06 The Whiteoak Brothers by Mazo de La Roche

Author:Mazo de La Roche
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: FIC000000
ISBN: 1554887410
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2012-03-25T23:00:00+00:00

XV

THE FALLING STOCKS

Eden had for some time led a double life. He was the law student who could, when occasion demanded, talk quite earnestly of his studies and make pretence of being ambitious to become Mr. Justice Whiteoak. Yet he never seriously believed that life, so foreign to his nature, could really claim him. There would appear some way of escape — a door in the wall, beyond which would lie the garden of his desire. Once let his poems be collected between covers and he would open the door and be gone from the study of law for ever. But now he had entered on a third life — the life of the mining promoter. If things went on as they were with him … but when he tried to picture what was opening up before him, he could not think clearly. His imagination became a kaleidoscope of fantastic shapes and bright colours. He would lie on his back in a delicious languor, relaxed in the supreme indolence that only youth can know.

Yet there were times when he was troubled not a little by the manner in which the Indigo Lake Mine had pressed in upon his imagination. Poems were begun in fervent fancy but left unfinished because thought of rising stocks took possession of him. Worse still, the other investors under that roof were continually desirous of discussing the condition of the market with him. With an air of almost overpowering secrecy Lady Buckley would draw him into her room, in a contralto whisper, enquire if the stock were still rising.

“A little,” he would say. “You were lucky to buy when you did. Still the price is not prohibitive and, if you would care to buy —”

“No more — no more. I am quite satisfied. I just want to be sure I am safe.”

“Nothing could be safer, Aunt Augusta.”

Then she would say — “I do feel rather selfish in keeping this so secret.”

“Don’t worry. The others would probably object. I’m sure Renny would.”

“Foolish young man that he is, when he so often finds it difficult to make ends meet.”

“I shall soon be off his hands.”

“I do hope you are applying yourself strenuously to your studies.”

“Oh, I am.”

“I saw your light burning late last night when I went to investigate a rattling window.”

Eden tried to look the dedicated student.

Lady Buckley said — “But you must have plenty of rest, dear, for your health’s sake.”

“I’m strong enough, Aunty.”

Then his sister would corner him with — “Let’s calculate just how much I’ve made, Eden. Tell me just what my stocks are worth today.” Her smile would be extraordinarily sweet as she contemplated the rise in her fortunes. “There’s no reason,” she asked, “is there, why I should not make a great deal more?”

“None whatever.”

“What fun — you and I having this secret!”

“Great fun.” All these secrets were beginning to weigh on him. But what need he care when he had sloughed off the irritating skin of Law and was loitering free

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