The Hand in the Dark | Page 4

officer held his own amongst them with laughing
self-possession. When he had taken his farewell of them he approached
Miss Heredith, and held out his hand with a deferential politeness
which contrasted rather noticeably with the easy familiarity of his
previous leave-taking.
"I am sorry you are compelled to leave us, Captain Nepcote," said Miss
Heredith, rising with dignity to accept his outstretched hand. "Do you
return immediately to the front?"
"To-night, I expect."
"I trust you will return safely to your native land before long, crowned
with victory and glory."
Captain Nepcote bowed in some embarrassment. Like the rest of his
generation, he was easily discomposed by fine words or any display of
the finer feelings. He was about twenty-eight, of medium height,
clean-shaven, with clear-cut features, brown hair, and blue eyes. At the
first glance he conveyed nothing more than an impression of a

handsome young English officer of the familiar type turned out in
thousands during the war; but as he stood there talking, a sudden ray of
sunlight falling on his bared head revealed vague lines in the face and a
suspicion of silver in the closely cropped hair, suggesting something
not altogether in keeping with his debonair appearance--secret trouble
or dissipation, it was impossible to say which.
"Will you say good-bye to Mrs. Heredith for me?" he said, after a slight
pause. "I hope she will soon be better. I have said good-bye to Sir
Philip and Phil. Sir Philip wanted to drive me to the station, but I know
something of the difficulties of getting petrol just now, and I wouldn't
allow him. Awfully kind of him! Phil suggested walking down with me,
but I thought it would be too much for him."
They had walked away from the tea-tables towards the bridge which
spanned the entrance to the moat-house. Miss Heredith paused by two
brass cannon, which stood on the lawn in a clump of ornamental
foliage, with an inscription stating that they had been taken from the
Passe-partout, a French vessel captured by Admiral Heredith in the
Indian Seas in 1804.
"It is hard for Phil, a Heredith, to remain behind when all young
Englishmen are fighting for their beloved land," she said softly, her
eyes fixed upon these obsolete pieces of ordnance. "He comes of a line
of great warriors. However," she went on, in a more resolute tone, "Phil
has his duties to fulfil, in spite of his infirmity. We all have our duties,
thank God. Good-bye, Captain Nepcote. I am keeping you, and you
may miss your train."
"Good-bye, Miss Heredith. Thank you so much for your kindness
during a very pleasant visit. I've enjoyed myself awfully."
"I am glad that you have enjoyed your stay. I hope you will come and
see us again when your military duties permit."
"Er--yes. Thank you awfully. Thank you once more for your kindness."
The young officer uttered these polite platitudes of a guest's farewell

with some abruptness, bowed once more, and turned away across the
old stone bridge which spanned the moat.
CHAPTER II
Miss Heredith turned her steps towards the house. The guests had
dispersed while she was saying farewell to Captain Nepcote, and
nothing further was expected of her as a hostess until dinner-time. It
was her daily custom to devote a portion of the time between tea and
dinner to superintending the arrangements for the latter meal. The
moat-house possessed a competent housekeeper and an excellent staff
of servants, but Miss Heredith believed in seeing to things herself.
On her way to the house she caught sight of an under gardener clipping
one of the ornamental terrace hedges on the south side of the house,
and she crossed over to him. The man suspended his work as the great
lady approached, and respectfully waited for her to speak.
"Thomas," said Miss Heredith, "go and tell Linton to have both motors
and the carriage at the door by half-past seven this evening. And tell
him, Thomas, that Platt had better drive the carriage."
The under gardener touched his cap and hastened away on his errand.
Miss Heredith leisurely resumed her walk to the house, stopping
occasionally to pluck up any weed which had the temerity to show its
head in the trim flower-beds which dotted the wide expanse of lawn
between the moat and the house. She entered the house through the
porch door, and proceeded to the housekeeper's apartments.
Her knock at the door was answered by a very pretty girl, tall and dark,
who flushed at the sight of Miss Heredith, and stood aside for her to
enter. A middle-aged woman, with a careworn face and large grey eyes,
dressed in black silk, was seated by the window sewing. She rose and
came forward when she saw her visitor.