The Point of View: Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The sun was blazing gloriously next day, the whole air was full of
freshness and spring and youth. An ideal one for lovers, and not
at all the atmosphere for anger and strife. But these facts did
not enter into the consideration of three of the people, at least,
connected with our little comedy.

Eustace Medlicott woke more full of wrath than he had been the
night before, and, the moment he was dressed, proceeded to make
havoc with the peace of the Reverend Canon and Mrs. Ebley. He sent
up an urgent summons that they would see him immediately. Having
no sitting-room, he suggested the reading-room, which would be
empty at this hour.

The Aunt Caroline had experienced some misgivings herself at the
Embassy about her niece's absence with the foreign count, who had
risen to this distinctive appellation in her mind from "that
dreadful man," but she had felt it more prudent not to comment
upon her apprehensions to her niece. Eustace evidently had
discovered further cause of resentment and feminine curiosity
assisted her to dress with greater rapidity than usual.

The pair entered the room with grave faces and took two
uncomfortable chairs.

The Reverend Mr. Medlicott remained standing, and soon, from his
commanding position, let them hear his version of the hated
foreigner's communications. They were duly horrified and surprised
and then Mrs. Ebley bridled a little--after all, it was the
behavior of her own niece upon which aspersion was being cast.

"I am certain, Eustace, the man must be mad--I assure you, Stella
has not been for an instant absent from me, except yesterday
morning she went to the Thermes Museum with Martha, whom you know
has proved by twenty-five years of faithful service that she can
be completely trusted, therefore the girl cannot have had any
opportunity of conversing with this stranger until last night. It
would be only fair to question her first--"

"My wife is quite right," Canon Ebley agreed. "We should listen to
no more until Stella is here to defend herself. Let us send a
message for her to descend at once."

He went and rang the bell as he spoke, and the summons to Miss
Rawson was dispatched. Then the three somewhat uncomfortably tried
to exchange platitudes upon indifferent subjects until the waiter
returned.

Mademoiselle was very fatigued and was not yet up! Such an unheard
of thing petrified them all with astonishment. Stella to be still
in bed, at half past nine in the morning! The child must be ill!--
or it was distinct rebellion. Mrs. Ebley prepared to go and
investigate matters when another waiter entered with a note for
Canon Ebley, and stood aside to receive the answer.

"Dear, dear!" said that gentleman to his wife, "I have not my
glasses with me, I came down in such a hurry. Will you read it to
me?"

But Mrs. Ebley was in a like plight, so they were obliged to
enlist the services of Eustace Medlicott.

He knew the writing directly he glanced at it and every move of
his body stiffened with renewed anger. And it is to be feared he
said to himself, "it is from that cursed man."

He read it aloud, and it was the briefest and most courteous note
asking for the honor of an interview at whatever time would be
most agreeable to Canon Ebley. The nature of the business to be
discussed at it was not stated.

"I strongly advise you not to see the scoundrel," Mr. Medlicott
said vehemently. "It is far better that we should all leave Rome
immediately and avoid any chance of scandal."

"Before we can decide anything," Mrs. Ebley said decisively, "I
must speak with my niece. If she is quite ignorant of this
foreigner's ravings, then there will be no necessity to alter our
trip--we can merely move to another hotel. The whole thing is most
unpleasant and irritating and has quite upset me."

Stella, upstairs in her cosy bed, had meanwhile received another
note from her lover. Full of tenderness and encouragement, it made
her feel as bold as a young lioness and ready to brave any attack.
That her aunt had not been to see why she was not dressed already
was filling her with surprise, and after the waiter had brought
the message she guessed the reason why.

A firm tap to the door presently and her Aunt Caroline's voice
saying sternly. "It is I, Stella, please let me in at once."

Miss Rawson got out of bed, unlocked the door and bounded back
again, and a figure of dignified displeasure sailed into the room.

"Are you ill, my dear?" Mrs. Ebley asked, in a stern voice. "It is
otherwise very strange that you should not be dressed at this
hour--it is a quarter to ten o'clock."

"No, I am not exactly ill, Aunt Caroline," Stella answered gently,
"but I was very tired, and as I was making up my mind what I
should say in my letter to Eustace to break off my engagement--I
preferred not to come down until I had done so."

