " What's the joke ?" " I don't know that I ought to tell you.'* DELILAH 133 " Just as you like. As you know, I'm not inordinately curious." But Jim did not see any real reason why he should not relate the joke, and so he told of the change of place at which the honeymoon should be spent. Lucie listened with an interest she did not try to disguise. " I wonder if he will be able to keep it up? " she said reflectively. " I sincerely hope so, for his sake. Otherwise poor Royle will be in for a bad time. I don't know his wife very well, but I have a shrewd suspicion that she'll develop into something of a termagant unless she's sternly suppressed." " I quite agree with you, Lucie." "When are they coming back? Have you heard from Royle ? " " He's not much of a correspondent. Ex- perience must have taught you that. I did have a few lines, and Dawn wrote a sentence with her own fair hand." "What was it? Let me see," she cried peremptorily. " I haven't got the letter with me, but they seem to be quite satisfied with one another." " I am glad of that," she said quietly, but Murdoch noticed that she did not meet his eyes. " My dear. Please don't think me impertinent. I know you cared for Royle, but are you getting over it? Are you beginning to forget him? " 134 DELILAH " Yes," she answered steadily. " I have a little common sense, and it's not my nature to cry for the moon." But as she spoke she knew that she was lying, and a flush of self-consciousness came to her cheeks. "I'm relieved to hear it. How's the play going? " " I believe I've got a decent cast. But I must think of a new title. You know something of the plot have you any suggestion? " " What about ' Delilah ' ? " he asked. " Yes, that might suit. I don't think it's been used before. Thank you, Jim. Yes, I'll use it, if it sounds as good in the morning. By the by, when does Royle come back? " " To-morrow, and their present intention is to go on to Paris, after a day or two in town. I'm dining with them to-morrow night. I must admit I'm curious to see them together." " Call here afterwards will you? " she asked eagerly. " Very well, I don't suppose they will want to keep me very late I'm beginning to feel as if I had lost Royle. I shall be lonely, Lucie, without him, and I hope you will allow me to see you as much as possible." " You know that I shall always be glad to see you. Jim, you are the only real friend I have And I, too, am inclined to be lonely. You and I gave a great deal of ourselves to Royle." DELILAH 135 " Perhaps he will need us yet. I am not at all easy about his future." " At any rate he will always find a loyal friend in yourself." " And in you, Lucie." " He'll never want me. All that was mine now belongs to his wife. Good-night, Jim. I'm very tired." He came across and placed his hand on her shoulder. " You're a real good sort," he paused and looked at her inquiringly. She drew down his face and kissed his forehead. " And you're a great comfort. Good-night." When he had gone Lucie sighed wearily, and stood still, with a look of hesitation on her face. Just lately she had found that sleep came with difficulty, and she had learnt to dread the long nights in bed. Finally she decided to smoke another cigarette, but before doing so she went across to the bureau, and from a concealed drawer took out a miniature of Royle. Even now it seemed impossible to realise that she had lost him. She was not the woman to deceive herself consciously, and soon was compelled to admit that deep down in her heart there still remained the hope that she and Royle might come together again. By what means she could not guess, but there was always the possibility that Dawn and Royle might quarrel. 136 DELILAH There and then she registered a determination to seek out Dawn as soon as possible, with the idea of getting to know her thoroughly and obtaining her confidence. " She has won, but she shan't keep him," she cried fiercely. Lucie did not consider that her attitude was wrong, for Dawn had stolen him from herself. To do her justice, she did not contemplate any underhand action, but soothed her conscience with the old-fashioned plea that all is fair in love and war. At last she rose, and going into her bedroom switched on all the lights. Her movements were unhurried as she loosened her hair and approached the mirror, carefully examining her reflection in it. True she was not as young as Dawn, but her beauty was at its zenith. " He will soon weary of her," she told herself with confidence. " She is young and silly, and her childish ways will bore him." The next morning she called on Lady Anstruther and discussed with her the production of the play. A night's reflection had caused her to believe that " Delilah " would be an excellent title, and Lady Anstruther agreed with her. Lucie made herself exceedingly pleasant, and it was arranged that they should lunch together the following day. " My niece and her husband return this after- noon, but I expect they will be much occupied DELILAH 137 for a day or two. Dawn is taking the keenest interest in the play, and writes to say she would like to meet you as soon as possible," remarked Lady Anstruther. " I didn't know she cared greatly about the stage." " Her likes and dislikes are not very fixed she is young," was the dry comment. " I hope she is very happy," Lucie said cheer- fully, and did not flush, even when she caught the elder woman's eye. " She will be just as happy as she deserves to be. At first I disapproved of the marriage, but when I knew Royle better, I judged him to be a thoroughly good fellow." " He is. There's nothing mean nor petty in his nature. Now I must hurry away. I have to meet some one at the theatre." Lucie had an appointment there with the actor who was to play the leading part, only a little less prominent than her own. Rupert Dyas was young, and took his profession seriously. Good- looking, and a favourite with the public, he was not in the least degree spoilt by success. Lucie did not usually approve of actors in private life. Experience had taught her that the life of the stage improves neither man nor woman, and is liable to develop the weak points of a character. When Dyas was not working he was usually to be found playing golf, at which game 138 DELILAH he was an expert player. She respected his judgment, and consulted him in many matters. " There only remains the small part. We need a pretty woman for it, and much experience is not necessary. Do you know of any one? " she asked. " She must be really beautiful. At the moment I can't think of any one," he answered. " Some one will turn up I'll look around. Shall we go to lunch? " Rehearsals were to be started as soon as possible, and for the rest of the day Lucie was busy. So she was glad to return to her flat for dinner, and had no wish to go out afterwards. At ten o'clock she commenced to glance im- patiently at her watch, but it was nearly half an hour later that Murdoch arrived. " You had not forgotten ? " he asked with a laugh. " No. Well, did you have an amusing time ? " " Quite. You are lunching with Lady Anstruther to-morrow? " " Yes." " Dawn is going to join you. She is most anxious to see you." " Is Royle coming ? " " Yes, and I also am invited." " Why does she wish to see me ? " " I haven't the least idea." And then they were both silent. Murdoch DELILAH 139 knew that she was anxious for him to describe the events of the evening; but it was difficult to convey a right impression. " You'll see them to-morrow," he said at last, " and you'll then be able to judge for yourself." An expression of disappointment came to her face. " You might tell me something. Have they settled down ? " " Royle struck me as being unusually nervous, but he is still violently in love with her violently. Yes that's the word." "And she?" " I can't tell you. Anyhow I'm afraid he has not carried out the advice I gave him." " Then he gives way to her? " " Apparently in everything. But I shan't say another word. My impression may be absolutely a wrong one," he said with decision. " You have evidently received a violent impression of some sort." " I have," he answered grimly, and then his expression relaxed, and he began to laugh quietly to himself. " Jim, you are very aggravating. May I share the joke ? " " I'm not at all sure it is a joke, my dear. I only hope it doesn't develop into a tragedy. But I mustn't keep you up any longer. Lady 140 DELILAH Anstnither is writing to tell you that the lunch is to be at her hotel. Good-night, Lucie." " It was good of you to call not that you have told me very much. Good-night, Jim." When he had gone her face lit up with triumph, for she felt that all was not going well with Royle and Dawn. " I have a chance, and I'll win. I swear I'll win," she told herself excitedly, and then she began to scheme and plan. CHAPTER XVI FORTUNATELY there was no more rain and Royle and Dawn were able to play golf. The latter was an enthusiast, although a beginner, and was keen to spend every possible moment on the links. Royle's handicap was plus-one, and a few weeks ago would have laughed to scorn the idea of going round with such a player as Dawn. But he appeared to be quite content and showed infinite patience in teaching her. One night, after dinner, Dawn chanced to see a photograph of Lucie in an illustrated weekly journal, and she examined it for a few moments in silence. " It must be nice to be an actress," she re^ marked. Royle rose and came over to her chair. A frown appeared on his face when he saw Lucie's portrait. " The limelight is not as bright as it appears," he said dryly. " But Miss Manett has an ideal life. Think of the interests she has never to know a moment of boredom. I'm so glad she is producing this play of uncle's." 142 DELILAH Royle showed signs of discomfort, for he hated to hear his wife speak of Lucie. Dawn glanced down the journal, and for a minute or two appeared to be thinking deeply. Suddenly she rose to her feet, and clapped her hands excitedly. " I'll go on the stage," she said with decision. " Nonsense." " I don't mean that I intend to become an actress. Miss Manett is producing this play of uncle's, and perhaps she'll be able to give me a tiny part." " I forbid it ! " he cried harshly. " Why? It will be an innocent amusement." " I forbid it," he repeated, but his voice was no longer commanding, but more in the nature of an appeal. " Don't be stupid, darling," she said ingratiat- ingly, and sat on his knee. " I see no reason why you should object," she went on. " Miss Manett is a friend of aunt's and she's your friend, so she must be eminently respectable and quite a suitable chaperon. Besides, I may have real talent for the stage." At the last statement he laughed heartily "Why not? I'm not bad-looking." " Good looks don't go very far except in revues. But the question does not permit of discussion and we'll talk of something else," he said with a firmness that surprised, yet pleased her. That night Royle remained in the sitting- DELILAH 143 room, and smoked a cigar before going to bed. In a couple of days they would be returning to London, and he wished to think over the events of the last two or three weeks. Already he had discovered that married life was not the simple business he had imagined it to be. Before meeting Dawn, he was convinced that he had nothing to learn about women, but now he realised that he knew next to nothing of the sex, and Dawn was a constant revelation to him. At any rate he was beginning to suspect that wedded bliss did not necessarily mean a peaceful existence. When they started on their journey to London, Royle was conscious of a vague feeling of relief But he had no suspicion that the feeling was shared by Dawn. It was only natural that she looked forward to going to the home that they had prepared together. " I'm not sure that I like Cornwall," she remarked, as the train left Plymouth station for its non-stop journey to Paddington. " You wish you had gone to Paris ? " he asked indulgently. " No, but the Cornish people don't seem like foreigners you understand what I mean." " Haven't you been happy in Cornwall ? " he asked very quietly. " Of course I have with you, I should be happy anywhere," she stated, and the last sentence was added hurriedly. i 4 4 DELILAH " Thank you, dear. I can only say that I love Cornwall, simply because I have been there with you. My darling, I want you to understand just what you mean to me," he said earnestly. " But I do understand," she remarked im- patiently. "I'm not sure that you do. You have made Cornwall a little heaven for me." " Why not call it a Paradise ? " she suggested lightly. " I will if you wish." "Or a Garden of Eden?" she continued jeeringly. " I hate you to treat things lightly." " You leave me no alternative. You are so deadly serious yourself." " Dawn, dearest, sometimes you compel me to think . . ." " Please, don't. It's so tiresome." " Compel me to think that you you don't " " Let us go in to lunch. The attendant passed ten minutes ago, and I am very hungry. . . . And, Royle, thinking and eating don't go together, if one wishes to avoid indigestion. Come along, darling," she said beseechingly. He could not resist, and followed her along the corridor to the restaurant car. Dawn knew that she had hurt him, and tried to make amends. But when they had returned to their compartment, her imp of mischief once more was in evidence. DELILAH 145 " Royle, do you ever really lose your temper ? " she asked. " Not very often." " Have you ever ' seen red/ and offered violence? " "I've knocked a man down, if that's what you mean." " How splendid ! I should have loved to see you do it. Could you ever be really angry with me ? " she asked curiously. " I hope you would never give me any real reason." " But suppose I did ? " " Then I should be furious." Dawn remained silent, but only for a few seconds. " I believe I must give you a real reason. I should love to see you in a lurid rage. Would you beat me ? " she asked innocently. " Don't talk rubbish, dear. You look tired. Lean your head on my shoulder and have forty winks. Your aunt and Jim are dining with us to-night." " You don't seem very pleased at the idea." " I thought we might have had our first night alone." " But I wanted to see aunt. Besides, she has been so kind in getting things ready for us. And Jim you must be longing to see him again." " I only want you, darling. You are the one person that matters." 10 146 DELILAH " That's rather unkind. For years Jim has been your own great friend." " You don't understand," he answered wearily. But their eyes chanced to meet and he saw that hers were full of mischief. " Dawn, you've not been talking seriously You've been chaffing me/' he said with an injured air. " I often do that. But you never appear to notice it. Sometimes I think you have no sense of humour, for it can't be that you lack intelligence." " I've never been accused of lacking brains," he answered dryly. " Perhaps being in love blunts one's power of perception," she suggested demurely. But Dawn was tired, and soon her head fell against his shoulder and her eyes closed drowsily. In an instant his arm was placed gently around her, and when he was sure that she was asleep, he formed a rug with a cushion, and made her comfortable, so that she fell into peaceful slumber. Then he sat in the corner opposite to her and lighted his pipe. His eyes were fixed on her face, and there was a tender look in them. The sole desire of his life was to make her happy. He would make any conceivable sacrifice to affect his purpose, and yet it seemed to him that she was inclined to be discontented. He could remember no opportunity that he had missed to give her pleasure. DELILAH 147 As she slept, a long sigh escaped her, and she frowned. In an instant he was beside her and kissing her gently. " Darling," she whispered, and fell asleep again. He told himself again and again that she loved him. The sole reason for marrying was that she cared for him. There could be no other. So he reassured himself, and dismissed all his vague fears as being without foundation. It was not until Reading was passed that she awakened. The sight of the river at Maidenhead interested her, and she expressed a desire to have a house-boat. "All right. I'll look out for one," he said at once. And then she regarded him for a few moments. " Royle, I wonder if you would deny me any- thing ? " she asked curiously. " Nothing that I could give you." " Do you think it wise to give me everything I want ? " " I only want you to be happy. Good heavens, Dawn, don't you realise that I worship you ? " he cried passionately. " Is such worship good for any woman ? " she asked reflectively. " Would you prefer me to be different ? Would you be happier if I refused all your requests ? " he demanded abruptly. " I don't know," she answered with truth 148 DELILAH " What do you mean? " " Again I don't know. Since I met you all my ideas seem tumbled about. Honestly, Royle, I don't know what I do want. Everything is so strange." " Aren't you happy? " " Again ... I don't know." " What do you want ? " he asked very quietly but his eyes were stern. " Your love but I know I've got that." " Anything else? " " Yes . . . but I shan't tell you what it is." " You shall have it if it rests with me," he declared with confidence. " I wonder," she answered dreamily. CHAPTER XVII A WOMAN of Dawn's age naturally takes the keenest interest in the first real home that she can call her own. Royle had spared no expense in the furnishing of the flat, and while they had been away, Lady Anstruther had put the finishing touches to the place. Capable servants had been engaged, and when they arrived, soon after five o'clock, everything was in readiness for their reception. Dawn wandered about the rooms examining with interest, and Royle was compelled to insist that she should get ready for dinner. Lady Anstruther arrived before she had