I made no answer to Mr Rushton at the moment, for a communication so wholly unexpected had awakened a new set of ideas, which I was busily following out in my mind. I seemed to hold in my hands the clue to a good deal of misunderstanding and unhappiness. My determination was soon taken to go to Southampton, see Russell at once, and tell him what I had just heard, and of which I had no doubt he had hitherto been as ignorant as myself. I was the rather induced to take this course, as I felt persuaded that Miss Russell’s health was suffering rather from mental than bodily causes; and, in such a case, a great deal of mischief is done in a short time. I would leave town at once.
My purse was in the usual state of an under-graduate’s at the close of a visit to London; so, following up the train of my own reflections, I turned suddenly upon Mr Rushton, who was again absorbed in his papers, and had possibly forgotten my presence altogether, and attacked him with—
“My dear sir, can you lend me ten pounds?”
“Certainly,” said Mr Rushton, taking, off his spectacles, and feeling in his pockets, at the same time looking at me with some little curiosity,— “certainly—with great pleasure.”
“I beg your pardon for taking such a liberty,” said I, apologetically; “but I find I must leave town to-night.”
“To-night!” said the lawyer, looking still more inquiringly at me; “I thought you were to dine with me?”
“I cannot exactly explain to you at this moment, sir, my reasons; but I have reasons, and I think sufficient ones, though they have suddenly occurred to me.”
I pocketed the money, leaving Mr Rushton to speculate on the eccentricities of Oxonians as he pleased, and a couple of hours found me on the Southampton mail.
The Russells were surprised at my sudden descent upon them, but welcomed me cordially; and even Mary’s pale face did not prevent my being in excellent spirits. As soon as I could speak to Russell by himself, I told him what I had heard from Mr Rushton.
He never interrupted me, but his emotion was evident. When he did speak, it was in an altered and humbled voice.