Why, of course, replied Nancy, with an ingenuous air. What else could it be? And she added, Dont come any further. Ta-ta!
Crewe went off into the darkness.
The next afternoon, Nancy alighted at London Bridge a full quarter of an hour late. It had been raining at intervals through the day, and clouds still cast a gloom over the wet streets. Crewe, quite insensible to atmospheric influence, came forward with his wonted brisk step and animated visage. At Miss. Lords side he looked rather more plebeian than when walking by himself; his high-hat, not of the newest, utterly misbecame his head, and was always at an unconventional angle, generally tilting back; his clothes, of no fashionable cut, bore the traces of perpetual hurry and multifarious impact. But he carried a perfectly new and expensive umbrella, to which, as soon as he had shaken hands with her, he drew Nancys attention.
A present this morning, from a friend of mine in the business. I ran into his shop to get shelter. Upon my word, I had no intention; didnt think anything about it. However, he owed me an acknowledgment; Ive sent him three customers from our office since I saw him last. By-the-bye, I shall have half a day at the seaside on Monday. Theres a sale of building-plots down at Whitsand. The estate agents run a complimentary special train for people going down to bid, and give a lunch before the auction begins. Not bad business.
Are you going to bid? asked Nancy.
Im going to have a look, at all events; and if I see anything that takes my fancy. Ever been to Whitsand? Im told its a growing place. I should like to get hold of a few advertising stations.Where is it you are going to on Monday? Teignmouth? I dont know that part of the country. Wish I could run down, but I shant have time. Ive got my work cut out for August and September. Would you like to come and see the place where I think of opening shop?
Is it far?
No. Well walk round when weve been up the Monument. You dont often go about the City, I daresay. Nothing doing, of course, on a Saturday afternoon.
Nancy made him moderate his pace, which was too quick for her. Part of the pleasure she found in Crewes society came from her sense of being so undeniably his superior; she liked to give him a sharp command, and observe his ready obedience. To his talk she listened with a good-natured, condescending smile, occasionally making a remark which implied a more liberal view, a larger intelligence, than his. Thus, as they stood for a moment to look down at the steamboat wharf, and Crewe made some remark about the value of a cargo just being discharged, she said carelessly:
I suppose thats the view you take of everything? You rate everything at market price.
Marketable things, of course. But you know me well enough to understand that Im not always thinking of the shop. Wait till Ive made money.Now then, clumsy!
A man, leaning over the parapet by Nancys side, had pushed against her. Thus addressed he glared at the speaker, but encountered a bellicose look which kept him quiet.
I shall live in a big way, Crewe continued, as they walked on towards Fish Street Hill. Not for the swagger of it; I dont care about that, but because Ive a taste for luxury. I shall have a country house, and keep good horses. And I should like to have a little farm of my own, a model farm; make my own butter and cheese, and know that I ate the real thing. I shall buy pictures. Havent I told you I like pictures? Oh yes. I shall go round among the artists, and encourage talent that hasnt made itself known.
Can you recognise it? asked Nancy.
Well, I shall learn to. And I shall have my wifes portrait painted by some first-rate chap, never mind what it costs, and hung in the Academy. Thats a great idea of mineto see my wifes portrait in the Academy.
His companion laughed.
Take care, then, that your wife is ornamental.
Ill take precious good care of that! Crewe exclaimed merrily. Do you suppose I should dream of marrying a woman who wasnt good-looking?
Dont shout, please. People can hear you.
I beg your pardon. His voice sank to humility. Thats a bad habit of mine. But I was going to sayI went to the Academy this year just to look at the portraits of mens wives. There was nothing particular in that line. Not a woman I should have felt particularly proud of. Tastes differ, of course. Mine has altered a good deal in the last ten years. A man cant trust himself about women till hes thirty or near it.
Talk of something else, Nancy commanded.
Certainly. Theres the sun coming out. You see, I was afraid it would keep on raining, and you would have an excuse for staying at home.
I needed no excuse, said Nancy. If I hadnt wished to come, you may be sure I should have said so.
Crewe flashed a look at her.
Ah, thats how I like to hear you speak! That does one good. Well, here we are. People used to be fond of going up, they say, just to pitch themselves down. A good deal of needless trouble, it seems to me. Perhaps they gave themselves the off-chance of changing their minds before they got to the top.
Or wanted to see if life looked any better from up there, suggested Nancy.
Or hoped somebody would catch them by the coat-tails, and settle a pension on them out of pity.
Thus jesting, they began the ascent. Crewe, whose spirits were at high pressure, talked all the way up the winding stairs; on issuing into daylight, he became silent, and they stood side by side, mute before the vision of Londons immensity. Nancy began to move round the platform. The strong west wind lashed her cheeks to a glowing colour; excitement added brilliancy to her eyes. As soon as she had recovered from the first impression, this spectacle of a worlds wonder served only to exhilarate her; she was not awed by what she looked upon. In her conceit of self-importance, she stood there, above the battling millions of men, proof against mystery and dread, untouched by the voices of the past, and in the present seeing only common things, though from an odd point of view. Here her senses seemed to make literal the assumption by which her mind had always been directed: that sheNancy Lordwas the mid point of the universe. No humility awoke in her; she felt the stirring of envies, avidities, unavowable passions, and let them flourish unrebuked.
Crewe had his eyes fixed upon her; his lips parted hungrily.
Now thats how I should like to see you painted, he said all at once. Just like that! I never saw you looking so well. I believe youre the most beautiful girl to be found anywhere in this London!
There was genuine emotion in his voice, and his sweeping gesture suited the mood of vehemence. Nancy, having seen that the two or three other people on the platform were not within hearing, gave an answer of which the frankness surprised even herself.
Portraits for the Academy cost a great deal, you know.