The Aunt Caroline could not believe her ears. She was obliged to
sit down. Her emotion made her knees tremble. It was true then--
something had been going on under her very eyes and she had not
perceived it--the deceit and perfidy of human nature had always
been a shock to her--

"You wish to break your engagement, Stella," she said, as soon as
she could steady her voice. "But you cannot possibly do so
scandalous a thing--and for what reason, pray?"

"I find I do not love Eustace," Stella answered calmly, although
her heart now began to beat rapidly. "I know I never have loved
him; it was only because I thought it would please you and Uncle
Erasmus that I ever became engaged to him, and now that I know
what love is--I mean now that the time is getting nearer, I feel
that I cannot go through with it."

"There is something underneath all this, Stella," Mrs. Ebley said
icily. "You cannot deceive me. You have been led astray, girl--it
is wiser to confess at once and I will try to pardon you."

Stella's spirit rose--she raised her head proudly, then she
remembered her lover's counsel to have no arguments whatsoever,
and so she curbed her heated words and continued gently:

"I have not been led astray, Aunt Caroline, and there is nothing
to pardon. I am twenty-one years old now and surely can judge for
myself whether or no I wish to marry a man--and I have decided I
do not intend to marry Eustace Medlicott. I almost feel I detest
him."

Mrs. Ebley was petrified with anger and astonishment.

"I am sorry to tell you I cannot believe you, Stella," she said,
"your fiance had a most unpleasant shock last night. The foreign
person, Count Roumovski, who was presented to us at the Embassy,
insulted him greatly, and told him that you had agreed to marry
him as soon as Eustace should set you free! I almost blush to
repeat to you this shocking story which we had considered the
ravings of a madman, but the time has come when we must have some
plain speaking."

"It has indeed," Stella agreed, her wrath rising, then went on
respectfully, "but I must refuse to discuss anything about Count
Roumovski at present. Please believe me that I do not wish to
annoy you, dear Aunt Caroline. I only wish to do what is right,
and I know it is right to break off my engagement with Eustace
Medlicott."

Mrs. Ebley felt her anger augmenting to boiling point, but
nothing, she could say had any effect upon her niece, who remained
extremely respectful and gentle, but perfectly firm. Mrs. Ebley
could not get her to tell her anything about her acquaintance with
this dreadful foreigner. She became silent after she had refused
point blank to discuss him. At last the baffled and exasperated
older lady got up and fired her last shot.

"Words cannot express my pain and disgust at your conduct,
Stella," she said. "Putting aside all the awful suspicions I have
about this Russian, you will lay up for yourself a lifelong regret
in outraging all decency by refusing to marry that good and pure
young clergyman, Eustace Medlicott."

"I have done nothing wrong, Aunt Caroline, please do not go away
angry with me," Stella pleaded. "When Count Roumovski asks Uncle
Erasmus' and your consent to his marrying me--then I will tell you
everything about him,--but now I do not wish to. Please forgive me
for causing you pain--we shall all be very happy soon, and surely
I have a right to my life like any other person."

Mrs. Ebley would not bandy further words; their points of view
were too different.

"I regret that I am obliged to request you to keep your room and
have no communication with anyone whatever until I can consult
with your uncle and Eustace as to what is the best thing to do
with you. That we shall leave Rome immediately you may be prepared
for."

Stella here burst into tears. She had an affection for her aunt,
who had always been kind to her in a hard, cold way, and she was
deeply grieved at their estrangement, but there were forces in
life which she knew now mattered more than any aunts in the world.

Mrs. Ebley did not relent at the sound of the sobbing, but left
the room, closing the door firmly after her. And a few minutes
afterward Martha was let in by the chambermaid without knocking
and sat down grimly by the window and began to knit.

Then Stella's tears turned to resentment. To be insulted so! To
have a servant sent to watch her was more than she would bear. But
as she turned in bed she felt her lover's note touch her and like
a magic wand a thrill of comfort rushed through her. After all, he
would settle things for her--and meanwhile she would close her
eyes and pretend to sleep. So with her precious love letter
clasped tight in her hand under the clothes she turned her face to
the wall and shut her eyes.