finished dressing and went to her bedroom. Aunt and niece were unfeignedly glad to meet again, and Lady Anstruther was relieved to find Dawn so happy. " You are looking very well, my child." " Yes I'm very fit, and so is Royle." " And married life ? " the elder woman queried. " Ripping so far. Royle is a dear." " I hope you keep him in order. Men need firm handling." " No firm handling has been necessary. He 149 150 DELILAH hasn't given me a worry of any description," Dawn answered lightly. When they went to the library Murdoch had arrived, and soon afterwards dinner was an- nounced. The meal was an excellent one, and the service quite good. The conversation was agreeable, and there was no discordant note, so that when they went to the drawing-room they were all on excellent terms with one another. Lady Anstmther was taking the keenest interest in the production of her late husband's play, and it was only natural that she should refer to the progress that had been made. " Have all the actors and actresses been en- gaged ? " Dawn asked abruptly. " The caste is complete with one small excep- tion," answered Lady Anstmther. " What part is that ? " " Rupert Dyas is playing what they call juvenile lead." " Yes, but the other part the one that is vacant ? " said Dawn. Lady Anstruther did not notice the look of appeal that Royle was giving her, so answered promptly " They need a young actress. It's an unim- portant part, but she must be good-looking." In an instant Dawn had risen to her feet and laughingly faced Lady Anstruther. " Aunt, am I good-looking? " she asked. DELILAH 151 " Of course you are, dear." " Then I shall see Miss Manett in the morning, and ask her if I may play the part." Lady Anstruther laughed, and then turned to Royle. " Of course you won't allow such nonsense. The idea is absurd," she said quietly. " I agree with you," Royle said, and gave an uneasy look at Dawn. " But I don't. I fail to see any objection to my trying the experiment. On the other hand it would amuse me." " Royle, you must put your foot down," Lady Anstruther said decisively, and was surprised to find that he remained silent. Next she turned to Murdoch, who had been listening and nodding attentively. " It's a mad idea, isn't it? " she asked of him. " Surely it's a matter that concerns Dawn and incidentally her husband," he remarked. " But it concerns me chiefly," Dawn broke in. " However I'm quite prepared to let Miss Manett settle it. I'll see her in the morning " " She's lunching with me," broke in Lady Anstruther. " Then we'll all lunch together. Jim, I shall rely upon you coming and I shall depend on your moral support. You are a friend of Miss Manett, and I want you to try to persuade her to give me the part," Dawn said appealingly. 152 DELILAH " Have you got your husband's consent ? Some men might not like the idea of their wife going on the stage," Murdoch suggested with a smile. " Oh, Royle will do exactly what I wish won't you, Royle?" she said, and placed her hand on her husband's arm. Even then he did not understand that she was longing to hear him sternly forbid her to enter- tain any such idea, but he remained silent. " Won't you, Royle ? " she repeated. " I've already given you my opinion," he replied. " But still you don't forbid me to go on the stage ? " she went on. " You must please yourself," he said reluctantly. " I told you he wouldn't object," she cried in triumph. Very soon Lady Anstruther rose and went to the bedroom for her cloak. Dawn accompanied her, and as soon as the door was closed her aunt put her arm around her. " My dear, I think you are behaving stupidly," she began gently. " But why didn't Royle forbid me to do it ?" " Would you have obeyed him ? " " Yes willingly. I'm getting a little tired of always having my own way," Dawn answered wearily. " Does he give way to you in everything ? " DELILAH 153 " Invariably and I'm so disappointed. Some- times I wish he would give me a good beating." " Yet you went to Cornwall and not to Paris." " That was a flash in the pan. It didn't last." " Dawn, dear. I must have a serious talk to you. Most women would bless their stars in having such a husband as Royle. It is evident that he adores you." Dawn shrugged her shoulders impatiently. " Be careful not to go too far," Lady Anstruther said very gravely. " I admit that it must be rather trying to find so complacent a husband. But in some matters he would be the reverse. And then " " In what sort of matters ? " " If you were to flirt with another man." " I've never thought of that," Dawn cried gleefully. " Perhaps I'll try only I don't happen to know any man I would care to flirt with." " You'll be meeting plenty. Royle has count- less friends " " Yes, bachelor friends, but he doesn't seem to approve of most of them. He wants to examine the visiting list." " Well, good-night, dear. Think very care- fully before you decide to fix up with Lucie Manett," Lady Anstruther said warningly. " Don't you like her ? " ' Yes, but you must remember she's in love with Royle." 154 DELILAH " But that's all forgotten and done with." " Royle may have buried the past, but she's not the sort of woman to love and forget lightly. Honestly, I like the woman, and would trust her with anything except the man I loved, if I believed she loved him." " I don't fear her where Royle is concerned." " My child, you are very young, and have a great deal to learn," Lady Anstmther said sadly, and went back to the drawing-room, leaving shortly afterwards with Murdoch. When they were alone Royle drew Dawn to his knee. " I didn't say much to-night, but I'd be very grateful if you would give up the idea of the stage," he said gently. "Do you forbid me to go on with it?" she asked eagerly. " No, no. I only ask you," he answered hastily, and the eagerness left her face. " I see ; then you don't greatly care what I do." " No. I hate the idea," he answered vigorously, " And hating it, you don't forbid it." "I'm so anxious to give you every possible happiness." " Let me understand. If I wanted something that was really bad for me ? " She paused and looked at him expectantly. " My dear, you would never wish that," he answered lightly. DELILAH 155 " But if I did? " she persisted. " We will deal with that eventuality when it rises. Come to bed, dear. You have had a long journey and must be very tired." " Yes, I'm really tired," she answered with a yawn, and then gave him a quick look from beneath her lashes. " Darling, I'm very sleepy. Would you mind sleeping in the dressing-room to-night ? It's an awfully ' comfy ' bed." Royle looked away and did not answer at once. " Of course I'll do as you wish." " Thank you, dear," she said sweetly, and jumped to her feet. " Good-night, husband mine. Pleasant dreams." She kissed him hastily, and ran lightly to her room. She stood still for a minute, and looked hesitatingly at the door which communicated with the dressing-room. " He deserves it," she whispered, and, stepping forward, shot the bolt. It was not long before she was undressed and in bed. The light was switched off at once, but she made no attempt to induce sleep. All the time she was waiting to hear a movement in the next room. At last she heard a footstep, and soon the handle of the door was turned very gently, and then there was silence. Instantly she sat up in bed and then crept from it, but after taking a couple of steps she stopped. 156 DELILAH " No. He deserves it," she said again, and returned to bed. She could hear him moving in the next room, and wondered if he would call to her. Half an hour passed and not a sound could be heard. Her eyes closed, for she was very tired, and soon she fell asleep. A few yards away Royle was lying with wide- open eyes, struggling to resist the temptation to go to her. But she had expressed a wish, and it was his aim in life to give her all she wanted. " She is very young," he told himself, but the thought brought him no comfort. It was a couple of hours before he fell asleep, and it was with a longing that morning should quickly come, so that he could be with her again CHAPTER XVIII THE next morning Dawn rose early, and was seated at the breakfast table when Royle came into the room. She appeared to be in the highest spirits and greeted him affectionately. " Isn't it good to be home ? I simply love this flat, Royle darling. I intend to enjoy life thoroughly," she announced. " That is just what I wish you to do," he answered quietly. " There is so much to be done, and I have done nothing. I've never been to the opera, or to Ranelagh, or anywhere." " That deplorable state of affairs can be remedied," he remarked lightly. " While you seem to have been everywhere and done everything. I do wish I had been born a man." " I prefer you as you are You are looking very well, Dawn." " I had a splendid night's sleep." " I didn't," he said dryly. Her eyes rested on him for an instant, but were quickly turned away, and she began hurriedly to talk of something else. 15* 158 DELILAH " Do you wish we were back in Cornwall ? " he asked suddenly. " No. I love London. You can never realise how I grew to hate the country. It was simply stagnation. I couldn't have endured another month of it, if aunt hadn't come back. Wasn't it lucky I met you ? " " Lucky for me, dear. Perhaps you married me to get away from the country? " " No, but I could have married almost any one, if marriage had been the only way of getting out of the place." Dawn realised that she was saying unwise things, which she would probably regret, but he seemed to compel her to worry him. Deep down in her heart she loved her husband, but she had " fallen in love " with a man of her imagina- tion, and who, she now believed, did not really exist. Royle had been the hero of her girlish dreams a lord and master whom she could wor- ship. But he had proved to be a very different sort of person. Yet there was nothing of which she could, with justice, complain. To the world at large he would appear to be a devoted and generous husband, and what more could any reasonable woman desire? If only she could rouse him ! It would be exciting to see the glitter of anger in his eyes. And then she remembered the discussion of the previous night between her aunt and herself. DELILAH 159 " Yes, I'll flirt outrageously when I can find a suitable man," she said to herself, and her eyes twinkled mischievously at the thought. Soon after breakfast was over Royle announced that he had a business appointment, and it was arranged that they should meet at her aunt's for lunch. Soon after he had gone Dawn tele- phoned, and half an hour later was at Lucie's flat. " I wanted to have a talk to you alone," Dawn announced, and smiled at the surprise on Lucie's face. Indeed, the latter was very surprised by this unexpected call, and was curious to learn the reason for it. However, she had not long to wait. " Lady Anstruther tells me that there is a small part in uncle's play for which you have not engaged any one is that so ? " Dawn asked anxiously. " Yes, it's quite true." " Am I good-looking enough ? " " You ! " Lucie cried, without attempting to conceal the amazement she felt. " Yes. At school we did amateur theatricals, and they told me I was not bad in the parts I played. But, of course, I'm a hopeless amateur, and should doubtless give you a lot of trouble," Dawn said, with a pretty air of deprecation. Lucie thought for a few seconds, and made up her mind. 160 DELILAH " I should not mind the trouble. It would be a pleasure to teach you. And we do need a beautiful woman for the part." " So it's settled hurrah ! " Dawn cried excitedly, and then she blushed hotly. " Of course, I don't mean I think I'm beautiful," she added quickly. " Unless you are blind, you must know you are beautiful. But I was wondering what Mr. Weldon will think of the idea." " I told him of it last night." " And he approves ? " " Well, not exactly ; but he doesn't actually object." " I must confess I'm rather surprised." " We need not consider him. Royle is quite content that I should please myself," Dawn answered with indifference. Lucie could have shaken the girl for daring to treat Royle so lightly. But all the time her brain was working out her plan. Yes, Dawn should certainly have the vacant part, but her way must not be made too easy. " Your aunt must be consulted." " I've already done so. If that is the only objection " " Has Lady Anstruther agreed? " " She thinks it rather a stupid idea, but she does not strenuously object." " But tell me, Mrs. Weldon, what is your DELILAH 161 reason for wishing to go on the stage?" she asked quietly. " Please call me Dawn, and may I call you Lucie ? You are such a very old friend of Royle's . . . and I want you to be my friend." " That is kind of you, but you haven't answered my question." " It isn't a very easy one to answer frankly." " You'll find you'll have to work, and perhaps it will prove a nuisance to be tied down to hours. You'll have to give up many things." " I don't mind. I really like work. Please say I may have the part/' Dawn cried impetu- ously. " In face and figure you are just the type I need." " Then it is settled." " But I must talk it over with Lady Anstruther, and your husband." " All right. We'll fix it up at lunch. What a pretty flat you have ! " Dawn looked curiously around, and then realised for the first time that Royle must have been in it on many occasions. Probably he had sat in the same chair, and it was more than probable that he had made love to the beautiful woman facing her. She did not like the idea at all, and for the moment was sorry that she had come. There were photographs about the room, but ii 162 DELILAH there was not one of Royle. However, there was a large portrait of Murdoch, which Dawn examined with interest. " I like Mr. Murdoch, he's so reliable," she remarked. " Yes, he is a good friend." " And such a man. . . . But I'm not sure that he likes me; I don't know why he doesn't," she added with a laugh. Lucie glanced at her watch and rose. " I have an appointment at the theatre with Mr. Dyas," she said apologetically. " Please take me with you," pleaded Dawn. " But we are going to talk business." "I'll promise not to say a word. And after all it was my uncle who wrote the play. Do let me come with you." Lucie smiled indulgently, and decided to con- sent. But she was a little uneasy in mind. Dawn was certainly playing into her hands, but she was very young, and it seemed like taking advan- tage of her youth. But when she remembered how little consideration the girl was giving to Royle her heart hardened. " Come along, but I warn you not to fall in love with Rupert Dyas." " I've seen photographs of him. Is he very fascinating? " " Most women think him so. But I was not serious. Mr. Dyas is a charming man, and con- DELILAH 163 siders women rather a nuisance. You see, he has been so spoilt by our sex. He is what they call a matinfo idol, and young girls write him foolish love-letters." Lucie's car was awaiting them at the door, and they drove straight to the theatre. Dyas had already arrived and Dawn was introduced to him. " Mrs. Weldon is the niece of the author, and she wants to play ' Agatha/ " announced Lucie. The professional interest of the actor was im- mediately aroused, and he proceeded to inspect Dawn keenly and with deliberation. " The very woman for the part," he said with decision. " But I've had no experience," said Dawn. " That doesn't matter in the least. Miss Manett will very quickly teach you all you need know. Now the cast is complete, and we can start rehearsing at once. Shall I send out a call for to-morrow morning ? " he asked. " Please do." " And I'll give Mrs. Weldon her part. But she'll require a stage name." " Dawn Odell? " suggested Dawn. " That'll do very nicely," said Dyas. She was piqued that he should treat her so impersonally. Vaguely his manner reminded her of Royle when they had first met beside the trout-stream. 164 DELILAH He spoke quietly and with decision, as though he were giving orders that would be obeyed without question. But to Lucie he showed deference, and bowed to her opinion without question. Lucie and Dawn were late when they reached the hotel, and Lady Anstruther looked her dis- approval. " It's all right, Aunt. Miss Manett thinks I shall do for the part. I've been to the theatre and met Mr. Dyas. We start rehearsing to- morrow," she said breathlessly. But Lucie was quick to intervene. " I've consented to engage Mrs. Weldon. She assures me you don't oppose the idea." Lady Anstruther laughed, and Lucie turned to Royle, whose face was set grimly. " And Mrs. Weldon tells me you don't object," Lucie went on quietly. " Of course he doesn't why should he ? You don't object, do you, Royle? " There was a pause of a few moments, and both Dawn and Lucie regarded him with anxiety. " I've told you my wish to please yourself," he said with quiet deliberation. Dawn uttered a cry of triumph. Lucie gave no sign of her inward pleasure. Truly Fate was playing into her hands. CHAPTER XIX RUPERT DYAS had the greatest respect for Lucie, and thoroughly enjoyed working with her. An artist to his finger-tips, he believed she had never held the position in the theatrical world to which her ability had entitled her. And now that Weldon was married, and she was free of him, Dyas believed that she would forge rapidly ahead. The part she was to play in " Delilah " would give her every chance, and from the outset the play promised well. At first Dyas did not take much notice of Dawn. She fitted the part in appearance, and that was all that mattered so far as he was con- cerned; but after two or three rehearsals had taken place, he noticed that she went out of her way to speak to him, and made herself extremely pleasant. And then he began to wonder why Royle Weldon's wife was acting in a theatre that was run by Lucie Manett. The probable explana- tion was that Dawn was in ignorance of the relations that had existed between the actress and her husband. Moreover, she had a liking for the stage, and it was only natural she should wish to make her debut in a play that was written by her uncle. 