Chapter XXXIII: In the House of Her Dream

Lord Stratharden took one long, comfortable glance at Dolly Barnysdale before he turned to go. He had half a mind to tell her that Starr-Dalton had betrayed her into his hand; but there would be time enough for that in court.

He sighed with pure content as he left the room and Dolly never lifted her head to look at him. Ardmore was a bare place, but he need never live in it, and it would be good to be Barnysdale with money instead of Stratharden driven to death. He was even careless of the price he had promised to pay for that loan that was tiding him over. To Ian’s daughter he gave no thought. Ah Lee would keep her safe till he was ready to dispose of her.

He went serenely down-stairs and paused for one startled second.

Keith--Keith, that he left in his own house--stood before him.

As he opened the door to go out her hand was on the bell; as he caught his breath with astonishment she was inside. She swept the door from his hand, banged it and put her back against it.

“Ye may well glower,” said she. “It’s me and it seems I’m just in time. No; where ye are ye’ll bide,” for he put out his hand to wave her aside. “I owe ye no obedience.”

It was really in pure astonishment that he stared at her and then his wits came to him.

What the housekeeper was thinking of would come to nothing. There was no earthly chance that that girl’s disappearance could be brought home to his door, even if they caught Ah Lee. This was as good a place to be in as any, since it was natural enough that he should come and confront the woman who had swindled him out of his inheritance.

“I didn’t know this was an international affair,” he said with his familiar sneer. “Pray don’t excite yourself. I’m perfectly willing to stay. But disabuse yourself of the thought that I can be bullied by a servant. I stay because I choose.”

He had reflected hastily that while Keith was here she could not be hunting the town for Buff. He had no desire for Buff’s comments on a story that was absurd on the face of it. It was abominable luck that had mixed Buff up with the girl. It amused him to see that Keith never took her back from the door.

The sound of a strange voice had roused Dolly from her dazed terror up-stairs. She ran down, only stopping for Ronald.

“Magdalen!” she cried. “Have you found Magdalen?”

Keith looked at Stratharden.

“No,” she said slowly, and it was all he could do to keep down a grimace of contempt. “But sit ye down. I’ve a story to bring to the memory of my Lord Stratharden, and ye that were never the countess had best hear it, too.”

“So you own that much,” said Stratharden. It was perfectly immaterial to him what she told, since the only proof of it--and that a trifling one--was in his house at home. He looked round the bare little entry with its one chair. “Is it necessary to sit all of us on that? I fear it will be a long story.”

“Go, can’t you?” said Dolly fiercely. “What are you staying here for?”

“For news of your sister,” and she winced as she was meant to. He walked coolly into the dismantled sitting-room, with its door open into the ill-omened showroom Magdalen had never used. He had no desire to stop Keith; it was as well to make sure how much she suspected, for of course she could know nothing.

Keith followed him like a cat a mouse, fearful that he would get away. Dolly, with one look of hatred, turned away from them both. Did they think that with Magdalen gone and herself found out she would listen to any old stories politely, as in a drawing-room? She clutched Ronald to her and walked into the desolate showroom, where no furniture but the pier-glass remained. What she had done she had done for herself; it was only to use a dead woman’s confidence, and yet be not so unworthy of it, either. But she could never right the wrong now; the only thing left to her was----

“I’m glad I lied,” said Dolly to herself; “glad! If I hadn’t I couldn’t save Ronald now. If Magdalen would only come back I’d be happy--yes, happy!” She stamped her foot with sudden rage at herself. Why was she standing here doing nothing?

“I won’t believe she meant to leave me!” she thought. “She wouldn’t do it. What do I care for Stratharden--for anything? I’ll go to the police.”

“Will ye no come here and listen?” Keith’s voice broke in on her. “It’s worth yer while.”

Dolly turned on her like a fury.

“What do I care for your stories?” she cried. “You said you came here for Magdalen--that you loved her. Why don’t you do something instead of standing like a log in my house. I’ve enough of you and your mysteries. I’m going to the police.”

“Ay, mistress, but have patience,” said Keith softly; and iron-nerved as he was Stratharden started.

None of the three heard a dragging step on the stair, the soft sound of a turning key.

On the threshold Magdalen stood speechless, her pale face sodden, her eyes like dark coals. There, with her back to her, was Dolly! * * * Dolly! Had it all been a hideous dream that last night she had found this house deserted? Why was Dolly so still? What made the house so silent? If there had been anyone behind Magdalen Clyde, creeping to her foot by foot, they might have thought she stood alone.

“Dolly,” said Magdalen simply, like a child, “Dolly, I’ve come home.”

In the little room Keith stood before Stratharden, her back toward the door that gave on the entry where Magdalen stood, her ungainly body between it and him. But under her arm, through the showroom door, he saw Dolly’s face as she wheeled.

“Sit ye down!” shouted Keith. She sprang on the man who had been her master. “Ye’ll not move from this place!”

Dolly’s scream rang wild.

“Magdalen, move! move!” She flung Ronald on a chair and ran to that ghost-eyed girl at the door. But she was too late.

Magdalen had turned, had met Ah Lee’s spring that he meant for her back, and was on the floor. Tooth and nail, in the house of her dream, that dream came true. Over and over, up and down, she was fighting with the Chinaman, his yellow fingers writhing every instant a little nearer to her throat.

Dolly’s shriek broke off in her ears as if it had stopped in the middle. There was a darkness in her eyes--then utter silence. The struggle was over and she lay still.

Stratharden, in the inside room, sat like a stone.