Meanwhile, Canon Ebley and the Reverend Eustace Medlicott were
spending a very disagreeable time in the reading-room. Relieved of
Mrs. Ebley's presence, Eustace had recounted more fully the
interview he had had with Sasha Roumovski the night before. He was
not a very accurate person and apt to color everything with his
own prejudice, so Canon Ebley did not obtain a very clear idea of
the Russian's arguments. They seemed to him to be very unorthodox
and carnal and reprehensible from all points. But it was evident
they were dealing with a clever and dangerous character and Stella
must be rescued from such a person's influence and married off to
her lawful fiance at once.

"We could have the ceremony here, Eustace, in three weeks' time,
or we could go back to England immediately, for until our niece is
your wife I am sure her aunt and myself will not feel easy about
her."

"Nor I either," Mr. Medlicott returned, and at that moment the
Aunt Caroline entered the room and gradually disclosed the awful
truth she had arrived at from Miss Rawson's admissions.

"That dreadful foreigner must he told at once we refuse to have
any communication with him and Stella shall be kept locked in her
room until we can leave Rome," Mrs. Ebley said sternly. "I could
not have believed my own sister's child could have behaved so
disgracefully."

"Dear, dear," said Canon Ebley, "but we must get at the facts of
when she has been able to see this Russian. It is impossible that
the present state of things could have arisen from merely last
night at the Embassy."

At this stage of the proceedings, it being a public room, Count
Roumovski entered it serenely and, coming toward the group, made a
stiff bow to each in turn.

"I believe you have received my letter, sir," he said, addressing
Canon Ebley, "but, as I have had no reply, I ventured to present
myself without further delay--"

"We do not wish for any communication from you," Eustace Medlicott
hastened to announce before either of the others could speak. "I
have informed Canon and Mrs. Ebley of your disgraceful conduct and
that is sufficient. We shall discuss nothing further."

"I was not addressing you, sir," Count Roumovski returned mildly.
"My business with you terminated last night." And he turned his
shoulders to the irate junior chaplain and looked Canon Ebley
straight in the face. "I am here to ask for the hand of your
niece, Miss Rawson, as she is now free from other engagements, and
with her full consent I desire to make her my wife."

"Come, Erasmus," Mrs. Ebley said with icy dignity. "Let us go up
to our apartment and if this person annoys us further we can
complain to the manager of the hotel," then, with an annihilating
glance, she took her husband's arm and drew him toward the door.

"As you will, madame," and the Russian gentleman bowed with
respectful serenity. "It would have been more sensible to have
taken my request otherwise, but it is, after all, quite
immaterial. I will wish you a good-day," and he bowed again as
Canon Ebley and his outraged spouse sailed from the room--and,
with an exclamation of suppressed fury, Eustace Medlicott followed
in their wake.

Then Count Roumovski laughed softly to himself and, sitting down
at a writing-table, wrote a letter to his beloved. His whole plan
of life was simple and direct. He had done what he considered was
necessary in the affair, he had behaved with perfect openness and
honor in his demand, and if these people could not see the thing
from a common sense point of view, they were no longer to be
considered. He would take the law into his own hands.

When he had finished his note he went straight up in the lift to
the corridor where Stella's room was and there saw in the distance
her raging and discomfited late betrothed evidently keeping watch
and ward. Count Roumovski did not hesitate a second; he advanced
to the door and knocked firmly on the panel, slipping his letter
through the little slide for such things before Mr. Medlicott
could bound forward and prevent him.

"A letter for you, mademoiselle, from me, Sasha Roumovski," he
said in French in a loud enough voice for the occupant of the room
to hear, and then he stood still for a second, as both men heard
Stella jump from her bed and rush to the door to take the missive
before Martha from the place at the window could intercept it.

"Do not dare to touch that, Martha," they heard her voice say
haughtily, and then she called out, "Sasha, I have it safe and I
will do exactly as you direct."

Count Roumovski looked at Eustace Medlicott, who stood as a
spread-eagle in front of the door--and then, smiling, went calmly
on his way.