165 166 DELILAH One morning he was standing in the wings, and watching a scene in which she was taking part. The role was not a difficult one, and she played it quite adequately. In fact, once or twice she showed an intelligence that rather surprised him. Experience told him that brains and beauty did not usually run in double harness. Dawn came off and approached him. " Am I interrupting your reverie? " she asked smilingly. " No. In fact I was thinking of you. You are doing very well, Mrs. Weldon," he answered. " Please call me Dawn Odell." " Very well, Miss Odell," he rejoined cheerfully. " I am beginning to love the stage. Every one is charming to me." " That is only natural. But, believe me, you are starting under ideal conditions. Has Miss Manett given you any of her early experiences ? A real success can only be obtained by a hard and bitter struggle. I know that to my cost." " Yet you are quite unspoilt. But don't you think that success is harder to endure than adversity? " " Perhaps you are right. Sometimes it is difficult to avoid a swollen head," he said with a laugh. " May I say that you have succeeded quite admirably? " " Thank you." DELILAH 167 His cue was given and he went on to finish the act with Lucie. When it was over the latter took him aside. " Rupert, Dawn Odell is inclined to flirt with you. Please don't encourage her. Remember that she is quite young, and has only been married a few weeks." " You know that I'm not a philanderer. Be- sides, I don't believe she's trying to flirt with me." " Do you admire her ? " " Very much indeed. By the by, Weldon never puts in an appearance at the theatre. Doesn't he approve of his wife going on the stage? " he asked curiously. " It's hardly likely that he would. Dawn has a will of her own, and at present he is inclined to indulge her. Aren't you dining with the Weldons to-night?" " Yes. I couldn't very well refuse. And you? " " I'm in the same position as yourself." " Who else is going? " he asked. " Lady Anstruther and Mr. Murdoch. It ought to be quite interesting." Dawn herself was looking forward to the dinner, and that night she took particular pains over her toilet. Royle came in just as she had finished dressing, and looked at her with adoring admiration. 168 DELILAH " My dear, you are simply beautiful," he cried, and his voice vibrated with passion. " Please don't touch me," she cried hastily as he stepped towards her. " All right, my dear. By the way, you haven't told me who is coming to-night." " Aunt, Jim, Rupert Dyas " " The actor-man ? " he demanded quickly. " Yes, and the actress-woman, Lucie Manett. Six is just a comfortable number. I do hope you won't be bored, for we shall probably talk a lot of shop. Aunt is becoming frightfully keen on the play." " You can talk of what you like so long as you are pleased. But pray don't make a very late night of it." " I'll promise to send them away before two o'clock," she said merrily. " Two o'clock," he repeated. " Yes there's the bell. I had better hurry to the sitting-room." " All right, I'll come along with you," he answered, and slipping his arm through hers drew her along. Royle was not altogether happy. With the passing of time, his love for Dawn had intensified and deepened. To him she was utterly precious, and he was prepared to make any sacrifice for her happiness. Her manner, and sometimes a suggestion of irritability, troubled him, but since DELILAH 169 she had started to work there had been less evidence of the latter. At times he wondered if her love was as all-engrossing as his own, but comforted himself with the thought that she was very young, and that the consideration he always gave her must cause her love to deepen. His varied experience of women had given him a profound knowledge of the sex, but his love had distorted that knowledge, and rendered him powerless to put his theories into practice. Man-like he longed to be " made much of " and to be " fussed over." The mere touch of her hand thrilled him, and unfortunately she did not welcome any great display of his feelings. Dawn, on her part, had ceased to analyse herself, but was now content to give way to the whim of the moment, for Royle had disappointed her completely. To her grief he was not the man she had imagined him to be His open adoration irked her his ready obedience to her will caused her to think the less of him. He seemed to be placing so little value upon himself. Lady Anstruther and Murdoch were the first arrivals, and Jim took possession of his friend, Dawn accompanying her aunt to the bedroom. While the latter were absent Lucie and Dyas were announced. Royle had never before met the actor, and at once liked the look of him. There was " no side," and to all appearance he was the ordinary well-groomed gentleman. His 170 DELILAH evening coat was of the very plainest description, his fingers were ringless and his studs without precious stones. Dinner was served immediately. Dawn sat beside Dyas and Lucie by Royle. At first the conversation was general, but very soon Dawn was addressing herself particularly to the actor. Her voice was lowered, and soon it was evident to all of them that she was prepared to indulge in a mild flirtation. Now and then she gave a quick glance at her husband, but he was talking with animation to Lucie. " Has my wife given any sign of genius? " he asked lightly. " She is quite good. Mr. Dyas is very pleased with her ? " "And you?" " She works hard and has intelligence. Natur- ally her beauty is a great asset. Be frank with me, Royle. Do you wish her to go on with it ? " " I am content to let her please herself." " It might be possible to discourage her. Hitherto I've been making everything as easy as possible for her." " That is kind of you but " " Go on," she said impatiently, when he hesitated. " I shall be grateful if you can help her to weary of the business. Frankly, I don't like the idea of her being on the stage. Apparently, she DELILAH 171 and Dyas hit it off very well," he remarked, with a glance towards them. " Yes. Rupert is a good sort." " He seems to be." " And he's a gentleman." " He looks it." " A mild flirtation with him won't do Dawn any harm. She's just beginning to feel her power over the male-man. I'm so glad you're not going to be the jealous husband. It would have been so very undignified when one remembers your past. Think of the countless men you have made mad with jealousy. If the role had been reversed, there would have been much quiet chuckling. I should hate you to be an object of amusement," she remarked, and gave him a steady look. " Thank you, Lucie. You're a good sort." " I'm still feeling amazed that I should be dining with you your wife sitting opposite to me. Here am I eating quietly and enjoying my dinner. But I suppose I ought not to talk in this key. It is I who am being undignified." Royle made no comment on what she had said, but emptied his glass of champagne. " Are you happy, Royle? " " Absolutely," he answered, with such con- viction that she was deceived. Dinner was over and Dawn rose. " We'll all have coffee in the sitting-room. 172 DELILAH Come along, Mr. Dyas. Come along, Aunt," she cried gaily. She sat on a small settee, and signed to Dyas to join her. Her beauty pleased his artistic eye, but he hesitated for a moment or two. However, it was not possible to snub his hostess, and he joined ner. Dawn was in the highest spirits, and talked away with animation. She flirted so openly and deliberately that at last Lady Anstruther thought it was time to intervene, and came over to them. "Dawn, dear, won't you sing something?" she suggested. " I would much prefer to talk to Mr. Dyas. He is telling me such interesting things about the stage," answered Dawn. Lucie backed up Lady Anstruther's request, and Dawn was no longer able to refuse. Her voice was light, but very sympathetic and well- trained. Dyas was passionately fond of music, and soon he was standing by the piano and turning over the music. She would not sing more than a couple of songs, and afterwards resumed her open attentions to Dyas. Lady Anstruther was becoming annoyed, and it was she who was responsible for the breaking-up of the party at a comparatively early hour. Dawn accompanied them to the hall, and her last words were for the actor. " See you to-morrow at the theatre," she cried DELILAH 173 gaily. " You can't understand how much I love my work." " Work," he repeated dryly. " Yes, and I like every one so much. Lucie, and " her voice was lowered, but clear and distinct " and you. Good-night," she said, and there was a caressing note in her voice. The door closed on the guests, and Dawn returned to the sitting-room. CHAPTER XX DAWN'S eyes sparkled with excitement, as they were fixed on the door awaiting her husband's return. It meant so much to her that he should show resentment at the way she had behaved. As a matter of fact she liked Dyas, but felt no sexual attraction for him. He was a man of whom she could make a friend and would never dream of as a lover. Royle watched his wife return to the sitting- room, but did not follow her for a while, as he wished time for thought before speaking to her. Naturally he was annoyed, and for the first time was really jealous. His primitive instinct was to talk very sternly, and give her to understand that he resented such conduct. But his anger gradually diminished, and when he joined her his manner was quite normal. Dawn was bitterly disappointed, and her face fell, for she had been confident that she had succeeded in rousing his anger. But disappointment soon gave way to resentment followed by a feeling of recklessness. " Don't you think our first real dinner has been a success ? " she remarked lightly. 174 DELILAH 175 " You appear to have enjoyed yourself thoroughly," he answered quietly. " Yes. Rupert Dyas is one of the handsomest men I've ever met, and he's so clever and interesting. Don't you agree with me, dear? " " Dyas seems a good sort. As a rule I don't like actors." " But you used to approve of actresses." " Not all of them." " Lucie Manett was looking charming to-night." " She usually does look charming," he agreed with her promptly. Dawn lapsed into silence, but her brain was working swiftly, trying to think of some means of rousing him. " Royle, open a bottle of champagne." It was an order and not a request, and he raised his eyebrows inquiringly, for she drank very little. " I'm not a little bit inclined for bed and I'm dull dull," she repeated. " The reaction after so much excitement," he suggested. " Perhaps you are right. At any rate I should like a drink, so hurry up." In answer he rang the bell, and gave orders to the maid, who brought a pint of champagne, which Royle opened with practised hands. " I should like it in a tumbler full up to the brim," she told him. " Really, my dear," he protested. 176 DELILAH " Don't be stupid, Royle. Would it be the first time you have ever seen a woman drink champagne from a tumbler? " She held out her hand, seized the glass, and drained the contents. His air of disapproval amused her, but the fact that he obeyed her only tempted her to further experiments. " Please give me the rest of the wine," she said, and held the glass towards him. " Haven't you had enough ? " he said gently. " No or I shouldn't ask for more." " But you are not used to drinking so much wine," he ventured to protest. " It won't do me any harm." Royle had placed the bottle on the table. Dawn rose and proceeded to pour out the remainder of the wine, and while doing it she gave him a defiant look. " You mustn't treat me like a child. Remember that I am a married woman, and if I felt inclined to drink a whole bottle of champagne " " You would doubtless have a sore head in the morning. But what's the matter with you to-night, dearest? It would almost seem as though you were trying to quarrel with me." " That's impossible." " If either of us have a ground for complaint, it's myself." " Then why don't you complain ? " she cried peremptorily. DELILAH 177 " Because I'm too fond of you. Besides, I'm prepared to make every possible allowance." " Thank you." " And to exercise infinite patience. I recognise that you have the right to your ' fling.' You had seen so little of life when we were married." " Then you intend to allow me to do just as I like? " she demanded quickly. " Within reason. I know you have the sense not to go too far and make a fool of yourself. I've no doubt that before long you'll settle down all right. And I'm willing to wait until you are fed up with idle amusement. Then we'll take a place in the country, where there's decent fishing and shooting. We might even live at the Towers." " It'll be a very long time before you'll persuade me to bury myself down there. Good-night, dear." Dawn rose abruptly, hastily kissed his cheek and hurried to her bedroom. The doors were quickly bolted, and then she took off her gown. " He bores me," she cried, and tears of anger and disappointment came to her eyes. The evening, to which she had looked forward so eagerly, had been a dire failure. There had been no doubt in her mind that a scene would follow their guests' departure, for her behaviour had been bad enough to try the temper of a samt. And instead of showing a justifiable resentment, Royle had not even uttered a reproach. 12 t;8 DELILAH " He's a fool and I hate him," she cried with growing indignation. In the meantime Royle was suffering acutely. The evening had been one long torment for him, and now he felt utterly helpless. It was impossible to discover where he had gone wrong, but it was evident that his wife was displeased with him. And then he began to wonder if she could really have loved him. It was so short a time since they had been married, and they were drifting apart rather than drawing closer together. Jealous anger shook him, when he remembered how flagrantly she had flirted with Dyas. And she would be meeting the actor the next morning, and for many succeeding days. Common sense told him that something must be done. . . . But what could he do ? Yes he would order her to give up her work on the stage. Better still, he might take her away to Paris. Should he tackle the question now ? A glance at his watch and he saw that it was only half -past ten o'clock. So he went to her bedroom and gently tapped at the door. '' I'm just getting into bed and I'm so tired. Good-night, dear," she called to him. He stood there, and in an instant his self-control snapped. " Let me in," he cried harshly. " But I'm so tired." " Let me in," he repeated. DELILAH 179 " Good-night," she repeated. " If you don't let me in I'll break the door down," he cried with fierce determination. Dawn gurgled with delight as she recognised the dominating note in his voice. In an instant she was out of bed and had switched on the light. The door was thrown open, and she stood before him, her eyes alight with excitement. Almost she ran to meet him, eager to feel him crush her in his arms. " Oh ! Royle," she cried breathlessly. But at the sight of her his anger vanished as quickly as it had come. "I'm so sorry I lost my temper," he said weakly, and stood still with an embarrassed look. " Please forgive me, darling." And she was longing to feel the strength of his arms. She would have preferred that in his anger he should have struck her than have given way to her so ignominiously. " I have nothing to forgive," she stated coldly. " You made me very angry and " " Now that you are here, may I ask why you have disturbed me ? " she asked with supreme disdain. " I was mad that you should have locked me out." " It was not the first time . . . and it won't be the last," she added under her breath. " Dawn, darling, may I stay with you ? " i8o DELILAH " Not with my permission. Of course, if you wish to force your company on me." She paused and looked at him expectantly. He could not read the expression in her eyes. It is curious how love can blunt a normally acute intelligence. " I shouldn't dream of doing that I'm not a cad," he said with indignation. " There are worse things than being a cad." Again he failed to understand her. " We'll have a long talk in the morning. Dawn, sweetheart, I'm afraid things are not going with us as well as they should. I know it is my fault, and you are not to blame " " Thank you," she interrupted him politely. " We'll see if we can't arrive at an understand- ing. I'm prepared to do anything you wish." " Except one thing." " Tell me what it is, dear. If it's possible I'll do it," he cried eagerly. " That's the one thing I can't do tell you. If you haven't the brains to see it for your- self " and then she began to laugh quietly, but there was no mirth in the sound. " It's really amusing, Royle. I should imagine you must have a good deal more experience of women than the average man. Yet you haven't the smallest knowledge of myself. And I don't believe I differ very much from the average woman." " You are like no one else I've ever met. I DELILAH 181 admit I don't understand you. Help me to understand you," he cried appealingly. " I really am tired, Royle. Good-night." "Mayn't I stay?" "I've already answered you," she said with a laugh, and jumped into bed. " Please turn off the light. But I can use the switch here." As she spoke darkness came. Dawn ceased to breathe for a moment, listening intently. Then she heard a movement, and her arms were out- stretched instinctively. But alas, there followed the sound of the opening and closing of the dressing-room door. " The fool the pitiful fool," she sobbed, and then began to cry very quietly. Not for the world would she have him know that she wept. CHAPTER XXI THE following morning Royle had breakfast alone, and Dawn sent no message, but