Chapter 13 - Page 2

what manner
of persuasion Walter Tyrrel had commended his friend's designs to
Erasmus Walker. If he had, needless to say, he would never have
accepted the strange arrangement.

"And now, Cleer," Eustace cried, jubilant and radiant with the easy
confidence of youth and love, "I do believe I shall carry the field at
last, and spring at a bound into a first-rate position among engineers
in England."

"And then?" Cleer asked, nestling close to his side.

"And then," Eustace went on, smiling tacitly at her native simplicity,
"as it would mean permanent work in superintending and so forth, I see
no reason why--we shouldn't get married immediately."

They were alone in the breakfast room, where Mrs. Trevennack had left
them. They were alone, like lovers. But in the drawing-room hard by,
Trevennack himself was saying to his wife with a face of suppressed
excitement, "I saw him again to-day, Lucy. I saw him again, that
devil--in a hansom near Paddington. If he stops in town, I'm sure I
don't know what I'm ever to do. I came back from Devonshire, having
fought the devil hard, as I thought, and conquered him. I felt I'd got
him under. I felt he was no match for me. But when I see that man's
face the devil springs up at me again in full force, and grapples with
me. Is he Satan himself? I believe he must be. For I feel I must rush
at him and trample him under foot, as I trampled him long ago on the
summit of Niphates."

In a tremor of alarm Mrs. Trevennack held his hand. Oh, what would she
ever do if the outbreak came ... before Cleer was married! She could
see the constant strain of holding himself back was growing daily more
and more difficult for her unhappy husband. Indeed, she couldn't bear
it herself much longer. If Cleer didn't marry soon, Michael would
break out openly--perhaps would try to murder that poor man Tyrrel--
and then Eustace would be afraid, and all would be up with them.

By and by, Eustace came in to tell them the good news. He said nothing
about Tyrrel, at least by name, lest he should hurt Trevennack; he
merely mentioned that a friend of his had seen Erasmus Walker that
day, and that Walker had held out great hopes of success for him in
this Wharfedale Viaduct business. Trevennack listened with a strange
mixture of interest and contempt. He was glad the young man was likely
to get on in his chosen profession--for Cleer's sake, if it would
enable them to marry. But, oh, what a fuss it seemed to him to make
about such a trifle as a mere bit of a valley that one could fly
across in a second--to him who could become

". . . to his proper shape returned
A seraph winged: six wings he wore, to shade