I know. But thats what Im working for. There are not many men down yonder, he pointed over the City, have a better head for money-making than I have.
Well, prove it, replied Nancy, and laughed as the wind caught her breath.
How long will you give me?
She made no answer, but walked to the side whence she could look westward. Crewe followed close, his features still set in the hungry look, his eyes never moving from her warm cheek and full lips.
What it must be, she said, to have about twenty thousand a year!
What it must be, she said, to have about twenty thousand a year!
The man of business gave a gasp. In the same moment he had to clutch at his hat, lest it should be blown away.
Twenty thousand a year? he echoed. Well, it isnt impossible. Men get beyond that, and a good deal beyond it. But its a large order.
Of course it is. But what was it you said? The most beautiful girl in all London? Thats a large order, too, isnt it? How much is she worth?
Youre talking for the joke now, said Crewe. I dont like to hear that kind of thing, either. You never think in that way.
My thoughts are my own. I may think as I choose.
Yes. But you have thoughts above money.
Have I? How kind of you to say so.Ive had enough of this wind; well go down.
She led the way, and neither of them spoke till they were in the street again. Nancy felt her hair.
Am I blown to pieces? she asked.
No, no; youre all right. Now, will you walk through the City?
Wheres the place you spoke of?
Farringdon Street. Thatll bring you round to Blackfriars Bridge, when you want to go home. But theres plenty of time yet.
So they rambled aimlessly by the great thoroughfares, and by hidden streets of which Nancy had never heard, talking or silent as the mood dictated. Crewe had stories to tell of this and that thriving firm, of others struggling in obscurity or falling from high estate; to him the streets of London were so many chapters of romance, but a romance always of to-day, for he neither knew nor cared about historic associations. Vast sums sounded perpetually on his lips; he glowed with envious delight in telling of speculations that had built up great fortunes. He knew the fabulous rents that were paid for sites that looked insignificant; he repeated anecdotes of calls made from Somerset House upon men of business, who had been too modest in returning the statement of their income; he revived legends of dire financial disaster, and of catastrophe barely averted by strange expedients. To all this Nancy listened with only moderate interest; as often as not, she failed to understand the details which should have excited her wonder. None the less, she received an impression of knowledge, acuteness, power, in the speaker; and this was decidedly pleasant.
Heres the place where I think of starting for myself, said Crewe, as he paused at length before a huge building in Farringdon Street.
This?Can you afford such a rent?
Her companion burst into laughter.
I dont mean the whole building. Two or three rooms, thats all, somewhere upstairs.
Nancy made a jest of her mistake.
An advertising agent doesnt want much space, said Crewe. I know a chap whos doing a pretty big business in one room, not far from here.Well, weve had a long walk; now you must rest a bit, and have a cup of tea.
I thought you were going to propose champagne.
Ohif you like
They went to a restaurant in Fleet Street, and sat for half an hour over the milder beverage. Crewe talked of his projects, his prospects; and Nancy, whom the afternoon had in truth fatigued a little, though her mind was still excited, listened without remark.
Well, he said at length, leaning towards her, how long do you give me?
She looked away, and kept silence.
Two years:just to make a solid start; to show that something worth talking about is to come?
Ill think about it.
He kept his position, and gazed at her.
I know it isnt money that would tempt you. He spoke in a very low voice, though no one was within earshot. Dont think I make any mistake about that! But I have to show you that theres something in me. I wouldnt marry any woman that thought I made love to her out of interest.
Nancy began to draw on her gloves, and smiled, just biting her lower lip.
Will you give me a couple of years, from to-day? I wont bother you. Its honour bright!
Ill think about it, Nancy repeated.
Whilst youre away?
Yes, whilst Im away at Teignmouth.
And tell me when you come back?
Tell youhow long. Yes.
And she rose.
CHAPTER 4
From the mouth of Exe to the mouth of Teign the coast is uninteresting. Such beauty as it once possessed has been destroyed by the railway. Cliffs of red sandstone drop to the narrow beach, warm between the blue of sky and sea, but without grandeur, and robbed of their native grace by navvy-hewing, which for the most part makes of them a mere embankment: their verdure stripped away, their juttings tunnelled, along their base the steel parallels of smoky traffic. Dawlish and Teignmouth have in themselves no charm; hotel and lodging-house, shamed by the soft pure light that falls about them, look blankly seaward, hiding what remains of farm or cottage in the older parts. Ebb-tide uncovers no fair stretch of sand, and at flood the breakers are thwarted on a bulwark of piled stone, which supports the railway, or protects a promenade.
But inland these discontents are soon forgotten; there amid tilth and pasture, gentle hills and leafy hollows of rural Devon, the eye rests and the mind is soothed. By lanes innumerable, deep between banks of fern and flower; by paths along the bramble-edge of scented meadows; by the secret windings of copse and brake and stream-worn valleya way lies upward to the long ridge of Haldon, where breezes sing among the pines, or sweep rustling through gorse and bracken. Mile after mile of rustic loveliness, ever and anon the sea-limits blue beyond grassy slopes. White farms dozing beneath their thatch in harvest sunshine; hamlets forsaken save by women and children, by dogs and cats and poultry, the labourers afield. Here grow the tall foxgloves, bending a purple head in the heat of noon; here the great bells of the convolvulus hang thick from lofty hedges, massing their pink and white against dark green leafage; here amid shadowed undergrowth trail the long fronds of lustrous hartstongue; wherever the eye falls, profusion of summers glory. Here, in many a nook carpeted with softest turf, canopied with tangle of leaf and bloom, solitude is safe from all intrusionunless it be that of flitting bird, or of some timid wild thing that rustles for a moment and is gone. From dawn to midnight, as from midnight to dawn, one who would be alone with nature might count upon the security of these bosks and dells.