remained in her bedroom, and it was not until eleven o'clock that he found the courage to go to her. " I'm just going to get up. I overslept myself, and if I don't hurry I shall be late for my appoint- ment with Mr. Dyas," she said at once. Her manner was quite pleasant, but, contrary to her habit, she had not offered him a " good- morning " kiss. " I do hope you have forgiven me," he said in a humble voice. " Oh, do be quiet ! I've nothing to forgive. Please go away," she said wearily " When shall you be back? " " I really don't know. Before dinner, I suppose. Now run along." Royle sighed as he wended his way to the sitting-room. It was natural that he should now believe her to be angry on account of his display of violence of the previous night, little imagining that it was the one incident that had given her any real pleasure. After slight hesitation he went to the telephone 182 DELILAH 183 and spoke to Murdoch. It was agreed that they should lunch together at their club. Jim knew his friend so well that he very quickly perceived that Royle was not quite himself and worrying about something, so when the meal was over he suggested they should stroll round to his chambers. " This is like old times," Murdoch remarked cheerfully, when their pipes were alight, and they had settled down in arm-chairs. " Roy, old chap, this is the first time you've been here since your marriage. But I mustn't complain, I've seen more of you than I expected. Marriage is so liable to change a man's habits." "And a woman's," Royle remarked dryly. " Your wife looked very beautiful last night." " Yes, but it wasn't a very cheery evening, was it ? " " Why not ? For my part, I assure you I wasn't bored. Now then, Roy, out with it. What the devil is the matter with you ? " Jim asked cheerfully. " Nothing." " Rubbish 1 I know I'm treading on thin ice. But I hate to see you worried. There is a hackneyed saying that ' when a man's married his troubles begin.' I hope it doesn't apply in your case." " A man hates to discuss his wife with any one else. But, Jim, I seem to be up against it, and I really do want your advice. First of all, I 184 DELILAH must impress upon you that I'm not in any way criticising Dawn." " Listen to me, Royle. May I speak absolutely frankly without giving offence? " Murdoch asked bluntly. " Yes, if an old friend like yourself can't " " Good, then I'll start away at once. That wife of yours ought to have been thoroughly well spanked for the way she carried on last night. Don't get excited, Royle. I'll admit that the greater part of the blame rests with yourself. You've spoilt her outrageously. I nearly went round to see her this morning with the idea of giving her a straight talk. However, I changed my mind . . . and it's just as well. By the by, is she as charming to you when you are alone as she was last night? She might have been addressing a small schoolboy. I wonder you stood it as you did. I was expecting you to fly into a violent rage with her." " I did fly into a rage later on," admitted Royle. " Excellent, my friend, and I hope the effect was good." " I don't know. I suppose I had better tell you everything." Murdoch realised that his friend must have greatly changed to talk in this way, and his sympathy was aroused. In any other man there would have been a degree of contempt for this DELILAH 185 show of weakness, but he was much too fond of Royle, and sympathy, with a desire to help, was the predominant feeling. Soon he was listening to the story of a brief married life, and as he listened his wonder increased. It was incredible to believe that Royle Weldon had become a tame husband, who calmly put up with, and even encouraged, a hectoring wife. He guessed a good deal that was unsaid, and was tempted to ask a question about the " scene of violence " of the previous night, but he respected Royle's reserve and abstained. But his suspicion had become a certainty as to the reason of this drifting apart of husband and wife, and at last he decided to speak very plainly. " Royle, you are the one responsible. When Dawn fell in love with you she thought you were a cave-man." " A cave-man ? " " Yes, and she expected you would wield a bludgeon. , There are women whose happiness requires them to be kept in subjection. Dawn is one of that sort, and you have been handling her in the worst possible way. But I don't think it's too late, although you'll have to be brutal to bring her to her senses." " I can see I made a mistake in asking your advice. However, I can't complain I did give you permission to speak quite frankly." " Good heavens ! Surely you're not offended i86 DELILAH at what I have said ? . . . But I can see you are. Royle, you are not the man you were. When I remember the way women treated you . . . and the way you were treated in return ! They were humble, devoted, loving slaves, and you were kindly lord and master. . . . While now ..." Murdoch laughed quietly to himself, and Royle's smouldering anger fired. " I won't quarrel with you," the latter said tensely. " Thanks. It needs two for a quarrel, and I'm not one. I'm much too fond of you. However, I shan't say any more, but I do ask you to think over calmly and quietly what I've said. Hello ! What is it ? " he asked abruptly of the servant who had appeared. " Miss Manett has called, sir." " Ask her to come in," Murdoch said cheerfully. " I'll go . . ." began Royle, but Lucie appeared in the doorway. "I'm not going to disturb you. I was passing and thought I would look in for a cup of tea. Do stay, Royle. I want to have a talk to you," she said, and he did not notice her nervousness. However, Murdoch's eyes were more observant, and he hoped that Royle would go. " Stay for a cup of tea, and you can walk back to my flat with me," urged Lucie, and Royle sat down again. Jt appeared she had come straight from the DELILAH 187 theatre and was very pleased with the day's rehearsal. " Your wife is improving steadily. She was splendid this morning, and showed no sign of the amateur. Dyas is an excellent teacher, and he has taken a great deal of trouble with her. Lady Anstruther looked in and was very pleased with the way things are going. I do hope that ' Delilah ' will be a success. Of course, you know the plot ? " she said to Royle. But he shook his head. "I've heard Dawn rehearsing her part and that's all," he answered. It was not long before Lucie rose. " Good-bye, Jim. Thank you very much for a nice cup of tea. I wonder why a bachelor always has such good tea. Come along, Royle." " I thought of joining you/' Murdoch said with a smile. " But I don't want you, Jim. There is some- thing I want to say to Royle. You can lunch with me to-morrow if you wish. Call for me at the theatre at one o'clock." Murdoch held her hand and detained her for a moment. " Lucie, are you wise ? " he whispered gently, and looked straight into her eyes. There was no sign of self-consciousness on her face as she smiled at him sweetly. " Don't be stupid, Jim. I know what I'm i88 DELILAH doing, and, as you know, I'm quite capable of looking after myself. By-bye." " I wish I was sure of that," he said with a sigh. Lucie joined Royle in the hall, and they went away together. She knew the signs so well. . . . Yes, he was worried, and the reason for the worry could not be far to seek. " When I came in just now I almost believed you and Jim had been ' having a few words.' But, of course, the idea's absurd." " We've never had a real quarrel," he answered evasively. " Men are so different to women. I once had a great woman friend. We used to quarrel continually, I suppose to prove that our affection was real." When they reached Hanover Square, he stopped at the entrance to her flat. " You'll come up? " she said quietly. " Dawn will be home." " She's gone to tea at the Ritz, and there was some talk of dinner." " With Lady Anstruther of course ? " " No, with Rupert Dyas. They asked me to join them, but I was rather tired. Dawn wished to discuss with him some new reading of her part." Lucie laughed at the frown on his face. " If I didn't know you so well, I should have DELILAH 189 suspected you of jealousy. How furious I used to be. When I flirted you never gave a sign, and I suffered agonies in the belief that you didn't really love me. . . Aren't you coming up? " " No, I'm not in the mood for talk." " There's something I wish to say to you," she persisted. " I'll call to-morrow." " Very well. I shall be back at about six o'clock. Will that suit you ? " " Yes." As soon as she had gone he called to the driver of a passing taxi-cab, and told him to go to the Ritz. He was not going there with any intention of spying on his wife, but he did not like the idea of her being there alone for tea with a well-known actor. " She is so young and I must look after her," he told himself. And then he thought over what Murdoch had said to him. But what could a bachelor know of the troubles of married life ? Still, he felt uneasy in mind, and began to doubt if his treatment of Dawn had been altogether wise. CHAPTER XXII WHEN Dawn left the flat for the theatre it was with growing resentment against Royle, although she realised that the feeling was unreasonable; but, all the same, she was quite determined to rouse him. It was horrible to contemplate years and years of slavish obedience on his part. She longed for the man she had believed him to be and intended to have him. There would be no doubt she was playing with fire, but the risk only added to the excitement. The rehearsal had already commenced when she arrived. Lucie did not comment on her being late, but Dyas raised his eyebrows and smiled. " That's the worst of you amateurs. You have no idea of punctuality," he remarked dryly. " I have heard the same accusation levelled at professionals," she answered quickly. " And rightly so," he admitted promptly. Dyas was not in the least degree conceited, and had not jumped to the conclusion that Dawn had fallen in love with him. After her behaviour of the previous night the average actor would have jumped to the conclusion that he had captured a " scalp," and would have proceeded to recount DELILAH 191 his conquest to a crowded and admiring dressing- room. But Rupert was not of this type, and he had given some thought as to his attitude towards her. Had she been unmarried he would gladly have followed her lead, for she attracted him greatly. Anyhow, she interested him, chiefly because he could not understand her ; and he saw no harm in being fairly intimate with her. More- over, she was keen on her work, and had made real progress, being not unwilling to learn. In his time, he had met with pretty and ambitious amateurs, who wished to start at the top of the tree, and were unwilling to learn even the rudi- ments of acting. A short break was made for lunch, and immedi- ately afterwards work was resumed. When the rehearsal came to an end Lucie chanced to over- hear Dawn's talk with Dyas, and the former's suggestion that they should have tea at the Ritz. " I really want to talk over my part. I've a lot to say, and it'll take time, so we may as well dine together," Dawn had said. Dyas smiled indulgently. It would be pleasant to spend an hour or two with so delightful a companion, and they went off, talking together with animation. Now that her husband was not present Dawn treated him with frank camaraderie, and there was no further attempt to flirt. Over tea they discussed the play, and he approved of the suggestions she made. IQ2 DELILAH " You have the dramatic instinct," he remarked. " It's a pity you are not a poor woman. I believe you might make your way unaided as an actress." " Thank you, but they all say that brains have no chance on the stage, unless they are backed up by influence." " Don't you believe it, my dear. . . . Forgive me, Mrs. Weldon. It is only a theatrical collo- quialism and means nothing." " It's very curious, but I have noticed the familiarity that exists among theatrical people when they are alone." " The reason is simple. When with the public we find we must suffer f rom a strain of maintaining our stately dignity. So when we're among our- selves we like to relax." " Isn't it rather rather vulgar? " " Yes, I suppose so. But it means nothing. I have met a well-known actor-manager who has foully cursed the members of his company, but the words meant nothing. In the same way that a ' my dear ' means nothing. As a matter of fact the man I am thinking of has the kindliest of natures and is one of the most generous of men. I don't believe he really realises what he is saying half the time." " You are the first actor I have known," she remarked demurely. " You mustn't look upon us as an average lot. Miss Manett has curious ideas. We have all been DELILAH 193 carefully selected for our morals and our manners. Nearly all the men have been trained by Benson. A great artist, and it's wonderful how he puts his stamp on his people. The same sort of thing as the public school does for a man. There's no mistaking the breed but there are others," he wound up with a sigh. They talked for a while, and then he addressed her abruptly. " Mrs. Weldon, I like you very much to-day." " Miss Odell, please," she corrected him lightly. Was he going to make love to her? If so, it might be rather embarrassing. " You started a vigorous flirtation with me la c t night. Why? You are not attracted by me in the least. I know the signs too well. Why were you flirting with me last night ? This afternoon you are a charming companion. Last night you were rather a nuisance." Dawn laughed delightedly. She could imagine her husband talking to her in this way, and wished he would do so. Suddenly she encountered Dyas's eyes fixed on her gravely. " Why? I'm curious," he said peremptorily. " Just a whim I suppose." " Well, I don't suppose anything of the sort. You were not acting without a purpose. Were you trying to make your husband jealous ? " " Yes," she admitted quite frankly. " That's the conclusion I had arrived at. 194 DELILAH But don't try the same experiment without care< fully choosing your man. You may land yourself in difficulties." " I can take care of myself," she answered, and suddenly looking up, saw Royle coming towards her. " Here's my husband," she announced. " I'll bet anything you arranged it." " I swear I didn't." " Then Lucie did. I'll be even with her." Royle greeted Dyas very pleasantly, and signalled to a waiter to bring another chair. " Miss Manett told me you were here, so I thought I would join you. Have you settled the alteration in your part ? " he asked of Dawn. " I'm afraid I've been boring Mr. Dyas, but he has been most kind. We haven't yet finished our discussion, and I have suggested to Mr. Dyas that we should dine together," she said quickly. But Dyas was quite equal to the occasion, and had no intention of being drawn into a matri- monial wrangle. " I'm afraid I can't to-night. I've an engage- ment. But there's not much more to be said, Mrs. Weldon. We'll rehearse the alterations to-morrow, and I'msure you will find no difficulty." As he spoke he glanced at his watch. "It's after six o'clock bless D.O.R.A. Mr. Weldon, will you have a whisky-and-soda ? " he asked. " With pleasure," Royle answered promptly, DELILAH 195 and then entered into an animated conversation with Dyas. Dawn did not attempt to join in their talk, but watched and listened to her husband. He spoke with an authority that was neither bumptious nor aggressive. He spoke as if he were sure of himself, and she wondered why he could not adopt the same manner in dealing with herself. The two men found themselves liking ore another, and Dyas wondered why Dawn was behaving as she was. It was extraordinary when one remembered that she had been married so recently. " I wish you could have dined with us. My wife is engrossed in this play and can think of nothing else," remarked Royle. " You haven't been to a rehearsal. Why don't you look in to-morrow ? I am sure Miss Manett will have no objection," suggested Dyas. " Miss Manett would have no objection to my husband being present." The remark was made impulsively and Dawn was immediately ashamed of it. The two men were careful not to look at one another, and shortly afterwards Dyas bade them good-night. " We'll dine here," Royle said suddenly. It was not a suggestion but a declaration, and Dawn was pleased, but her imp of mischief was in the ascendant. 