Cousin Kate Read online

  Since both gentlemen shared a large circle of acquaintances, they fell easily into reminiscence; and, one thing leading to another, and both being landowners and agriculturists, they slid from reminiscence into such fruitful topics as the delinquencies of tenants, and the pigheadedness of farmers; and it was not until they had retired to the library that Philip repeated his question, by which time Mr Templecombe had been able to think of some detail of winter sowing on which he might conceivably have wanted advice – if he had not known quite as much about the most modern methods of farming as his friend. Philip very obligingly gave him the benefit of his own experience, but he was not deceived, and when Mr Templecombe opened his mouth to argue, and then shut it again, he grinned sardonically, and said: ‘That wasn’t what you wanted to ask me, was it? Empty the bag, Gurney!’

  ‘Well, no!’ confessed Mr Templecombe. ‘Fact is, I don’t want to ask you anything! Dashed delicate, and I wouldn’t mention it if you wasn’t a friend of mine! Or if you was still visiting Staplewood as often as you used to do. Can’t get it out of my head that you may not know, and that it ain’t the part of a friend to keep mum!’

  ‘May not know what?’ asked Philip levelly.

  Mr Templecombe picked up the brandy decanter, and replenished both glasses. Having taken a fortifying drink, he said: ‘No use beating about the bush. It’s Torquil. People are beginning to talk, Philip.’

  ‘What do they say?’ Philip still spoke in a level voice, but a grim note had crept into it, and his eyes were suddenly uncomfortably searching.

  ‘Why, that there’s something devilish odd about him! They don’t understand why he should be kept so close, for one thing. You know, dear boy, you can’t expect people to believe he’s still invalidish when they see him careering all over the countryside on that nervous chestnut of his! Don’t believe it myself ! Well, you gave me a pretty broad hint when you told me not to let him dangle after Dolly, didn’t you?’

  ‘With extreme reluctance! I could not let – But I might have spared myself the pains! I found that Minerva was as anxious as I was to prevent such a marriage. That confirmed me in my suspicion! Under ordinary circumstances, one would have supposed it to be a very eligible match, but I fear that the circumstances are not ordinary. Your sister has too many relatives, and this place is too near Staplewood. I collect, by the way, that she didn’t break her heart over Torquil?’

  ‘Oh, lord, no! I don’t say she wasn’t a trifle dazzled – well, he’s a dashed handsome boy, ain’t he? – but Amesbury no sooner showed his front than she tumbled into love with him, and never gave Torquil another thought. Was he badly hit?’

  ‘I don’t think so. Understand me, Gurney, this mustn’t be talked of ! It is all conjecture – I can prove nothing!’

  ‘Well, it’s a good thing you’ve warned me!’ said Mr Templecombe, wagging his head. ‘Otherwise I might have gone on the gab all over the county, mightn’t I?’

  ‘No, of course you wouldn’t!’ said Philip contritely. ‘Forgive me! The truth is that I never come to Staplewood in these days without being blue-devilled by fears which I can’t prove, and therefore dare not utter. The less I say the better, Gurney! You’ll have to bear with me!’ He added, with a flash of humour: ‘That ought not to be difficult; you’ve been doing it any time these dozen years!’

  ‘Oh, longer than that! Twenty at least!’ retorted Mr Templecombe. ‘Rising thirty, ain’t you? Well, I know you are, because there’s only a couple of months between us. By Jove, it’s more than twenty years! You were eight when you first came to live with your uncle, weren’t you?’

  ‘You didn’t have to bear with me in those days!’ protested Philip.

  ‘Oh, didn’t I just? Did I ever come off the best from a set-to? Did I have a natural right? Did I –’

  ‘No, Gurney, honesty compels me to admit you didn’t! They were good days, weren’t they?’

  ‘Depends on which way you looked at ’em,’ said Mr Templecombe caustically. ‘Not being as strong as you, I looked at ’em, in general, from underneath!’ He tossed off the brandy in his glass, set the glass down, and said, in quite a different voice: ‘Is Torquil queer in his attic, Philip?’

  ‘Is that what people are saying?’

  ‘Whispering. It’s what I’m saying.’

  ‘I can only give you one answer: I don’t know.’

  ‘You suspect it, don’t you?’

  ‘I’ve suspected it for years. At first, it was merely a thought that flashes into one’s head, and then is banished. He was a sickly child, and it was reasonable to suppose that his bodily ills should have an effect upon his nerves. I can recall his falling into strong convulsions, when he was a baby; and if ever there was an infectious complaint going about, as sure as a gun he would catch it! He was used to suffer from sick headaches too, so everyone cosseted and indulged him till he became abominably spoilt. If he was crossed, he threw himself into an ungovernable rage, which in general ended in a fit of the vapours. The only person who could control him was Minerva. She established a complete mastery: he was afraid of her, and still is.’

  ‘Well, that don’t surprise me!’ said Mr Templecombe, with feeling. ‘So am I! Most awe-inspiring female!’

  ‘I suppose she is. At all events, she inspires Torquil with awe. As he grew older, he became much improved in health, thanks, I believe, to Delabole, but it was not thought advisable to send him to school. It was hoped that by the time he reached manhood he would be well. And physically I think he is well. Mentally – I think he’s worse. Lately, I’ve noticed a disquieting change. This must go no further, Gurney!’

  ‘Yes, it’s likely I’d go buzzing it about, ain’t it?’ said Mr Templecombe, incensed.

  ‘No, of course it isn’t! But I have to be so careful to guard my own tongue – If I’m wrong – if Torquil isn’t mad – what a shocking thing it would be in me even to hint at such a thing!’

  Mr Templecombe nodded. ‘So it would. Not sure you couldn’t be summonsed for libel, or slander, or something. What’s this disquieting change you’ve noticed? He seemed all right and regular when I last saw him.’

  ‘Except at certain times, he is all right and regular. But he is growing to be suspicious, to fancy everyone his enemy – particularly me.’

  ‘You don’t mean it! Why, he was used to follow you about like a tantony-pig! A curst nuisance he was, too!’

  Philip smiled. ‘He was, wasn’t he? Well, it was only to be expected that he would want to follow me about: for one thing, he was lonely, poor little fellow; and for another, I am ten years older than he is, and became a hero in his eyes. Of course, that didn’t last, but until a year or two ago he continued to be very fond of me. In his sane moments, he still is, but he is convinced that I am his chief enemy and would be happy to see him underground.’

  Mr Templecombe sat up with a jerk. ‘Then I’ll tell you what, Philip! Lady Broome put that notion into his head! Jealous of your influence over the boy!’

  ‘I think she did put it into his head, but not for that reason. She was afraid that if I saw too much of him I should learn the truth – if it is the truth. But it wouldn’t have taken root in a sane mind! It may have been there already. I’ve been informed, on good authority, that a feeling of persecution, suspicion of everyone, sudden hatred of one’s nearest and dearest, are among the better known symptoms of madness.’

  ‘But – Good God, does your uncle know of this?’

  Philip was silent for a moment, heavily frowning. ‘I don’t know,’ he replied at last. ‘Minerva has seen to it that he and Torquil should live at opposite ends of the house, and he rarely comes out of his wing until dinner-time. Sometimes I think he doesn’t know, but it is as I told you: he shrinks from facing what is unpleasant.’

  ‘No wish to shove my oar in,’ said Mr Templecombe, with a deprecatory cough, ‘but should you not tell h