The Reverend Mr. Medlicott shook with burning rage. He was being
made to look ridiculous and he was absolutely impotent to
retaliate in any way. He would bring scandal upon them all if
waiters and other guests saw him guarding Miss Rawson's actual
door, and he could not sit outside like a valet; the whole thing
was unspeakably maddening, and murderous thoughts flooded his
brain.

"Give me that letter this minute, Stella," he said in an almost
inarticulate voice through the keyhole, he was so shaken with
passion. "Open the door and let Martha hand it to me. You are
disgracing us all."

"It is you who are doing that, Eustace," Stella said from beyond
the panel, lifting the slide that her voice might be heard
distinctly. "You have no authority over me at all. I told Aunt
Caroline I did not intend to continue my engagement with you--but
even if I had not decided to break it off, this conduct of yours
would now be sufficient reason. How dare you all treat me as
though I were a naughty child or insane!"

"Because you are both," Mr. Medlicott returned, "and must be
controlled and compelled into a proper behavior."

Stella was silent--she would not be so undignified as to parley
further. She got back into bed, taking not the slightest notice of
the maid, and then proceeded to read her letter.

Her lover had explained in it the situation and advised her to
dress at once, and then if menaced in any way to ring the bell.
Ivan would be waiting outside to obey her slightest orders, and to
warn his master if any fresh moves were made, so that when the
waiter or chambermaid came in answer to her summons she might be
sure of extra help at hand. Then she was to walk out and down into
the hall, where he, Sasha, would be watching for her and ready to
take her to the Excelsior Hotel, where that same evening would
arrive the Princess Urazov. "But if they do not molest you,
dearest," he wrote, "do not leave your room until seven o'clock,
because I wish my sister to be in the hall ready to receive you
that your family can see that I only desire to do everything
right."

And as she finished reading, Stella got up and told Martha to
prepare her things.

"I have no orders from Mrs. Ebley for that, Miss Stella," the
woman answered sullenly. "I do wonder what has come over
everybody. I never was in such an uncomfortable position in my
life."

Stella made no answer, but proceeded to dress herself, and then
sat down to read again the letters she had received in the last
twenty-four hours.

If her family, who knew her, could treat her in this abominable
way, when she had committed no fault except the very human one of
desiring to be the arbiter of her own fate, she surely owed no
further obedience to them. So she waited calmly for a fresh turn
of events.

Her luncheon was brought up on a tray by the waiter, and some for
Martha also, and the two ate in silence, until Stella suddenly
burst into a merry peal of laughter, it was so grotesquely comic!
A grown up English girl in these days locked in her room with a
dragon duenna gaoler!

"Martha, isn't it too funny, the whole thing!" she said, between
her gurgles. "Can't you laugh, you old goose! and to think how
sorry you will be, you were so horrid, when I am gone, because, of
course, you know you cannot keep me once I make up my mind to go."

"Mrs. Ebley said I was to have no conversation with you, Miss,"
Martha said, glumly, at which Stella laughed afresh.

Meanwhile Count Roumovski had made all arrangements at the
Excelsior Hotel, and after lunch sat quietly in the hall awaiting
his beloved. Mrs. Ebley had felt too upset to go down to the
restaurant, so the two clergymen were there alone, and glanced
wrathfully at the imperturbable face of Count Roumovski seated at
his usual table, with his air of detached aloofness and perfect
calm. They, on the contrary, were so boiling with rage that they
knew not what they ate.

After lunch it had been decided that the party should leave the
Grand and take the five o'clock train to Florence, and their
preparations were made.

Mrs. Ebley had herself been laboriously packing so as not to take
Martha from her post, and orders were whispered to that faithful
Abigail through Stella's letter slide to pack Miss Rawson's things
at once.

Stella watched these preparations serenely, and gave Martha
directions as to what to put on the top. Then when all was
finished and she had donned her hat, she rang the electric bell
for the waiter, and when he knocked at the door she calmly bade
him enter, which, of course, he was able to do with his key, and
she told him in French, which Martha did not understand, to send
the porters there immediately, and have her luggage consigned to
the care of the servant who would be waiting in the passage. This
person would give orders for its destination. The waiter bowed
obsequiously. Had he not been already heavily tipped by this
intelligent Ivan, and instructed instantly to obey the orders of
mademoiselle?"