196 DELILAH " I don't think I care about the Ritz to-night," she said with indifference. " What about the Berkeley Grill ? " he sug- gested. " No. I want to go to some new place. I've never been to Soho." " I haven't for years. Let us go. It'll be fun." " No. I don't care about Soho," she answered waywardly. Surely he must be losing patience ! " All places are the same, so long as you are with me," he said, and it sounded fatuous to her ears. " We'll go home," she announced abruptly. " That will please me best," he agreed cheerfully. " I wish Mr. Dyas could have stayed." " So do I, dear. I like him immensely. No side or affectation, and he looks as if he bathed every morning." " Why shouldn't he look as if he bathed ? " she asked with indignation. But Royle only shrugged his shoulders, for he was not inclined to pursue the subject. " Miss Manett told you I was here. Where did you meet her? " " At Jim's she called in for tea." " I wish she hadn't told you." " Why not ? " he asked with well-assumed innocence. DELILAH 197 He was determined to give her no cause for a quarrel, but he found difficulty in controlling himself and in speaking quite naturally. Her whims and fancies dismayed him, but surely it could only be a phase that would quickly pass. " We'll dine here," she said vindictively. " All right. I'm ready for dinner now. Shall we go to the grill-room? " he said with a smile. " I'll join you in a few minutes." She hastened away, and he waited patiently for a quarter of an hour. Then he ordered a cocktail. Half an hour and he began to grow impatient. Finally he went to the telephone and called up his flat. " Is your mistress back ? " he asked of the maid. " Yes, sir. Is that Mr. Weldon speaking? " " Yes." " Is there any message, sir? " " No. Except that I shan't be home for dinner," he said savagely and replaced the receiver. CHAPTER XXIII ROYLE returned to the lounge and ordered another cocktail. It was amazing that Dawn should have gone home, without announcing her intention of doing so. Perhaps she had suddenly felt ill ? But he dismissed that idea, for it would have been a simple matter to send a messenger to him. Certainly she was treating him with a total lack of consideration, and he must demand an explanation. For the first time since his marriage he missed the keen desire for her presence that had always been with him. Perhaps it would do good if he were to remain away for a while. But he did not feel like dining alone, and after a little consideration he decided to go to Lucie. At any rate he was sure of a welcome from her. Estelle received him with the customary smile of welcome. " I am just going to serve dinner for Madame," she remarked. " Do you think cook has enough for me ? " he asked. " Most certainly, M'sieu. I will run to tell Madame. She will be so glad," 198 DELILAH 199 Lucie had just put on a loose gown of filmy lace, and uttered a cry of surprise when she learnt that Royle was there. " And he wished to stay for dinner," Estelle said excitedly. " Bring two bottles of Lanson '06. And tell cook to be very careful with the coffee," Lucie said very quietly. But her eyes were alight with excitement as she put the final touches to her toilet. Why had he come back ? Had he been to the Ritz and seen his wife with Dyas ? Had he at last lost patience ? These questions tumbled across her mind, but she could not guess the answer. She must act with the utmost caution, and she considered very carefully her plan of attack. When she entered the sitting-room she was looking her best. Her manner was quite calm and collected, without a hint of the tumult within. " It's good to see you, Royle. To-night I hated the idea of dining alone." As she spoke she was deftly mixing a cocktail. She did not ask if he wanted one, but brought the glass to him, and sat on the arm of his chair. Yes, she would behave just as if there had never been any breach. Her hand smoothed back his hair, and her lips just touched his forehead. " You look rather tired, dear," she said in a low voice. 200 DELILAH Royle felt vaguely uneasy, but it was distinctly pleasant to be " made a fuss of," and the touch of her fingers soothed him. " Lucie, I'm very worried," he blurted out. " I'm sorry, dear. Of course it's not money." " No. It's my wife. I know I ought not to discuss her especially with you But I do love her, and I'm so miserable." " Poor old Royle," she said gently. And then he went on to tell her what had happened, and she smiled, but it was a bitter smile that he should permit himself to be treated so cavalierly. " You are much too good to her. There is a certain type of woman who needs to be driven on the curb. And sometimes a touch of the spur is necessary. One reason why I cared for you was that you dominated me." She paused an instant. " Shall I go on ?" He did not answer, but stared moodily on the ground. " Moreover, I never felt absolutely sure of you. And the uncertainty helps to keep a woman's love. Don't you remember the warning I gave you some time ago ? I told you you were spoiling Dawn, and so long as you continue to spoil her " Lucie broke off with a shrug of the shoulders. She suddenly realised that she had been speaking from her heart, and was not carrying out the line DELILAH 201 of action she had planned. It was not to her interest to show Royle his mistake. " After all it's no business of mine," she went on with a well-assumed air of indifference. " But I hate to see you so miserable." Estelle came in to announce that dinner was ready. By a happy chance there were the dishes that Royle liked, and Lucie kept a careful eye on his glass, seeing that it was always full. A good meal can make a wonderful difference to a man, and by the time coffee was brought to them in the sitting-room he was in much better spirits. Once more he was prepared to make every possible excuse for Dawn, and was anxious to get back to her. But Lucie decreed other- wise, and he could not very well leave the moment dinner was over. However, she did not think it wise to keep him with her very long, and was careful to give him no cause for alarm. " Always come to me when you are worried. I was so afraid you would avoid me when you were married. It's fortunate I'm in your wife's good graces. Now I think you had better get back to her," she said cheerfully. " Lucie, you are simply splendid. I feel heaps better for having seen you. I am very grateful, dear," he said earnestly. " I don't want your gratitude. One would think I was a stranger," she cried with a passion 202 DELILAH that surprised him. " Good-night," she added, and left him abruptly. Royle decided to walk back to Curzon Street, and he strolled along slowly, his head bent in thought. Some notice must be taken of his wife's strange action. What should he say to her? Perhaps it would be better to be silent and to await her explanation. However, when he came face to face with her in the sitting-room, he did not hesitate what he should do. " Well, darling, I'm glad you haven't gone to bed," he said with a smile, and embraced her. kissing her lips lightly. " I suppose you sent a message by some fool of a servant ? " " No, I didn't," she answered quietly. " Well, it doesn't matter. I didn't wait very long, and I had an excellent dinner." Dawn sighed wearily, and taking a cigarette from the box lighted it with extreme care. Was it impossible to rouse this husband of hers ? She had behaved outrageously, and he accepted her misbehaviour with meek patience. If only he would give her a good shaking. At the moment she could almost have welcomed a thrashing at his hands. Anything rather than this sub- servience to her will. " Are you quite well ? " he asked with solicitude. " Never felt fitter in my life. Where did you dine? " she asked. DELILAH 203 " With Lucie." " Indeed. Did you telephone her to come to theRitz?" " No we dined at her flat." Whereat Dawn laughed heartily. " I suppose I ought to be furiously jealous " " I wish to heaven you were," he cried vehemently. " So do I. But I'm not. I think Lucie is perfectly charming. By the by, did you make love to her? " she asked with deliberate malice. " Really, Dawn aren't you going a little too far? " " But your reputation . . . and your past ! I don't believe I ought to trust you to dine with charming ladies alone in their flats . But perhaps Jim was there ? " " No he wasn't." " Would you care for me to dine with Mr. Dyas alone in his flat ? " " If you dared " He paused and glared at her furiously. For a few moments her hopes ran high. Surely he must resent what she had said. Even as she was speaking, she had realised that she was being thoroughly ill-bred, and deserving of drastic punishment at his hands. Perhaps she had better apologise. . . . But his anger was vanish- ing as quickly as it had come. 204 DELILAH " Of course you were only joking," he said, and laughed nervously. " I had never thought of dining with Mr. Dyas alone in his flat," she said slowly. " I knew it." " But now that the idea has occurred to me ... it might be exciting." She might have been addressing herself, and it seemed to him that she was considering a serious proposition. But he effectually concealed his alarm and in his turn lighted a cigarette; but his hand trembled as he applied the match. " I wish you would give up the stage and come to Paris. We could have a really good time. You will love the Rue de la Paix and the shops." " Later on when I'm tired of the stage. It's going to be a busy day to-morrow, and I need a good night's rest. I think I'll turn in," she said, and smothered a yawn. " But it's quite early," he protested. " Good-night." " All right. I'll come." " No, dear. I really am sleepy. Good-night." Her lips brushed his forehead, and she walked quickly away. All the time as she was undressing she was expecting to hear his knock, and hoping that there would be another outbreak of violence But Royle was slowly pacing to and fro, thinking deeply It was so difficult to know how to deal DELILAH 205 with her. There could be no doubt that they were rapidly drifting apart, but he could not see that the fault lay in any way with himself. Certainly he had always done everything in his power to please her, but the result was not encouraging. With each passing day she seemed to be treating him with less consideration, and he could not see much promise of improvement. From her attitude he might be a callous youngster instead of a man of mature years with a wide knowledge of life. " What can I do ? "he asked himself helplessly. Perhaps it might be advisable to go away for a week, and give her a chance of missing him. At any rate a short absence would do no harm, and might bring her to her senses. Yet how greatly he would miss her ! It was extraordinary, but his love for her was increasing, when one might naturally think that such treatment as he was receiving at her hands would tend to diminish affection. He smiled grimly to himself when he remembered that the roles had always been reversed hitherto. It was he who had been spoilt, and the women suppliants. Perhaps he was now being punished for his past sins. "I'll go," he decided abruptly. "And I'll leave in the morning without disturbing her." Perhaps he would not even say " good-bye," but would leave behind a note, simply saying that 206 DELILAH he was going away for a week. But what a terrible seven days it would be ! And he sighed wearily as he crept as quietly as possible into his bedroom. Once he stood for a while at the door which communicated with Dawn's room, but there was not a sound. CHAPTER XXIV DAWN slept soundly, and did not awaken until the maid came to call her. There was an early rehearsal, so she hastened to the bathroom, and after her bath dressed as quickly as possible. Upon thinking over the events of the previous afternoon and evening, she was seized by a feeling of compunction and wondered if she had not gone too far. " If he would only fly into a rage, I could love him so much more than I do," she told herself. There was a slight feeling of uneasiness that he should have gone to dine at Lucie's flat; although she trusted him implicitly so far as any other woman was concerned. So far there had never been any reason to feel jealousy. Royle had been the only man with whom she had been in any way intimate, and from their first meeting he had never failed to show his devotion. At last she was dressed, and there was a smile on her face when she entered the breakfast-room. Yes she would be very gracious to Royle. " Perhaps I have been unkind," was her thought. To her surprise he was not there, and she looked inquiringly at the maid. 207 208 DELILAH " Isn't Mr. Weldon dressed ? " she asked. " Oh ! yes. The master went out some time ago. He took his dressing-case with him. There is a note for you on the table, ma'am." With an effort Dawn concealed her surprise, and resisted the temptation to tear open the envelope. " Very well, Mary. You need not wait," she said quietly, and the maid went away, her eyes widely opened, with ungratified curiosity. Alone, Dawn took up the letter, and jumped to her feet. Now she had become very agitated, and tears appeared in her eyes. " If I have gone too far ! " she said tremulously, but self-confidence came back almost immediately. " But he couldn't be really angry. Not for a long while only for the moment," she told herself reassuringly. " My dear wife," she read aloud. " How very stilted ! " she said lightly, and then remembered how very few letters she had received from him. " I think a change will be good for both of us. For some reason or other I seem to be trying your patitnce. And, frankly, you are having the same effect on myself. I am going to run over to Paris for a week, and in the meantime I shall be glad if you will quietly think over things. When I return we will have a serious talk, for unless some change DELILAH 209 is made, I fear that we shall drift apart. Dear one, I want you to believe that I love and worship you. Without your love life would not be worth the living. Bear this in mind, sweetheart. " I can see only too clearly that in some way I fail to satisfy you. But I can't conceive how I go wrong. My sole aim is for your happiness. " I am not giving you an address, and shall not write while I am away. If you want advice, go to your aunt. She is a real good sort, and if you are frank, I am sure you will find her a help. " Dawn, darling, I simply hate to leave you. Please think of me kindly. " I am always your Royle." The letter touched her, yet it would have pleased her more if he had written more sternly and more as her master. Still it was something that he should have chosen to go away. Just as she was about to start Lady Anstruther called. " A messenger brought a line from Royle saying he was going away. Have you been such a fool as to quarrel with him? " her aunt asked bluntly. " No what did he say," Dawn asked curiously. " Not much. Merely asked me to keep an eye on you. And if you go on as you've begun you'll need it," Lady Anstruther said grimly. " I'm late and must get away at once." 14 210 DELILAH " I'm going with you to watch the rehearsal." " And incidentally to keep an eye on me," Dawn commented with a laugh. " Well, it won't be necessary. I give you my solemn word of honour to do nothing to which you could take the slightest objection. I won't flirt with Rupert Dyas and . . . But I can't think of anything else I've done wrong." " Except to make your husband very unhappy." " We had better continue the lecture in the car. If I am late Mr. Dyas will only sneer at me as an amateur. Come along, Aunt." Lady Anstruther did not speak again until they had nearly reached the theatre. " You will dine with me to-night. I'll take you to the hotel when you have finished at the theatre." " Yes, Aunt," Dawn said so meekly that Lady Anstruther gave her a quick look of suspicion. The rehearsal proceeded very smoothly, and every one was in the best of tempers. Once Dyas spoke alone with Dawn. " I like your husband very much. I do hope he didn't mind our having tea together," he remarked casually. " Not in the least. I do think you were unkind not to dine with us," she said reproachfully. " Two is company . . you are not like an ancient married couple, and I do hate to be in the way." DELILAH 211 " You wouldn't have been in the way. I wished you to stay." " But your husband didn't, and that was sufficient for me. If I knew you better I should be inclined to proffer a little brotherly advice. There is such a thing as playing with fire. Of course it's exciting, but one is liable to be burnt " " Thank you. I always listen to advice," she said demurely. " And seldom follow it ... there's my cue," he cried and hurried away. When the rehearsal was finally over Lucie went up to Dawn. " Will you dine with me to-night ? " she asked pleasantly. " Aunt wishes me to go back with her. I am afraid I am rather in disgrace. Thank you so much for taking charge of my husband last night. I'm afraid I treated him rather badly," Dawn remarked with a laugh. " I wanted to talk to you about Royle." " You're not the only one. I suspect Aunt will have something to say about him to-night. By the by, did he tell you last night that he was going away." "No. Is he going?" " Yes, or rather he has gone, and is probably in Paris by this time." " Why has he gone ? Have you quarrelled ? " 212 DELILAH " I am not sure why he has gone . . . and we haven't quarrelled." " What a pity." " What do you mean ? " " That you haven't quarrelled. I was hoping that he would give you a good scolding when he returned home last night." " So was I. That was why I behaved as I did. But he doesn't ever get angry." " It is as I suspected. He spoils you, and you resent being spoilt. You liked him first of all because he dominated you. And now that he he " " You have guessed right and " " Come along, dear," Lady Anstruther cried impatiently and came towards them. " I'll dine with you to-morrow if you'll ask me. I can see you are a woman of understanding. I should be grateful if you would help me to understand myself. Good-night, dear." Upon the impulse of the moment, Dawn offered her lips to Lucie, but the latter withdrew instinctively and pretended not to notice the overture. " Good-night. I'll expect you to dinner to-morrow. Good-night, Lady Anstruther." Aunt and niece went to the car, and started for the hotel, but on the way Dawn suggested that they should call at Curzon Street. " Let us dine at the flat. It's more ' comfy ' DELILAH 213 than the hotel," she said, and Lady Anstruther did not object. It was not until the meal was over that they had any serious talk, and it was Dawn who broached the subject which occupied their minds. " You may as well see Royle's letter." Lady Anstruther read it very carefully, and then handed it back in silence. "Well? " Dawn asked casually. " He suggests I should advise you. I imagined I was worldly-wise, but the situation is beyond me. I can understand neither Royle nor yourself. Of course he should beat you " " That's what I think." " But he'll never do it. He's much too nice a man for you." " Yes, far too nice." " You certainly are not like your father. Your mother I did not know very well. It is possible you have inherited a streak of madness from her." " Quite possible. I appreciate that I should be grateful for having a tame cat for a husband, but I am not. Royle is much too saint-like for this world. I thought I was marrying a man