The Garden at 19 by Edgar Jepson

Author:Edgar Jepson [Jepson, Edgar]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 0974058912
Publisher: Midnight House
Published: 2002-06-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter XIV

Helen Ranger

IT was a matter of business, and not very pleasant business, which made me acquainted with Helen Ranger. The firm of Stryke and Hodgson, or rather the Strykes, for Hodgson only came into the firm ten years ago, have been the lawyers of the Dymchurch family for over a hundred years. They have drawn up their marriage settlements and wills and leases, bought and sold property, and conducted two right of way cases for them. One morning in November the present Lord Dymchurch, a young man of twenty-five who enjoys the reputation of leading a somewhat rackety life, came to the office, gave his name, and told the clerk that he particularly wanted to see the youngest member of the firm. I am not a member of the firm; but the clerk brought him to me. I took it that my cousin had sent him.

“Good morning,” he said, shaking hands with me with uncommon cordiality. “I didn’t want to see any of the old jossers, because it’s rather an awkward business—in fact it’s a woman.”

He sat down; and his looks did not give me a pleasant impression of him. He was a fat young man with pink cheeks, thick lips, a turned-up nose, and close-set, rogue’s eyes.

“It’s like this—rather a mess,” he said pulling nervously at his neat little black mustache. “I’m going to marry my cousin, Miss Littlestone; and as soon as the engagement is announced, another girl, her name’s Helen Ranger, will cut up rough and make a devil of a fuss—bring a breach of promise case, or something of that kind. I know she will. That means that my marriage with my cousin will be queered. She won’t stand that kind of thing at all.”

“And you wish me to arrange the matter?”

“Yes; I want you to handle her for me. She must be kept quiet—bought off. You see, marrying my cousin means another ten thousand a year,” he said ingenuously.

I liked him less than ever. I marvelled that there should be two women in the little brute’s life; and I thought very poorly of, at any rate the judgment, of both of them.

“What sum am I commissioned to offer her?” I said.

His face fell as he said, “There’s no way out of buying her off I’m afraid. You can’t see any way, can you? There are some silly letters of mine, written when I first knew her—a year ago. And I’ve given myself away in them hopelessly. I was awfully gone on her. But can’t you see any other way?”

“Not at present. I have not seen the lady. But you tell me that she is the kind of woman who will bring an action for breach of promise.”

“Oh, she is. She has a great deal of character. But I want to pay her as little as possible; I’m not gone on her now.”

I began to admire his simple directness and to desire the pleasure of kicking him.

“If she is still attached to you, it would probably make a difference to the amount you would have to pay,” I said.

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