He hesitated for a moment."Very well," he said at last, "but don't be too long dressing." She danced out of the door.One could hear her singing as she ran upstairs.Her little feet pattered overhead.
He walked up and down the room two or three times.Then he turned to the still figure in the chair."Mother, are my things ready?" he asked.
"Quite ready, James," she answered, keeping her eyes on her work.
For some months past she had felt ill at ease when she was alone with this rough stern son of hers.Her shallow secret nature was troubled when their eyes met.She used to wonder if he suspected anything.The silence, for he made no other observation, became intolerable to her.She began to complain.
Women defend themselves by attacking, just as they attack by sudden and strange surrenders."I hope you will be contented, James, with your sea-faring life," she said."You must remember that it is your own choice.You might have entered a solicitor's office.Solicitors are a very respectable class, and in the country often dine with the best families.""I hate offices, and I hate clerks," he replied."But you are quite right.I have chosen my own life.All I say is, watch over Sibyl.
Don't let her come to any harm.Mother, you must watch over her.""James, you really talk very strangely.Of course I watch over Sibyl.""I hear a gentleman comes every night to the theatre and goes behind to talk to her.Is that right? What about that?""You are speaking about things you don't understand, James.In the profession we are accustomed to receive a great deal of most gratifying attention.I myself used to receive many bouquets at one time.That was when acting was really understood.As for Sibyl, I do not know at present whether her attachment is serious or not.But there is no doubt that the young man in question is a perfect gentleman.He is always most polite to me.Besides, he has the appearance of being rich, and the flowers he sends are lovely.""You don't know his name, though," said the lad harshly.
"No," answered his mother with a placid expression in her face.
"He has not yet revealed his real name.I think it is quite romantic of him.He is probably a member of the aristocracy."James Vane bit his lip."Watch over Sibyl, Mother," he cried, "watch over her.""My son, you distress me very much.Sibyl is always under my special care.Of course, if this gentleman is wealthy, there is no reason why she should not contract an alliance with him.I trust he is one of the aristocracy.
He has all the appearance of it, I must say.It might be a most brilliant marriage for Sibyl.They would make a charming couple.His good looks are really quite remarkable; everybody notices them."The lad muttered something to himself and drummed on the window-pane with his coarse fingers.He had just turned round to say something when the door opened and Sibyl ran in.
"How serious you both are!" she cried."What is the matter?""Nothing," he answered."I suppose one must be serious sometimes.
Good-bye, Mother; I will have my dinner at five o'clock.Everything is packed, except my shirts, so you need not trouble.""Good-bye, my son," she answered with a bow of strained stateliness.
She was extremely annoyed at the tone he had adopted with her, and there was something in his look that had made her feel afraid.
"Kiss me, Mother," said the girl.Her flowerlike lips touched the withered cheek and warmed its frost.
"My child! my child!" cried Mrs.Vane, looking up to the ceiling in search of an imaginary gallery.
"Come, Sibyl," said her brother impatiently.He hated his mother's affectations.
They went out into the flickering, wind-blown sunlight and strolled down the dreary Euston Road.The passersby glanced in wonder at the sullen heavy youth who, in coarse, ill-fitting clothes, was in the company of such a graceful, refined-looking girl.He was like a common gardener walking with a rose.
Jim frowned from time to time when he caught the inquisitive glance of some stranger.He had that dislike of being stared at, which comes on geniuses late in life and never leaves the commonplace.Sibyl, however, was quite unconscious of the effect she was producing.Her love was trembling in laughter on her lips.She was thinking of Prince Charming, and, that she might think of him all the more, she did not talk of him, but prattled on about the ship in which Jim was going to sail, about the gold he was certain to find, about the wonderful heiress whose life he was to save from the wicked, red-shirted bushrangers.For he was not to remain a sailor, or a supercargo, or whatever he was going to be.Oh, no! A sailor's existence was dreadful.Fancy being cooped up in a horrid ship, with the hoarse, hump-backed waves trying to get in, and a black wind blowing the masts down and tearing the sails into long screaming ribands! He was to leave the vessel at Melbourne, bid a polite good-bye to the captain, and go off at once to the gold-fields.Before a week was over he was to come across a large nugget of pure gold, the largest nugget that had ever been discovered, and bring it down to the coast in a waggon guarded by six mounted policemen.