some one the exact opposite to what Royle really is. At times he might almost be a stranger." " I don't know what to advise. I've already spoken to Royle, and pointed out the folly of his way of treating you, but apparently my advice 214 DELILAH has had no effect. I wish I could understand why you object to your husband. He is kindness itself. Not a wish remains ungratified. I confess that poor Donald was just as kind and good." " And you loved him. I know you did." " Yes, my love for him never wavered. But I suppose I am cast in a different mould. I do wish I knew what you complained of." " That my husband is not the man I imagined him to be." " But husbands never are," Lady Anstruther said gently. " He's not the man I fell in love with." " They never are what they seem through a lover's eyes. I presume you did love Royle ? " " With all my heart . and I believe I love him now." " But you are not sure ? " persisted Lady Anstruther. " No. I'm not. While he is away I'll try to understand myself. I do hate to make him miserable, but I can't help it. Something drives me on, and tells me I'm doing it for our future happiness . . . but I don't know what to think," Dawn wound up miserably. " I was beginning to think you had no heart, dear." " Yes. I have a heart ; and am longing to adore Royle, if he would allow me to do so. Aunt, can't I do anything? I've behaved like a beast DELILAH 215 to him, but it has been useless . . . I'm not heartless . . . and I'm not happy." " I'll think it over, and we'll have another talk before he comes back. Good-night, dear." " Good-night, Aunt I do love you," said Dawn, and they exchanged an affectionate kiss. CHAPTER XXV WHEN Royle left the flat he drove to Victoria station, arriving there in time for the first boat- train for Paris. The porter secured a corner seat, which Royle did not at once occupy, but paced slowly up and down the platform. He hated the idea of leaving England, and began to regret having decided to do so. Even now he was tempted to return, if it were not for the letter he had left for Dawn, and which would require explanation. During the journey to Dover he thought a great deal of his brief married life, and wondered if the happiness he had received was adequate compensation for the loss of freedom. It was typical of his state of mind that such a thought was possible. There was a rough crossing which he thoroughly enjoyed, and he was in better spirits when he continued the journey by train. At last Paris was reached, and he decided to stay at the Hotel Edward VII. instead of the small one to which he was accustomed, and his first thought upon entering the place was one of regret that Dawn was not with him. And when the evening was 216 DELILAH 217 over he realised to his horror that he had been bored by the amusements which had formerly delighted him. The theatre he found dull, and the supper served at a famous restaurant seemed insipid. " I'll go to 1'Abbaye," he muttered. But even a bottle of champagne failed to raise his spirits. A very beautiful woman came in, glanced keenly around, and as soon as her eyes rested on Royle, a little cry escaped her and she hurried towards him. " But this is good," she said to him in French. " Adele, it's years since I have seen you." " Yes, it is a long time," she answered, and sat down at Royle's table, without waiting for an invitation. " Yes, it is nearly five years, but I have not forgotten you. Once I came to London, and I wrote to you, but, alas ! I did not receive an answer." Royle remembered the reason. It was from a feeling of loyalty to Lucie Manett that he had not called to see the beautiful Frenchwoman. " Perhaps I was away from London. You know I'm abroad a great deal." " I think you were in London, but you did not come because you had ceased to love me." "Not that, Adele. But I might have been loving another woman more. It's a long time since we first met ! " he remarked reflectively. " Yes. I was very young, but so were you. 2i8 DELILAH And you were so innocent. We met at the Tabarin. You looked so clean and nice and fresh. I fell in love with you at once and longed to kiss you. Do you remember the little appartement ? Together we bought the furniture. But how young we were. You were sweet, mon ami. I did you no harm, and I taught you much. How we loved ! Ay di-mi," she sighed sentimentally. Adele was in the prime of life, and her beauty had brought her notoriety and wealth. It was Royle who had given her her first real chance. When they had met she had possessed but one smart frock and no jewels at all, and she lived in a small furnished flat. He had behaved generously to her, and also procured her an engagement at one of the big theatres. When they had parted it had been with goodwill on both sides, and Adele had continued to forge ahead. Royle had been the one man of her life for whom she had really cared, and even now she had a sentimental regard for him, for he had given her the means that had made success possible. She looked at him critically, and her eyes softened wonderfully. " Ah ! Mon Roi, you are in trouble. You do not laugh. You are not gay. What is it? Is it that you have lost your money? " " No." " Then it must be some woman who is making you unhappy. Perhaps it is well, for you have DELILAH 219 made many women miserable. To my cost I know of one. Never will I forget the night you told me that we must part. How I cried all night in your arms ! How I pleaded, but you were hard so hard, like a stone. But I loved you that you did not weaken. Mon Dieu, how I did love you. You could have done with me as you wished. I hated all other men. It was simply heaven while we remained together." " You were always a good sort, Adele," he said good-humouredly. " As a matter of fact I have been grateful to you on countless occasions. When we met, I knew nothing at all about women. You were nearly the first ; and you taught me a very great deal." " I was glad to teach you anything. Now I remember many things. Yes, you were innocent, but it was a very nice innocence." Adele began to laugh merrily, and leaning across the table whispered a few words. "Mon cher, why do you not marry?" she demanded abruptly. " I have always thought you would be happy as a husband." And then Royle told her of his marriage. " And you here alone so soon without your wife ? " she asked in surprise. Royle admitted that it was so; and then decided to give Adele his confidence. She was a shrewd woman with a wide knowledge of human nature who would give him honest advice. She 220 DELILAH listened attentively, now and then stopping to ask him questions, but when he had finished his story she took his hand and spoke to him impressively. " My dear. Return to your London. Take with you a nice cane, and when you get home you use it you see I know the type of woman your wife. They are of the sort who love the apaches." " Nonsense," he said irritably It annoyed him that this woman should give him advice identical with that of Lady Anstruthej and Lucie. " To spoil your wife is to lose her. I know women, and I speak the truth. When we lived together you were kind to me, but you were not stupid, all the time I knew that you were my master and I liked to know it. All nice women like to know that their man is their master. You act stupid with your wife. Go back to her at once and take the cane. . . . Now we have supper eh?" Royle summoned the waiter and gave an order. " You don't eat, Roi. But you will drink . . . I am really glad to see you again. You make me think of old and happy days. I like to recall them. I would like to live them again. But, alas " she made a gesture of impatience. " I grow old and sentimental. You come and see DELILAH 221 me some day. But to-morrow, you return home to your wife." " I have come for a week." " It will do no harm to stay, if your wife behave herself. But she is foolish and silly, and young. So while you are away she may have serious affair with another man. That would be very bad for you, mon ami. So you go back to your London, is it not so ? Thank you for a very nice supper. Now I go back to my apparlement alone. You have made me think of old days, and to-night I do not like people. You will write to me, my friend, and tell me how this wife of yours how she behaves herself. And now, good-night." And so they parted; Royle in much better spirits for the encounter. He went straight back to the hotel and to bed. A good night's sleep and he felt fit for anything when he awoke. But Paris seemed to have lost its savour, and when he had dressed he began to replace the fittings of his dressing-case. When this was done a laugh escaped him. " I believe I'm going back," he said to himself. And so it proved to be, for the same afternoon he was on the way to London and to Dawn. He did not telegraph, but decided to take her by surprise. On reaching town he first called at his club, where he met Murdoch. 222 DELILAH "Can I stay with you to-night?" he asked of him. " Of course you can as many nights as you like," Murdoch answered heartily, but there was anxiety in his eyes, for he had not seen Lucie during the last day or two, and had not heard of Royle's departure for Paris. Royle's courage had suddenly vanished and he felt that he must wait till the morning before he could meet Dawn. Moreover, it might be wiser to write a letter and advise her of his return. Otherwise she might even suspect that he had come back with some idea of spying on her. Murdoch was frankly curious to know the reason why Royle was not staying at the flat with Dawn, and when he had learnt something of what had happened he did not hesitate to express his opinion. " I certainly should not return until the week is up. Your wife will only think it another sign of weakness . . which it is. You came back because you simply couldn't stay away from her isn't that so ? " " Yes," Royle admitted frankly. " Paris evidently doesn't appeal to you in your present temper. Shall we finish the week together ? a few days' fishing would be good for both of us. I need a breath of fresh air." " All right, I'll come." " Good. We'll catch an early train in the morning," Murdoch said cheerfully. CHAPTER XXVI IT was the first night of " Delilah," and Dawn was putting the finishing touches to her " make- up." Each morning she had expected to receive a letter from Royle, but was relieved that nothing came. It was four days since he had left, and she sincerely hoped that he would remain away for the threatened week. True, she missed him tremendously, but there was the possibility that absence might cause him to view things differently, and he might return to her more like the dominat- ing personality with which she had fallen in love. Both Lucie and Rupert Dyas spoke words of encouragement, for they were naturally under the impression that she would be nervous at the prospect of making her first appearance on the stage, but they were wrong, for Dawn was full of confidence and answered them laughingly. In fact she was regarding this experience as a huge joke, but when she faced the sea of faces her memory became a blank. However, the prompter came to the rescue and she managed to get through the little scene without actually being disgraced. 223 224 DELILAH When she reached the wings Dyas was standing there, and gave her a smile of welcome. " Was I very awful ? " she asked nervously. " Not very good, but you'll do better in the next scene," he answered lightly. " I seemed to dry up completely." " You are not the first to do that. I've known experienced actresses fail on the first night. By the by, your husband is in a box with Mr. Murdoch." " I didn't know he was back." " Perhaps I oughtn't to have told you." " It doesn't make any difference," she answered, but when he had " gone on " she proceeded to inspect the house, and quickly picked out Royle. " So he has come back . . . and I'm sorry," she said to herself. Soon she had to go on, and it was with the determination to do better that she faced the footlights. But again she seemed tongue-tied and to forget all she had learned at the rehearsals. Fortunately for the success of the play it was only really necessary that she should appear to be beautiful and she filled this role most admirably. On the other hand Lucie had gripped the packed house from her first entrance, and by the time the second act was over a huge success was prophesied for her. Dyas, too, was applauded, and every one, except Dawn, was in the highest DELILAH 225 spirits. But she did not omit to congratulate the others most heartily. Lady Anstruther was seated at the back of Royle's box, and her great regret was that her husband was not alive to see his work so enthusiastically applauded. " A first and last appearance," she remarked to Royle as the play drew to a close. " What do you mean ? " " Dawn . . . she has been a dire failure, but I don't think you ought to be altogether sorry." " I don't think she is so bad." " Then you are no judge of acting," Lady Anstruther remarked dryly. " By the by, when do you intend to go back to your house ? " " To-night." " But you are coming to the supper at the hotel. All the cast will be there your wife included." " Then I'll come with pleasure," he said promptly. " Thank you. I should have been very angry if you had answered otherwise. I can't realise that my poor Donald wrote this dialogue. It sounds quite brilliant, and he was not much of a talker. Poor Donald," she wound up with a sigh. Murdoch was thoroughly pleased at Lucie's success, and his face was wreathed in smiles when the curtain finally fell, accompanied by that 15 226 DELILAH whole-hearted applause which cannot be mistaken for the paying of a compliment. Lucie and Dyas were several times called in front of the curtain, but wisely abstained from making a speech. " You will come with me, Royle. My car is here. I suppose Dawn is using yours ? " remarked Lady Anstruther. " To the best of my knowledge and belief. Don't you think I ought to take Dawn ? " " No. Let her have supper before you talk to her. I do hope you have been thinking over things very seriously, and have decided to act sensibly. I'm not going to advise you again. You didn't choose to follow my advice before." Royle did not answer until they were seated in the car. " I know what I ought to do, but I simply can't do it. When I'm with Dawn I seem to become a different man. I lose all confidence in myself and feel an utter fool." " You have been behaving like one . . . but I shan't say any more," she said with decision. Supper was laid in a huge private room, and it was not very long before the guests began to arrive. Royle sat down, quietly watching the door. Lucie was among the last to appear and with her was Dyas. " Where is my wife? " Royle asked. DELILAH 227 " Hasn't she arrived? I didn't see her about, so thought she had gone ahead. Well, Royle, what did you think of the show?" Lucie questioned him. " You were simply splendid." " I want to know about the show as a whole. Will it run ? " she demanded impatiently, for her nerves were on edge after the long strain of a first night. " Most decidedly it'll run until you're utterly sick of playing it." " I hope so. It means a great deal to me. All my ambition has returned. Once I thought it had gone away for always. Perhaps you did me a good turn by jilting me." " Dawn is very late. What did you think of her acting? " " Do you wish me to answer quite frankly ?" " Of course." " Then exercise your right as a husband and insist upon her leaving the stage. She will never be any good as an actress. If there had been any necessity for real acting on her part, her failure might have been fatal. Fortunately, it was only necessary she should be beautiful. . . . So she couldn't let us down. Forgive me, Royle, I was talking like a spiteful cat. But for her own sake persuade her to give it up." " I wish she would come," Royle said uneasily. Every one was hungry and Lady Anstruther 228 DELILAH decided not to wait longer. Royle drank a glass of wine, and then asked to be excused. " I must see where she is. I'll come back as soon as possible," he explained. " Why not use the telephone ? " Lady Anstru- tber remarked dryly. He first " rang up " the flat, and the maid told him that his wife had returned home. " Is she going out again ? " he asked. " No, sir. Supper is just being served. Shall I fetch Mrs. Weldon?" In answer Royle replaced the receiver on the instrument, and went for his hat and coat, first telling Lady Anstruther that he hoped to be back very shortly. Dawn had spent a thoroughly miserable evening. It was not that any one had been unkind, but she had been compelled to realise that as an actress she was a complete failure. Hitherto she had not met with many disappointments, and she found this particular one hard to bear. Her pride was wounded, but it was not until the last moment she decided not to go to her aunt's supper party. To do Dawn justice, she was honestly pleased by the success of the piece, and she sincerely admired Lucie's acting in it. Before the morning she must decide if she should continue to play the part. There was an excellent understudy a real actress, more suit- able except as regards appearance. DELILAH 229 It was not until she had finished dressing that she made up her mind to go straight home. For one thing she was physically exhausted. More- over, it would be embarrassing to the guests to know what to say to herself, and she came to the conclusion that the party would gain by her absence. During the drive to Curzon Street she began to wonder if Royle would be at the flat. His attendance at the theatre was not the abandon- ment of his threat to be absent for a week. It was only natural he should wish to see the play in which his wife was taking part. Upon reaching the sitting-room she dropped on to the Chesterfield without removing her cloak. " I am tired," she said to the maid, and then ordered that a light supper should be served at once. " I'll have a hot bath first," she announced. A quarter of an hour later she returned, clad in a dressing-gown. A glass of champagne revived her, and she began to regret that she had not gone to her aunt's. Perhaps Royle would be there. It would not take long to dress, and the hotel was not very far away. Then the telephone bell rang and she summoned the maid. " Who was it ? " she asked. " The master, ma'am. He wanted to know if you had come home." " Is that all he said ? " 230 DELILAH " No, ma'am. He asked if you were going out again, and I said you'd ordered your supper." Dawn thought hard for a few moments. Doubt- less Royle would be hurrying to her. In an instant she was in her bedroom, and hastily putting on a gown. Then she snatched a cloak and hurried to the hall. Fortunately a man had just alighted from a taxi-cab, which she entered, but she did not breathe freely until Curzon Street was left behind. Purposely she had left no message for Royle, and she laughed gleefully as she pictured his face when he arrived, only to find that she had gone out. Her aunt greeted her rather reproachfully. " You are very late, child," she remarked. "I'm sorry. Where is Royle? " Dawn asked innocently. " Looking for you; but when he can't find you I expect he'll come back." " Leave him alone and he'll come home . . ." she answered flippantly, and then turned to talk to Dyas. " Well, what did you think of my performance to-night ? " she asked. " Rotten." " Thanks I quite agree. The first and last appearance of Dawn Odell," she said very distinctly so that all could hear. CHAPTER XXVII " MRS. WELDON has just gone out only a couple of minutes ago, sir," the hall porter announced. Royle paused on his way to the lift, but decided not to question the servant, but to go up the lift. Mary, the maid, had a great liking for her master, rather accentuated by the fact that her mistress did not seem to treat her husband with all the consideration he deserved. " Oh, sir, the mistress has just gone and cook has got such a nice little supper ready for her," Mary said breathlessly. " Good I'll have it," Royle said promptly. He could not be sure that Dawn had expected him to come round. " Did you say that I had telephoned ? " he asked. " Yes, sir, and I told the mistress that I'd said to you she wasn't going out at least I told her that I'd said to you she was going to have supper." " I understand. It doesn't matter You can bring me a small bottle of champagne." 