Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

156 RAVENSHOE.
Charles went up silently and kissed his brother on the forehead.
Cuthbert neither moved nor spoke. Charles greeted Mackworth
civilly, and then leant against the chimney-piece by the side of
him, and said what a glorious day it was. William stood at a
little distance, looking uneasily from one to another.
Cuthbert broke silence. "I sent for you," he said.
" I am glad to come to you, Cuthbert, though I think you sent
for me on business, which I am not very well up to to-day."
" On business," said Cuthbert; "business which must be gone
through with to-day, though I expect it will kill me."
Charles, by some instinct (who knows what? it was nothing
reasonable, he says), moved rapidly towards William, and laid
his hand on his shoulder. I take it, that it arose from that curious gregarious feeling that men have in times of terror. He
could not have done better than to move towards his truest friend,
whatever it was.
"I should like to prepare you for what is to come," continued
Cuthbert, speaking calmly, with the most curious distinctness;
"but that would be useless. The blow would be equally severe
whether you expect it or not. You two who stand there were
nursed at the same breast. That groom, on whose shoulder you
have your hand now, is my real brother. You are no relation to
me; you are the son of the faithful old servant whom we buried
to-day with my father."
Charles said, Ho! like a great sigh. William put his arm
round him, and, raising his finger, and looking into his face with
his calm, honest eyes, said with a smile,"This was it, then. We know it all now."
Charles burst out into a wild laugh, and said, " Father Mackworth's ace of trumps! He has inherited a talent for melodrama
from his blessed mother. Stop. I beg your pardon, sir, for
saying that; I said it in a hurry. It was blackguardly. Let's
have the proofs of this, and all that sort of thing, and witnesses
too, if you please. Father Mackworth, there have been such
things as prosecutions for conspiracy. I have Lord Saltire and
Lord Ascot at my back. You have made a desperate cast, sir.My astonishment is that you have allowed your hatred for me to
outrun your discretion so far. This matter will cost some money
before it is settled."
Father Mackworth smiled, and Charles passed him, and rang
the bell. - Then he went back to William and took his arm.
"Fetch the Fathers Tiernay here immediately," said Charles
to the servant who answered the bell.
In a few minutes the worthy priests were in the room. The
group was not altered. Father Mackworth still leant against
the mantel-piece, Charles and William stood together, and Cuthbert sat pale and calm with his hands clasped together.