He had forwarded a second twenty-pound note, upon receiving information
of the loss of the first. What he most disliked, looking at it from
this point of view, was, not the feeling that he had been cleverly
deceived and laughed at, but that Arthur Channing should have suffered
unjustly. If the lad _was_ innocent, why, how cruel had been his own
conduct towards him! But with these doubts came back the remembrance
of Arthur's unsatisfactory behaviour with respect to the loss;
his non-denial; his apparent guilt; his strange shrinking from
investigation. Busy as Mr. Galloway was, that day, he could not confine
his thoughts to his business. He would willingly have given another
twenty-pound note out of his pocket to know, beyond doubt, whether or
not Arthur was guilty.
Arthur, meanwhile, had commenced his task. He took possession of the
study, where he was secure from interruption, and applied himself
diligently to it. How still the house seemed! How still it had seemed
since the loss of Charles! Even Annabel and Tom were wont to hush their
voices; ever listening, as it were, for tidings to be brought of him.
Excepting the two servants, Arthur was alone in it. Hamish was abroad,
at his office; Constance and Annabel were at Lady Augusta's; Tom was in
school; and Charles was not. Judith's voice would be heard now and
then, wafted from the kitchen regions, directing or reproving Sarah;
but there was no other sound.
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