231 232 DELILAH He sighed wearily as he sat down. It was certainly better to remain here and await her return rather than to start on what might turn out to be "a wild-goose chase." Supper over, he lighted a pipe and took up an evening news- paper, but it was difficult to concentrate his thoughts upon anything but Dawn. Once he was tempted to telephone to the hotel and ascertain if she was with her aunt, but it was not easy to say the things he wished he preferred to be face to face. Time passed very slowly. A glance at his watch and he saw that it was nearly hatt-past one. " I suppose they'll make a late night of it," he muttered. A drowsy feeling seized him and his pipe was laid aside. His eyes closed, and before very long he was sleeping soundly. During the two days that he had spent in the country with Murdoch he had been in the open air all the day long. He had returned that night just in time to dine before going to the theatre, and he was thoroughly tired. The servants had gone to bed, and it was not until Mary came into the room that he awakened. An exclamation of surprise escaped her upon seeing him lying on the Chesterfield. " It's all right, Mary ; I fell asleep. I suppose your mistress is not awake ? " " She didn't come back, sir." DELILAH 233 " Oh ! she stayed with Lady Anstruther. I'll have a bath. Tell cook to have breakfast ready in half an hour." " Very good, sir." Royle was convinced that his wife was playing with him and he decided that they must come to an understanding at the earliest possible moment. His patience was very nearly ex- hausted, and he was determined not to be trifled with any longer. After breakfast he went to the library and wrote a short note. " My dear Dawn, " I hope you enjoyed the supper. I enjoyed yours. I want to talk to you. Hurry with your dressing and come straight here. Yours, " ROYLE." It was the curtest letter he had ever written to her, and he was tempted to soften it some- what, but a grim expression came to his face, and he sealed the envelope. A messenger boy was sent for, and the note was dispatched. " There is no answer don't wait for one," were his instructions. Dawn was in bed when she read the letter, and the tone of it pleased her. Lady Anstruther had not approved of her staying the night at the hotel, but had not strenuously opposed her. 234 DELILAH Upon going into the sitting-room, Dawn found her aunt surrounded by the morning newspapers. " All the notices are good I'm simply de- lighted," Lady Anstruther said as she entered. " Are you referring to the play or to me? " Dawn asked dryly. " They have been quite kind to you." " Surely they didn't say I could act ? " " Not quite that. Most of the papers remark upon your good looks, and " But Dawn was rapidly reading the accounts of the first night, each one of which contained a glowing appreciation of Lucie Manett, and a bril- liant future was prophesied for her. It appeared that Dawn was "amateurish in the extreme," and had not even learnt her part. " I'm going to telephone to Lucie and ask her to put on my understudy," Dawn announced in a loud voice. " Please don't trouble, dear. That has already been arranged," Lady Anstruther answered sweetly. " Lucie dared to do that without consulting me?" "No, dear; it was I who did the daring. Your place is with your husband, and if he is not a fool he'll see that you are kept in your place. At any rate you're not going to have the chance of interfering with the success of your Uncle Donald's play," her aunt stated firmly. DELILAH 235 " I don't mind. I'm sick of the stage," Dawn answered irritably. " I'm not surprised. It's not your nature to remain fond of anything for very long." " I can see you don't want me. I'll go home." " The best place for you, as I've hinted before I'll order the car at once. It's fortunate you left a gown behind. Unkind people might have said unkind things. But I won't tease you Hurry along home, and be nice to that long- suffering husband of yours." Lady Anstruther crossed over and kissed her with affection. " Be a sensible girl, and don't gamble with your happiness," she said gently. Dawn was touched by her aunt's kindness, and started for home with the best possible intentions. When she arrived Royle was in the library, restlessly pacing to and fro. "So you have come back?" he exclaimed curtly. " Yes, dear. Didn't you expect me ? " There was mischief in her eyes and a mocking note in her voice. " I hope you've had a good time. . . But I didn't expect you back for a couple of days. Has Paris lost its attractions? " " Completely. . . . Dawn, I implore you to be a little kinder." 236 DELILAH Her heart sank as she recognised the humble appeal which she had grown to hate. " I have missed you terribly, and now that I'm back " Her eyes hardened and she laughed lightly. " I have no wish to see the man you have brought back with you," she said deliberately. " What do you mean ? " he asked in a low voice, and his face had become white. " I have no love for the man you have brought back with you." ' For heaven's sake, explain." "Haven't you the sense to understand? I have tried to make it plain enough to you." " Then you no longer love me? " In answer she shrugged her shoulders, and made a movement of impatience with her hand. It chanced that she was wearing a string of pearls, one of his many presents. The move- ment broke the string and the pearls were scattered over the carpet. " Pick them up quick, quick ! " she cried petulantly. He looked at her quietly for a second or two, and then sank on to his knees. " There are sixty-two of them. See that you find them all," she said peremptorily. The sight of him kneeling there, as she thought, abjectly, added fuel to the fire within. But it seemed impossible to rouse him. DELILAH 237 ' You do look a fool," she cried, and laughed loudly. "And you are a fool!" she went on when he made no answer. But this time her words struck home and he rose to his feet. " Thank you, Dawn. You may find the rest of them yourself," he said with a quietness that was impressive. However, Dawn had completely lost control of herself. " Find them ! I order you to pick them all up ! " she shrieked at him. " I refuse and " " You refuse " An impulsive step forward, her hand was raised, and she smacked his cheek with all her strength. In an instant she realised what she had done, and drew back in fear. One of his cheeks was livid, and her hand smarted horribly. " Oh ! dear," she said weakly. " I have been very patient," Royle began slowly. " I have submitted to all sorts of humiliations. I have humbled my pride con- tinually. I Just because I have loved you. But there are some things no man can forgive and retain his self-respect. I fear I was begin- ning to lose mine. But, mercifully, my eyes have been opened in time. Now I can see that you have never really loved me. Perhaps you are only capable of loving yourself." 238 DELILAH He paused and raised his hand when she was about to speak. " Now it's my turn to do the talking," he went on grimly. " I order you to go to your aunt. I will make every possible arrangement for your comfort. As to myself, I am free of you. Divorce me if you wish the sooner the better. I can promise to give you the legal grounds. That's all I have to say." " Royle, I I " But he had reached the door and would not listen to her. " I was not really weak. I seemed so, because I was passionately, foolishly, adoring you. I swear I'll not come back to you. I have my limit, and you have exceeded it. Good-bye." The door closed sharply on him, and Dawn stood motionless, a great fear in her heart. " Oh, Royle ! You are my man, and I love you ! Thank God, you are my man after all ! " she cried breathlessly. CHAPTER XXVIII WHEN Royle left the flat he went to his club, and telephoned to his late valet, with whose services he had dispensed after his marriage. Fortunately the man had not yet succeeded in finding a place, and was only too glad to come back to his former master. Royle sent him to Curzon Street, with instructions to pack up all his clothes and take them to the Carlton Hotel. It was with a curious feeling of relief that Royle sat down to lunch in the restaurant of the hotel. His cheek still tingled a little, but he believed that the memory of the blow would ever remain with him. Strangely enough, he was not conscious of being angry with Dawn. In a way he was sorry for her, and yet he was convinced that his love was dead. A voice disturbed his reverie, and turning sharply, he saw Lucie. " You ! Sit down," he said, and it was an order he gave. She raised her eyes slightly, but did as he bade her. " It's good to see you, Lucie. I'm so glad you've made a big success," he began. 239 Z40 DELILAH " And you, Royle what's the matter with you? " she asked quietly. " You may as well know. I'm free." " Free ! What do you mean ? " " Dawn and I have separated that's all." " Only a lover's quarrel," she remarked con- temptuously. But hope had come to her, and it was only with great difficulty she hid her excitement from him. " You'll soon make it up." " I don't think so." " What has happened ? Please tell me." " There's nothing to tell, except that I've come to my senses." " Do you really mean you won't go back to your wife do you honestly mean it ? " " Yes," he answered with decision. And now she began to believe that he would not weaken, for it was the old Royle back again. " I do wish you would tell me everything." " Not now. Perhaps later on." " Turn your face," she said abruptly ; and with- out thought, he did as she wished. However, she made no remark. " The silly idiot has smacked him," she told herself with confidence. If she acted with discretion it was quite pos- sible she might win him back, but she must be very careful not to show her hand until the time was ripe. " Where are you staying ? " DELILAH 241 " Here." " I want to see you. I must hurry back to the theatre. There's a short rehearsal. Come and see the piece again. We'll have supper after the show. Come round for me. Will you?" she asked; and from her manner he had no idea how anxiously she was awaiting his answer. " All right, I'll be there," he said, for he hated the thought of being alone. Lucie went away at once, so that he should not have an opportunity of changing his mind. The rehearsal was very soon over, and she drove home. A few minutes later she was in bed and trying to sleep, but her brain was far too active. However, her body was being rested, and she rose for the light meal which Estelle brought to her. Before leaving for the theatre Lucie ordered the supper, and once again took great care in choosing all the things she knew Royle to like. His photographs were brought out again, and a pair of his slippers produced. Then a visit to the dressing-room. Yes, there were several pairs of his silk pyjamas, hair-brushes, razor strop ; and in a few minutes the room had an " occupied " look. Estelle was helping her to arrange the dressing- table, and did so without venturing to make a remark, but her curiosity was overwhelming. "Madame has a guest for supper?" she ventured. 16 242 DELILAH " Yes Mr. Weldon." " Oh, madame, I'm so very glad." "It is just possible he may stay to-night." " I hope so, madame," said Estelle, with the ever-ready sympathy of the servant for the kindly mistress. At last Lucie was satisfied, and set out for the theatre with a light heart. Hope is a wonderful tonic, and she believed that she could win the game she had been playing with such care. She nad studied Royle's nature so thoroughly, and Knew that it was not easy to turn him when he had once made up his mind. Marriage had made a difference, but he seemed to have recovered nis former confidence in himself. Lucie had not forgotten Dawn, and feared she might make some move to interfere with her plan for the night. "I'm not a bit sorry for her; she deserves to lose him," Lucie told herself, with the idea of getting rid of a slight qualm of conscience which nad been troubling her. That night Lucie surpassed herself, and her success was even greater than that of the first night. Royle was seated in the front row of the stalls, and she was glad to have him near her. Once or twice their eyes met ; and while declaim- ing a passionate love-scene she looked at him deliberately. Royle recognised good acting when he saw it, and was amazed at the power she was showing. DELILAH 243 He had always known her to be a competent actress, but had never suspected her to have a touch of genius. At the end of the second act he went to the buffet, where he met Murdoch, whom he greeted with a little constraint. " Isn't she splendid ? " Murdoch said with enthusiasm. " Yes." " I've just been round to see her but she sent me away. I wanted her to come to supper with me but had no luck. I don't suppose I shall be able to see so much of her. After this tremendous success she'll be inundated with invitations." " Which won't be accepted, if I know Lucie," Royle answered quietly. " Perhaps you are right. She's not the sort to allow herself to be spoilt by success. But I wish she would have come to-night. I've had a fit of the blues to-day I don't know why." " Liver," suggested Royle. " Probably." " Shall we have supper together? " " Sorry, but I can't." " Going home early to your wife ? That's the worst of you newly -married men," Murdoch said lightly. However, the bell rang and they parted, so Royle was not required to tell any deliberate lies. But soon he was asking himself a question. 244 DELILAH Why had he not told his friend that he was going to have supper with Lucie at her flat ? There was no difficulty in finding the answer, and he did not flinch from it. " Why not ? " he asked himself defiantly. When the curtain came down on the last act he strolled round to the stage-door, and the first person he saw was Lady Anstruther, who was coming out of Lucie's dressing-room. " Hello, Royle ! Come back to the hotel and have supper with me," she suggested cheerfully. " Sorry, but I've an engagement." " Walk with me to the car. I'm sorry Dawn insisted upon staying with me last night. The child needs taking in hand. I do hope you have spoken to her seriously." " I have," he answered dryly. " I'm so glad, and now she'll be reasonable. She only requires a firm hand." " I agree with you. We must have a talk. May I come to lunch to-morrow? You have always been so kind, and I'm grateful." " I'll expect you at one o'clock. By the by, where is Dawn? " " At home, so far as I know." There was something she did not like in his manner, and an expression of anxiety came to her eyes. " Royle, I do hope you haven't quarrelled with her seriously ? " DELILAH 245 " We'll talk about Dawn to-morrow," he answered evasively. " But are you going back to her to-night ? " " Honestly, I don't quite know what I'm going to do." Lady Anstruther longed to question him further, but lacked the courage. Her quick insight told her that something was wrong, and after a moment or two of thought she decided to go to Curzon Street. " I'm so glad you've come, my lady," Mary said. " The mistress has been so ill all the evening, and wouldn't let me send for the doctor." Lady Anstruther hastened to the bedroom, and found Dawn there, pacing up and down the room. