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"Close that window, John," Mr. Betterton said, with an impatient little
sigh. "I am in no mood for sentimental Ballads."
I did as he desired, and whilst in the act of closing the Window,
I said guardedly:
"I caught sight of my Lord Stour just now, pacing the open
Ground just beneath this Window. He appeared moody and solitary,
and was wrapped from head to foot in a big Mantle, as if he wished
to avoid Recognition."
"I too am moody and solitary, good Honeywood," was Mr.
Betterton's sole comment on my remark. Then he added, with a
slight shiver of his whole body: "I prithee, see to the Fire. I am
perished with the cold."
I went up to the Hearth and kicked the dying embers into a
Blaze; then found some logs and threw them on the Fire.
"The evening is warm, Sir," I said; "and you complained of the
Heat awhile ago."
"Yes," he rejoined wearily. "My head is on fire and my Spine
feels like ice."
It was quite dark in the Room now, save for the flickering and
ruddy firelight. So I went out and bade the Servant give me the
candles. I came back with them myself and set them on the Desk.
As I did so, I glanced at Mr. Betterton. He had once more taken up
his listless Attitude; his Head was leaning against the back of his
Chair, and I could not fail to note how pallid his Face looked and how
drawn, and there was a frown between his Brows which denoted
wearying and absorbing Thoughts. Wishing to distract him from his
brooding Melancholy, I thought of reminding him of certain artistic
and social Duties which were awaiting his Attention.
"Will you send an Answer, Sir," I asked him with well-assumed
indifference, "to the Chancellor? It is on the Subject of the Benefit
Performance in aid of the Indigent Poor of the City of Westminster.
His Lordship again sent a messenger this afternoon."
"Yes!" Mr. Betterton replied readily enough, and sought amongst
his Papers for a Letter which he had apparently written some time
during the Day. "If His Lordship's Messenger calls again, let him have
this Note. I must arrange for the Benefit Performance, of course. But
I doubt if many members of the Company will care to give their
Services."
"I think that Mr. Robert Noakes would be willing," I suggested.
"Also Mr. Lilleston."
"Perhaps, perhaps!" he broke in listlessly. "But we must have
Actresses too, and they——"
He shrugged his shoulders, and I rejoined with great alacrity:
"Oh! I feel sure that Mistress Saunderson would be ready to join
in any benevolent Scheme for the betterment of the Poor."
"Ah! but she is an Angel!" Mr. Betterton exclaimed. And, believe
me, dear Mistress, that those words came as if involuntarily to his
Lips, out of the Fulness of his Heart. And even when he had spoken,
a Look of infinite Sadness swept over his Face and he rested his
Head against his Hand, shading his Eyes from the light of the
Candles, lest I should read the Thoughts that were mirrored therein.
"There came a messenger, too, this afternoon," I reminded him,
"from Paris, with an autograph Letter from His Majesty the King of
France."
"Yes!" he replied, and nodded his Head, I thought,
uncomprehendingly.
"Also a letter from the University of Stockholm. They propose
that You should visit the City in the course of the Summer and——"
"Yes, yes! I know!" he rejoined impatiently. "I will attend to it all
another time ... But not to-night, good Honeywood," he went on
almost appealingly, like a Man wearied with many Tasks. "My mind is
like a squeezed Orange to-night."
Then he held out his Hand to me—that beautiful, slender Hand
of his, which I had so often kissed in the excess of my Gratitude—
and added with gentle Indulgence:
"Let me be to-night, good Friend. Leave me to myself. I am
such poor Company and am best alone."
I took his hand. It was burning hot, as if with inward Fever. All
my Friendship for him, all my Love, was at once on the alert,
dreading the ravages of some inward Disease, brought on mayhap
by so much Soul-worry.
"I do not relish leaving You alone to-night," I said, with more
gruffness than I am wont to display. "This room is easy of Access
from the Park."
He smiled, a trifle sadly.
"Dost think," he asked, with a slight shrug of the shoulders,
"that a poor Mountebank would tempt a midnight Robber?"
"No!" I replied firmly. "But my Lord Stour, wrapped to the eyes
in his Mantle, hath prowled beneath these Windows for an hour."
Then, as he made no comment, I continued with some Fervour: "A
determined Man, who hates Another, can easily climb up to a first
floor Window——"
"Tush, friend!" he broke in sharply. "I am not afraid of his
Lordship ... I am afraid of nothing to-night, my good Honeywood,"
he added softly, "except of myself."