Read Online Ten Star Clues by E.R. Punshon - Free Book Online Page B

no wonder they vanished, in a probable panic. All the same, for their mere appearance Sophy felt she ought to do penance, as was her custom when she knew she hadn’t been behaving very nicely. Get up half an hour earlier than usual, perhaps, to learn by heart one of the less comprehensible chapters of Jeremiah, or not drink her early cup of tea she always enjoyed so much. Only to leave it would seem ungrateful; to pour it away would be wasteful, so she supposed it would have to be Jeremiah. Sophy sighed at the prospect; and such are the bewildering difficulties of the conscientious life found herself as a result of this distasteful prospect thinking more and more uncharitably of Anne, more and more inclined to believe she really was flirting with Bertram, and thus becoming more and more guilty for harbouring thoughts so lacking in charity.
    So to avoid a vicious circle of more penance, causing more and more uncharitable thoughts, rendering more penance necessary, Sophy said:—
    â€œWell, why is Mr. Clinton Wells going to help Mr. Ralph if he doesn’t think it’s all a horrid fraud?”
    Mr. Longden had no answer to this problem. But he remembered that Mr. Wells was a partner in the firm acting for Earl Wych who accepted Bertram as his grandson. It seemed a little difficult to believe Mr. Wells would act against the earl. Like being on both sides at once. So Sophy explained that Clinton Wells intended to resign his partnership, and would he do that, she asked triumphantly, unless he was quite, quite sure?
    â€œIt might be,” Mr. Longden said thoughtfully, “that he feels he must stand by his friend. If it is that, it’s rather fine. The act of a very honest man and a very true friend.”
    â€œYes, isn’t it?” agreed Sophy enthusiastically. “I think it’s awfully wonderful,” and she added obstinately:— “I do hope they prove he is a fraud and I expect they will, too.”
    â€œMy dear child, you must be reasonable,” protested Mr. Longden, “when his grandparents—”
    â€œThey haven’t seen him for years and years,” interrupted Sophy, “and what’s more he isn’t a bit happy or comfortable, and he’s as nervous and jumpy as he can be, and he’s always drinking, and he keeps looking over his shoulder as if he thought there was a policeman there, and what’s more, he’s most awfully scared of Anne.” Sophy grew reckless. She threw all thoughts of penance to the winds. She said:—“He thinks she means to marry him and he’s frightened to death.”
    â€œSophy,” said Mr. Longden in what for him was a terrible voice, “you must not say such things. Have you forgotten Miss Anne is engaged to Ralph?”
    â€œNo,” retorted Sophy, quite bewildered to find herself sticking up for her own opinion in a way that until now she simply wouldn’t have believed possible, “I haven’t, but I think she has. I don’t understand her a bit. I admired her so awfully, and now it’s all a muddle. She may be only trying to find out things. Mr. Bertram and she were talking ever so long together last night.”
    â€œVery wise of her,” declared Mr. Longden. “Very wise indeed. I trust she may be able to bring Ralph to a more reasonable state of mind, and I do hope and trust he won’t do anything rash or foolish, anything really to offend his uncle. You can understand how terribly upset he is. You can understand what a terrible shock and surprise it has been. But he must face the facts like the true, honest fellow he is.”
    Sophy did not answer, but she felt an instant conviction that Ralph did indeed intend to face the facts; though whether in a way her father would approve, seemed to her less certain.
    â€œHas Mr. Arthur Hoyle said anything?” he asked presently.
    â€œNo,” Sophy answered. “But he is always there now. He comes in every