"It is much better I am before them," Stella thought to herself,
while Martha looked on in rageful bafflement.

"The porters will come up and take the trunks outside, Martha,"
Miss Rawson said. "You can give them what orders aunt told you
to."

Such was her supreme confidence in the methods of her lover that
she felt sure once Ivan was apprised of the fact by the waiter
that the trunks would be consigned to him it would not matter what
Martha said to the porters! So she calmly sat down by the window
and folded her hands, while the elderly maid fumed with the
uncertainty of what she ought to do. And in a few moments the men
appeared, and smilingly seemed to understand the gestures and
English orders of Martha to take the trunks to the door of Madam
Ebley, number 325, round the corner of the passage and on the
opposite side.

They nodded their heads wisely and carried the box out, shutting
the door after them, and then there was silence for a while; and
Stella half-dozed in her chair, it was so warm and peaceful by the
window and she had had so little sleep in the night.

An hour passed, and at four o'clock the Aunt Caroline appeared.
Her face was grim. Had Stella been an outcast in deed and word she
could not have looked more disdainful.

"You must come down with me now, Stella," she said, "we are ready
to go to the station. I will remain with you here until Martha
gets her hat."

Stella rose to her feet and before the astonished lady could speak
more, she had swiftly passed her and gained the door, which she
threw open, and, like a fawn, rushed down the passage toward the
staircase entrance side of the hotel, and by the time her slowly
moving aunt had emerged from the room she had turned the corner
and was out of sight.

Fortunately, she met no one on the stairs except one astonished
page, and arrived in the outer corridor breathless with excitement
and emotion.

Count Roumovski saw her through the door of the hall, and hastened
to meet her.

"There is not a moment to be lost," she said, as he got to her
side.

"Go to the place you went before under the trees," he whispered
hurriedly in return. "The automobile is there, and I will follow
presently." So she went.

Her knees would hardly support her, she trembled so, until she was
safe in the big blue motor, which moved off at once. For an awful
moment a hideous sense of terror overcame her, making her cold.
What lay in front of her? What new fate?--and then joy and life
came back. She was going to freedom and love-away from Exminster
and dreary duties--away from Eustace Medlicott, for ever! For, of
course, her uncle and aunt would come round in time, and they
could be happy again with her some day.

When Mrs. Ebley had collected her scattered senses and followed
down the passage only to find Stella out of sight, she was obliged
to retrace her steps and rejoin her husband and Mr. Medlicott, who
were awaiting her at the lift on the other side, the restaurant
end, which was the one they were accustomed to descend by.

"She ran away from me, Erasmus!" the agitated lady cried, "passed
me without a word, and I suppose has gone down the stairs--if we
hasten in the lift we shall catch her yet."

But as they frantically rang the bell and the lift boy did not
come, Eustace Medlicott, with a most unsaintly exclamation,
hastened off by that staircase and arrived in the hall to see the
hated Russian calmly smoking his cigarette and reading an English
paper.

He advanced upon him regardless of the numbers of people beginning
to assemble for tea.

"What have you done with Miss Rawson?" he asked furiously. "She
has this moment run away from her aunt."

"I have nothing to converse with you about," Count Roumovski
returned, with mild surprise. "And, as I see it is four o'clock, I
must wish you a good-day, as I have an appointment," with which he
rose quietly before the other could prevent him, and crossed the
broad path of carpet which separates the groups of chairs, and
there was seen to enter into earnest conversation with a Russian-
looking individual who had just entered.

The Reverend Mr. Medlicott was nonplussed, and hurried into the
front vestibule, where he made rapid inquiries of the hall-porter.

Yes--the young lady, he believed, had walked out of the hotel not
two minutes before. Monsieur would overtake her certainly, if he
hastened. And the frantic young man rushed from the door, through
the porte cochere, and so to the street, but all he saw in the far
distance was a retreating large, blue automobile--and this
conveyed among all the rest of the traffic no impression whatever.

To search for Stella was hopeless; the only thing to do was to
return to the Ebleys, and with them go to the Embassy. There they
could, perhaps, get advice and help how to communicate with the
police.

But what an ignominious position for a Bishop's junior chaplain to
be placed in, a humiliation in every way!

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