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were unnaturally bright. " Hello, my dear, why aren't you in bed ? Mary tells me you're not well. I can see you've got a temperature. Into bed at once ! " Lady Anstruther cried peremptorily. " Oh, Aunt, I've made such a fool of myself. Royle has left me, and I don't believe he'll ever come back to me again." " Rubbish ! Tell me all about it." " I'm too ashamed." " Tell me at once. I believe Royle would forgive you anything anything in reason." Dawn commenced to describe the events of the 246 DELILAH morning. She did not exaggerate, neither did she conceal anything, and her aunt obtained a very fair impression of what had really happened. " My dear, it's worse than I thought," she exclaimed. " I wish I could see Royle and ask him to forgive me. Do you know where he is ? " " He was at the theatre. I left him there, and I should imagine that by this time he is at home with Lucie Manett. I presume you can guess what that means. At any rate you've done your utmost to drive him into her arms. You, and you alone, are responsible for what has happened." "Oh, dear ! I must do something, and I do feel so ill." Her aunt's eyes had been examining her with interest, and Lady Anstruther launched several questions at her questions that brought a flush to her cheeks. CHAPTER XXIX LUCIE had been trying for a very long time to get rid of Lady Anstmther, but found it impossible to do so without deliberate rudeness. She had been dressing while her visitor talked, but at last her ladyship went away. It was with a feeling of relief that Lucie found Royle awaiting her at the stage-door, and she hurried him into the car, telling the chauffeur to drive home. " It's good to be with you, Royle," she said gently. " It's good of you to put up with me. I'm afraid I shan't be very good company." " I don't care if you don't utter a word so long as you are with me," she answered, and drew a little closer to him. Royle hardly noticed the movement. In fact he was wondering why he was going home to supper with Lucie. He only knew that he dreaded to be alone, and, with the exception of Murdoch, she was the only real friend he had. Besides, it was pleasant to be liked and "fussed over." Of Dawn he would not think. And it must be his aim to blot her out of his life. He had given 247 248 DELILAH her every possible chance, and she had proved conclusively that she did not love him. Upon reaching the flat Lucie disappeared into her bedroom and told Estelle to take Royle a whisky -and-soda. The maid poured out the spirit and was not sparing of it. " It is good to see M'sieur again," she said with a smile. " We have missed you oh I so very much. And Madame is so happy to have M'sieur here." " Thank you, Estelle. A little strong, isn't it ? "he remarked as he gulped down the drink. Estelle laughed and took up the decanter again, but he shook his head with decision. Lucie did not hurry over her toilet, and it was half an hour before she came into the sitting- room. For a moment or two she did not speak it was her aim to behave as though there had been no breach between them, and she succeeded admir- ably in doing so. Royle was quite at his ease, and for a while they talked of the play. " I am going to make a lot of money. Every one says that ' Delilah ' is in for a long run," she remarked. " You deserve it, dear. You have made a great personal hit, and no one could be more pleased than I am," he answered with evident sincerity. Estelle came in to announce that supper was ready. It was quite an elaborate meal, and the DELILAH 249 service of it was not hurried. Lucie had given very careful instructions to her maid, which were carried out with intelligence. Royle was by no means a heavy drinker, but when coffee was served in the sitting-room he was talking away merrily and his eyes were alight with excitement. Lucie knelt beside the Chesterfield upon which he was sitting and with deft ringers untied the laces of his boots. His slippers were produced and he did not demur when she placed them on his feet. " This is ' comfy,' " she said, and then went to the table, returning with two glasses of liqueur brandy. Their eyes met, and there was a question in his. But she turned her face quickly away, and sat at the other end of the Chesterfield. " Can you tell me about it ? " she asked in a low voice. " There is nothing more to tell . . . and I would prefer not to discuss it." " I must ask you one question are you going back to your wife ? " she said, and her face was tense with anxiety as she awaited his answer. "No . . . She has made it impossible for me to forgive. If I could only understand her . . . if I could imagine any possible excuse for her behaviour, but I can't. It's beyond me, for I've done every conceivable thing to please her. . . . And I have received my reward," he wound up grimly. 250 DELILAH " But you are both so young. There are many years before you." " There's such a thing as divorce. I told her I would soon provide the evidence." "You mean ?" " It's always being done. Half the divorces granted are founded on collusion." " I suppose the divorce court would consider it sufficient . . . that you are with me now," she said thoughtfully. " Yes the court has a wicked mind. . . . But it hadn't occurred to me. Lucie, it's hardly fair to you. I must go at once." " But if I do not mind ? " she said with quiet deliberation. " Nonsense," he answered roughly. " I wouldn't allow you to make such a sacrifice for me." " But if it would not be a sacrifice ? " she began slowly, and paused to gather courage, for she felt that the critical moment had come. " Listen to me quietly, Royle. I am not a young girl and I know my own mind. You are the only man that I have ever loved. I gave myself to you willingly, gladly, and you made me absolutely happy. You will never understand what a terrible blow you gave me when you came to say you were going to be married. I released you at once I, too, have my pride. But it was like giving away a part of myself. My love for DELILAH 251 you has never wavered. I stood aside when I believed that it was for your happiness to do so. If Dawn had been a good wife, and had behaved decently to you, I should always have played the game. As it is, I feel that I can honestly say what I have just said. Your room is ready for you. Stay here to-night, and continue to stay just as long as you wish. I will ask nothing more of you than I asked in the old days. You need not fear that I should worry you to marry me if you obtain a divorce. I should be content to be with you on any terms. Who knows that your love for me might not come back." Royle was moved by her words, and gripped her hand in his. " My dear, I can't let you do it. ' Delilah ' has brought you to the front. Now you are a 'star ' with the world at your feet." " I care nothing for the world only for you," she said passionately. " You have proved that beyond question, but I must think of you if you won't think of yourself." Lucie had drawn near to him, and suddenly she threw her arms round his neck and kissed him again and again. " Royle, darling, let us stay together. Let me love you. I will be so good. I care for nothing else. I would very willingly give up the stage. 252 DELILAH Let us go abroad at once. I swear I'll make you forget your wife." " I can't do it," he answered, and gently removed her arms from him. " I should be a blackguard if I took you at your word. . . I must go." " You shan't leave me," she cried vehemently. Again her arms went around him and her passion communicated itself to him, so that he gave her kiss for kiss. " You will stay," she cried triumphantly. A faint ring could be heard and she jumped to her feet. " It's all right. Estelle won't let any one in. I wonder who it can be. Perhaps it's Jim Murdoch," she said nervously. The maid could be heard talking excitedly Then the door of the sitting-room was opened and Lady Anstruther came in. " I'm sorry to disturb you. Royle, I've just come from your wife. She's ill," the latter announced quietly. " That's a lie. She's only shamming," Lucie cried fiercely. Bitter disappointment was on her face, and at that moment she hated Lady Anstruther. " No. It's the truth. First of all I must say that I don't blame either of you. Dawn has behaved like a little idiot and deserves all she gets, But, Royle, I don't think you should have DELILAH 253 come back here. Am I right in supposing that you have been considering the possibility of joining together again? " As Lady Anstruther asked the question she looked steadily at Lucie. " I see that I am right. Still I don't blame you, my dear," she said, and then addressed Royle. " To-morrow morning I'm taking a doctor to see Dawn. Not that I have the slightest doubt what is the matter with her," she added with a laugh. " I hope it's nothing serious," Royle said anxiously. " Not particularly so. It's the sort of thing that usually happens to women who marry," she answered with a significance he could not fail to understand. A cry of pain escaped Lucie. She knew that she had lost. " That state of affairs accounts for many things. Royle, I am going to ask you to have a talk to the doctor man. He will be able to explain many things to you The lack of balance the waywardness the quick change of humour the violent temper." Royle's heart was too full for speech. Now his one wish was to get away so that he might think, and Lady Anstruther was quick to act. " I want to talk to Miss Manett. Will you go, Royle ? and I shall expect you to call for me at the hotel at eleven o'clock. Good-night, my boy. " 254 DELILAH He hesitated for a while, and finally took a step towards Lucie, but she shrank back instinctively "Go," she said in a dull voice, and he obeyed her at once. As soon as the door had closed Lady Anstruther folded Lucie to her heart. " Cry, my dear. It'll do you good." There was no need for the bidding, for Lucie was sobbing piteously. " You will live to thank me for arriving when I did. Happiness doesn't come in that way, my child. Royle loves his wife, and would never have been content with you. I believe Dawn has learnt her lesson . . and Royle too will act very differently in the future, if he is the man I believe him to be." Lady Anstruther kissed Lucie affectionately. " You have your work, and there is no height you may not hope to reach. Royle would have kept you back. You would have thought more of him than your art, and art is a jealous mistress." "I'm so miserable. I love him much more than she does." " Maybe . . I suggest ten grains of aspirin and a good night's sleep. May I have a whisky- and-soda? These emotional scenes are very exhausting." It was a couple of hours before Lady Anstruther went away, and Lucie was in bed sleeping soundly. CHAPTER XXX DAWN was better in the morning, but obeyed her aunt's injunction to remain in bed. As she looked back it seemed incredible that she could have acted so stupidly. A blush of shame came to her cheeks at the memory of the last scene with Royle. " I struck him, and he'll never forgive me," she told herself miserably. She went over in her mind all the dreadful things she had said to her husband, and her heart sank when she remembered his attitude when he had finally left her. His eyes had been so stern, and his voice so cold, when he had told her that she could divorce him. Now that she feared she had lost him her love returned with overwhelming force. His humility, his forbear- ance and unvarying kindness no longer annoyed her. On the contrary, she would gladly make any sacrifice to be given another chance. Lady Anstruther had purposely held out very little hope of a reconciliation, for she had decided that a severe lesson would be good for Dawn. The doctor came, and his visit was a short one. Dawn was overjoyed at his verdict, for surely 255 256 DELILAH Royle must forgive her when he knew that she would bear him a child. There was a dreamy look in her eyes as she proceeded slowly to dress herself. As soon as possible she must go to her husband and throw herself on his mercy. She was prepared to humiliate herself in every possible way to obtain his forgiveness. And if she were taken back it would be she who, in the future, did the " spoil- ing." It should be her sole aim to make him forget the past ; no longer would it be necessary to ask for her love she would mete it out to him generously. In the meantime Royle had gone to Lady Anstruther's hotel, and arrived there a few minutes after the doctor. " It is as I suspected," Dawn's aunt said to him, as she offered him her cheek. " I will leave you with the doctor. He has something to say at my suggestion. When you have finished with him I'll take you to Dawn." The talk with the doctor lasted a quarter of an hour, and Royle came away from the interview with a greatly increased knowledge. All resent- ment against his wife had completely vanished, and a feeling of great tenderness had taken its place. Yes, he would be very gentle to her, and all unpleasantness should be forgotten. Upon reaching his home Lady Anstruther pushed him into the sitting-room, first having DELILAH 257 ascertained that Dawn was in her bedroom, she herself going to the latter room. " Why have you your hat on ? " she asked peremptorily. " I'm going to find Royle. I can't rest for a moment until he forgives me. I've been such a little pig. But when he knows " She paused and drew in a deep breath. " Have you seen him? Do you know where he is ? " Lady Anstruther smiled grimly. " I'm glad to see you've come to your senses at last. When I left you last night I went straight to Royle," she said with deliberation. "Where was he?" " With Lucie Manett. My dear, the fates have been very kind to you far kinder than you deserve." " With Lucie ! " Dawn repeated slowly. " I tell you this so that it shall be a lesson to you. No wife ever had a kinder husband, yet you treated him like " " Yes, I know. I must have been mad, but I swear I'll make it up to him," she cried breath- lessly. " Good, but be careful not to go to the other extreme," Lady Anstruther said dryly. " I would suggest that you persuade him to take you away. A second honeymoon of a couple of months might enable you to settle down." "I shall do exactly what Royle wishes. I 258 DELILAH shan't try to persuade him to do anything. I intend to leave myself entirely in his hands." Lady Anstruther laughed heartily at this com- plete change of front, but did not comment on it. " You'll find your precious husband in the sitting-room. Run along to him," she said good- humouredly. The colour left Dawn's face and she did not move. "I'm afraid," she whispered. " Take off your hat and don't be a fool." "Is he angry with me? Does he know? " " Yes, he knows. I can't answer for his temper." Dawn walked quickly to the door, but stopped abruptly. " Aunt about Lucie Manett " she began hesitatingly. " Don't ask any questions. Right along you have only had yourself to blame. You are responsible for whatever has happened." " Do you mean ? " " I mean nothing at all. I can only say that your husband is far away too good for you." Dawn did not hesitate any longer, but almost ran to the sitting-room, throwing open the door; but once inside her face became very white and she turned away, not daring to look at her husband. " Royle, I am very, very sorry." DELILAH 259 But before the words had left her lips she was crushed in his arms and he was kissing her passionately. " My dear, don't say another word. Let us make a fresh start. We'll imagine that nothing unpleasant has ever happened," he said eagerly. " Can you do that ? " " Yes. I love you, and I understand. The doctor has told me many things; you were not yourself, and " " You were always so patient with me, and I bullied you unmercifully. I struck you cruelly. Darling, let me kiss your dear cheek. I was a beast and I hate myself. Royle, give me another chance. Oh ! I will be so very different. I do love you honestly and sincerely, and I will try so hard to make you happy." " You won't have to try very hard. . . . Now that's finished. Let us pack up our traps and start off for Paris." " Only too willingly. . . . Royle, Aunt told me she found you at Lucie Manett's flat and " " Well, what is it, dear ? I think I understand. You need not be afraid. But we will forget all the past." " I should like to go away at once. Isn't there an afternoon boat -train ? " " Yes. Can you be ready in time ? " But Dawn was calling to her maid, and in a few minutes the packing had already started. 260 DELILAH Lady Anstruther stood looking on, a smile of amusement on her face, but there was tenderness and understanding in the smile. And as she dined alone that night it occurred to her that it was, perhaps, better that the misunderstanding between husband and wife should have come so soon; and now she was very hopeful of the future. ****** Her husband's play was still running, and she was at the theatre when Royle came post-haste to find her. And there came into her life a new interest that she found strangely sweet. And Dawn left girlhood behind with no regret. The present was so full of peace and contentment and the future rosy with hope. Even Lucie Manett was a welcome adorer at the shrine of young Donald Weldon. Jim Murdoch was the only discontented one, yet he was far from despairing, for Lucie was becoming a little tired of success and the hard work attendant upon it. He chanced to be with her at a reception when Dawn and Royle came in. " Royle is still the master," Murdoch remarked to Lucie. " It is positively indecent the open way in which Dawn adores him. It makes me envious. And then there's the kid. Some people have all the luck." " You deserve your share of luck, Jim," she said gently. DELILAH 261 " Shall I ever get it ? " His voice was eager, and he looked at her with keen anxiety. " You can but try," she answered, and it seemed to him that there was a promise in her eyes. TFIE END Printed in Great Britain by Miller, Sen & Compy., Faktnham and Lon.lo*, L LIBRARY FACILITY ial to the library from which it was borrowed. A 000129267 1