Warleggan Read Free Page A

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    He bent over her hand and this time kissed it, with a rather dated formality which yet conveyed what he meant it to convey.
    He said Please don't bother to show me out. My horse is at the door.'
    He left the room, shutting the door after him, and crossed the great empty hall. The wind was rattling a loose window. As he reached t he front door, Aunt Agatha came out of the small drawing-room and began tottering across in his direction. He tried to avoid being seen, but although she was nearly stone-deaf-her eyesight was sharp enough.
    `Whv, if it isn't George Warleggan, or I'm a dunce! Don't mumble now! People will mumble. 'Tis, years since you put foot inside our place, I'll swear. Getting too grand for us, are you?'
    George smiled and bowed over the withered hand. `I; salute you, old hag. The worms must be tired of waiting. It's not seemly when people rot while they're still above ground.'
    `Getting too grand for us, I b'lieve,' said Agatha, one trembling claw going to join the other on her stick. `Look at that waistcoat. I remember you when you was a boy, George, not hardly bigger'n Geoffrey Charl es. Quite overawed you was, com ing here that first tithe. Different now.'
    George smiled and nodded. `There should be a law to poison
off old women, ma'am. Or a pillow pressed over the face ! would not take long. If you were the last of the Poldarks, I'd do it myself. But never fret, your great-nephews are digging their own graves. It won't be long.'
    A slow bead of water escaped from Aunt Agatha's eye and slid diagonally down one of the furrows on her cheek. This was no sign of emotion, it just happened from time to time.
    `You was always Francis's friend, I remember, never Ross's. What's that you say? Nervous you was, that first time, and hardly fledged, an' Charles saying, what's the boy brought him from school with him now? Well, times, has changed. I mind the years when you couldn't have rid over from Truro in all that falallery without being turned heel over tip by some footpad or needy tinner. Have you seen Francis?'
    `I've seen Elizabeth,' said George, bowing again. `You remind me of forgotten things, old woman. Die soon, won't you, and be forgotten yourself.'
    `Good-bye,' said Aunt Agatha. `Come again and stop to supper. We're uncommon short of company these days.'

Chapter Two
    Frances reached, home just b efore six. He-found Elizabeth sittin g by the window, embroidering a stool cover, and Aunt Agatha crouching over the tiny fire.
    `Whoo, it's hot in here.' 'He went across to on, of the windows and opened it. `Really, old lady, you'd be better in bed than cramping your old bones there.' But he did not say it unkindly.
    Aunt Agatha screwed up h er eyes at him. 'You've missed our visitor, Francis. Missed him by a skin,' I should say. 'Tisn't often we've a visitor these days. - You should have asked him to supper, Elizabeth.'
    Francis looked at his wife and she flushed, furious that the old lady had forestalled her and furious that she cared.
    `George Warleggan came.'
    `George?' The way Francis said the word was enough. `You saw him?'
    `Yes. He didn't stay long'
    `So I should think not. What did he want?'
    Elizabeth raised her grey eyes, which at times like this could look especially; candid and virginal. `I don't think he wanted anything. He said he thought it unnecessary to go, on with this quarrel'
    `This quarrel '
    `And very cordial he w as too,' said Aunt Agatha. `For tune's improved this manners, or I'm a dunce. Quite like old times 'ti s having a man make a knee to you.'
    Francis said. `I wonder if he knew my back was turned.'
    Elizabeth went on with her embroidery, 'He said he and you had been friends since, childhood, he did not wish the estrangemen t to continue as it was. He had, he said, no desire at all to intrude on your private affairs or Ross's, his only wish being to help us to a fuller enjoyment of our lives. '
    'You speak as if you have learned the lesson well.'
    Elizabeth's fingers flickered