Miss Silver was looking at her very kindly. Her mind was turning over the things that might have happened, and she came very near to the truth. That Jenny was speaking honestly and sincerely she had no doubt at all. She said,
“Do you mean, my dear, that you actually heard Mrs. Forbes and her son discussing this matter?”
“Yes.”
“And that they decided to keep you in the dark, persuade you to marry your cousin, and trust to your not finding out?”
“Mrs. Forbes didn’t want him to marry me. She said so.”
“And he? I don’t want to ask what you would rather not answer, but I think you must see that it affects the question of whether he is to be trusted or not.”
Jenny shook her head.
“No,” she said, “he is not to be trusted. That was why I came away. I didn’t feel I could stay after I had heard them talk. They didn’t pretend to each other, you know. And they didn’t think of me at all-that was quite plain. They only thought about keeping the property. Mac said that it wouldn’t matter so much if I found out after he had married me, but that it wouldn’t be safe unless he did, because I might find out.”
Miss Silver found herself shocked.
“You are quite sure about this?”
Jenny said simply, “I heard him say it. I wouldn’t have ever thought of such a thing unless I had to.”
All this time they had been standing in the road which led up to the two houses, Miss Danesworth’s and Mrs. Merridew’s. As if she had finished all that she had to say Jenny turned and began to walk towards the houses. Miss Silver followed her.
“And you met your cousin?” she said.
“Yes, I met Richard. Wasn’t it a good thing?” The animation had returned to Jenny’s voice. It was as if she had put away her old life with its pain and its disappointment and had turned back again into the new life with Richard.
“Had you known him before?”
“Oh, no. I didn’t know that he existed. It was the middle of the night, you know, and I saw a car coming, so I stepped out into the road to stop it. And it was Richard. I made him get out, because I couldn’t drive away with just anyone, and I wanted to see if I could trust him. And when I saw him-oh, it was wonderful, because he was the exact image of the Richard Forbes whom he is called after! I could see him quite plainly because there was a very bright moon, and when I saw him I did think that I was dreaming-just for a minute, you know. I asked him who he was, and he said, ‘My name is Richard Forbes.’ And I said, ‘I’ve seen you before.’ And when he said, ‘Where?’ I told him, ‘All my life.’ I said, ‘You’re the portrait in the hall-the picture of Richard Alington Forbes.’ And he said, ‘That’s my name.’ ” She stopped speaking. All her colour had come back and her eyes shone. “It was a wonderful thing to have happened,” she said.
“Yes, it was. How did he come to be there?”
“He was going to see them at Alington House, but he’d been delayed on the way, and he thought that he would drive a little nearer and then sleep in the car until the inn was open, and have breakfast, and then go round.”
“Did they know he was coming?”
Jenny opened her eyes wide.
“Oh, I don’t think so. No, I’m sure they didn’t know. And he’d forgotten about it being Sunday, and of course they’d be going to church. It wasn’t very clever of him-I told him so.”
“And what did he say to that?”
“He just laughed,” said Jenny. “And of course it didn’t really matter, because he didn’t go there after all. He took me to Miss Danesworth’s instead.”
They had arrived at the gate of the cottage. Miss Silver stood between Jenny and the gate.
“And what did Miss Danesworth say?”
“I don’t know what she said to Richard. She was sweet to me.”
“My dear, I must ask you one thing.”
“Yes, Miss Silver?”
“It is this. Have you never heard from these Forbeses? Did they never try to trace you?”
“No, they didn’t.”
Miss Silver looked graver than ever.
“I find that a very singular thing. You did not leave a note, or tell them where you had gone?”
Jenny said, “No, I didn’t. I didn’t know where I was going.” She wondered why Miss Silver was asking these things. A feeling of distress rose in her. “Why-why do you ask?”
“I am going to ask something else. I am going to ask you how old you are.”
Jenny answered her quite simply.
“I was seventeen in August.”
“Then, my dear, do you not think that Mrs. Forbes should have taken some steps to find you?”
“I didn’t want her to find me,” said Jenny.
Miss Silver was very much shocked. She was accustomed to judging character, and she thought that Jenny was both truthful and innocent.
And then Jenny said, “I expect they knew where I was. Mrs. Merridew writes to her cousin who lives at Alingford. She must have told her, because Meg knew. She is one of the little girls. She wrote to me.”
“When did you get the letter?” said Miss Silver quickly.
“It came yesterday morning, and when Richard and Caroline saw it they said that I ought to write to Mrs. Forbes. So I wrote to her-” Jenny paused, steadying herself. “I said that I had heard what Mac said to her the night I went away. I said that I didn’t mean to listen. I said I had heard everything, and when I had heard it I couldn’t get up and show myself. I said I was staying here with Richard’s aunt Miss Danesworth. And I said that Richard had gone to Somerset House in London and got a copy of my father and mother’s marriage certificate. And I signed the letter Jenny Forbes. It felt very strange, because I had never written it before, but I thought that I ought to. So you see, if everyone knew, then it wasn’t a secret any more, was it? And if Meg could write to me, then Mrs. Forbes could have written, or-or Mac. That’s what frightens me, Miss Silver. Why don’t they say anything?”
Miss Silver said, “I don’t know, my dear.”
They went together into the house.
Chapter XXXIX
Miss Silver had tea at Miss Danesworth’s. Richard was not there. He had gone to London, and she had a very pleasant time with Miss Danesworth and Jenny. After tea she enquired the way to Mrs. Pratt’s, and Jenny at once offered to go with her. Miss Silver thought for a while, and then accepted the offer.
It was bad luck for Dicky that things turned out as they did. On most afternoons he would not have been there at all. On this particular day he was there, because he had come in to wait for Stuffy Craddock who was going to pick him up when he had had his tea. Stuffy wouldn’t miss his tea, not if it was ever so, and Mrs. Craddock wouldn’t have let him miss it either. Dicky thought with assurance how much more fortunate he was himself. His mother never noticed whether he was in or not. And then quite suddenly he had a curious lonely feeling, and he set his chin and whistled quite loudly to keep up his spirits.
Mrs. Pratt was out. She wouldn’t be home for another hour. She wasn’t a good worker, but she managed to get enough work to keep her going. People were sorry for her, and she didn’t do too badly under strict supervision.
Miss Silver and Jenny came to the door of Mrs. Pratt’s cottage and heard Dicky whistling.
“He’s there,” said Jenny. “I was afraid he mightn’t be. They don’t have any regular times for meals.”
Miss Silver looked shocked.
“Do you think that this boy’s word is to be relied on?” she said.
“No, I don’t,” said Jenny frankly. “I think he’ll twist and lie if he can. That’s why I offered to come with you.” She knocked on the door as she spoke, and the whistling stopped instantly.
After a moment steps could be heard descending the stairs. A pause, and the door was opened. An untidy, shabby boy stood there. He smiled and his face lit up. His very blue eyes beamed on them.