第121章 Brian as Avenger (2)

In the pause she looked up at him, and would have spoken her thanks, but something in his manner checked her.He had treated her so exactly as if she belonged to him, that, to thank him seemed almost as absurd as it would have done to thank her father.Then a sudden fear made her say instead:

"Are you coming home?"

"I will come to see that you are safely back presently," he said, in a voice unlike his own."But I must see that man first.""No, no," she said, beginning to tremble again."Don't go back.

Please, please don't go!"

"I must," he said, putting her into the hansom.Then, speaking very gently."Don't be afraid; I will be with you almost directly."He closed the doors, gave the address to the driver, and turned away.

Erica was conscious of a vague relief as the fresh winter wind blew upon her.She shut her eyes, that she might not see the passers-by, only longing to get away right away, somewhere beyond the reach of staring eyes and cruel tongues.One evening years ago, she remembered coming out of St.James's Hall with Tom, and having heard a woman in Regent Street insulted in precisely the same language that had been used to her today.She remembered how the shrill, passionate cry had rung down the street: "How dare you insult me!" And remembered, too, how she had wondered whether perfect innocence would have been able to give that retort.She knew now that her surmise had been correct.The insult had struck her dumb for the time.Even now, as the words returned to her with a pain intolerable, her tears rained down.It seemed to her that for once she could no more help crying than she could have helped bleeding when cut.

Then once more her thoughts returned to Brian with a warmth of gratitude which in itself relieved her.He was a man worth knowing, a friend worth having.Yet how awful his face had looked as he came toward her.Only once in her whole life had she seen such a look on a man's face.She had seen it in her childhood on her father's face, when he had first heard of a shameful libel which affected those nearest and dearest to him.She had been far too young to understand the meaning of it, but she well remembered that silent, consuming wrath; she remembered running away by herself with the sort of half-fearful delight of a child's new discovery "Now I know how men look when they KILL!"All at once, in the light of that old recollection, the truth dashed upon her.She smiled through her tears, a soft glow stole over her face, a warmth found its way to her aching heart.For at last the love of seven years had found its way to her.

She felt all in a glad tumult as that perception came to her.It had, in truth, been an afternoon of revelations.She had never until now in the least understood Brian's character, never in the least appreciated him.And as to dreaming that his friendship had been love from the very first, it had never occurred to her.

The revelation did not bring her unalloyed happiness for there came a sharp pang as she recollected what he had gone back to do.What if he should get into trouble on her behalf? What if he should be hurt? Accustomed always to fear for her father actual physical injury, her thoughts at once flew to the same danger for Brian.

But, however sick with anxiety, she was obliged, on reaching home, to try and copy out her article, which must be in type and upon thousands of breakfast tables by the next morning whether her heart ached or not, whether her life were rough or smooth.

In the meantime, Brian, having watched her cab drive off, turned back into Westminster Hall.He could see nothing but the one vision which filled his brain the face of the girl he loved, a lovely, pure face suffused with tears.He could hear nothing but that intolerable slander which filled his heart with a burning, raging indignation.Straight as an arrow and as if by instinct, he made his way to the place where Sir Algernon and three or four companions were pacing to and fro.He confronted them, bringing their walk to an enforced pause.

"I am here to demand an apology for the words you spoke just now about Miss Raeburn," he said, speaking in a voice which was none the less impressive because it trembled slightly as with a wrath restrained only by a great effort.

Sir Algernon, a florid, light-haired man of about thirty," coolly stared at him for a moment.

"Who may you be, sir, who take up the cudgels so warmly in Miss Raeburn's defense?""A man who will not hear a defenseless girl insulted," said Brian, his voice rising."Apologize!""Defenseless girl!" repeated the other in a tone so insufferable that Brian's passion leaped up like wild fire.

"You vile blackguard!" he cried, "what you said was an infernal lie, and if you don't retract it this moment, I'll thrash you within an inch of your life."Sir Algernon laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

"'Pon my life!" he exclaimed, turning to one of his companions, "if I'd know that Miss Raeburn--"But the sentence was never ended for, with a look of fury, Brian sprung at him, seized him by the collar of his coat, and holding him like a vise with one hand, with the other brought down his cane upon the slanderer's shoulders with such energy that the wretch writhed beneath it.

The on-lookers, being gentlemen and fully aware that Sir Algernon deserved all he was getting, stood by, not offering to interfere, perhaps in their hearts rather sympathizing with the stranger whose righteous indignation had about it a manliness that appealed to them.Presently Sir Algernon ceased to kick, his struggles grew fainter.Brian let his right arm pause then, and with his left flung his foe into the corner as if he had been a mere chattel.

"There!" he exclaimed, "summons me for that when you please." And, handing his card to one of Sir Algernon's companions, he strode out of the hall.