The Foot of Time: A Novel of Australia and the South Seas: (1933)

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268 THE FOOT OF TIME
"I've been miserable, too, Miss Tooth—wretched.
I hope we may both make up the lee-way."
"You are just off to your wedding?"
"That is so; we are due at the registrar's in fifteen
minutes. Afterwards we shall put in a few days
at Palm Beach. Pretty spot, they tell me."
"Palm Beach?" Florence looked scared. Suppose
he ran into his son there—met his own son and
didn't know him, nor even that there was such a
person! Clare hadn't planned for them to meet
in such circumstances at Palm Beach. Bruce often
went there.
"You don't look impressed with the place."
"Oh, yes; it's lovely—a recent drowning case
there—horrid channel currents—you know the
risks—respect them."
"I shan't be surfing," Arbuthnot reassured her.
"A little golf, perhaps, to keep ourselves fit. I'm
tired, mentally tired. No, I shall keep away from
the sharks this holiday, Miss Tooth."
Florence looked relieved. The chances of father
and son tumbling into each other were less likely.
Young Bruce simply rushed down in his low, sporty
two-seater, took his dip, and back again. He might
not even visit Palm Beach during the next week or
two.
"I'm a blunt man, Miss Tooth. You and I, Mam,
do not need to indulge in high-sounding platitudes.
I came in to thank you with all my heart for what
you have done for me and for mine."
Again Florence looked startled. Had Clare, then,
told him?
.......
THE FOOT OF TIME
269
The baronet gave a laugh. "To tell you the
truth, I'm not conversant with what it may be you
have done, other than to befriend my first wife,
but I understand you have, at personal risk, done
her one especial service that she will remember all
her life. I do thank you on her behalf, and, therefore,
now on mine; with all my heart. If you can
stoop to honour so depraved a character as myself,
Mam, I came in specially to ask, to urge you to
visit us; to consider our front door wide open to
you always. We shall be returning home. I'm an
Englishman, as you doubtless notice. I'm planning
to return to my native country, Devonshire,
in the course of a couple of months. Runs up to
Scotland. I cherish a most profound admiration
for the Scotch, Miss Tooth. Invariably had one or
another of them on every garden I ever owned. I've
friends up North, as Clare has friends down here.
I expect we shall always be rovers. Take a trip
home and live with us for awhile. Six months in
Devon would, I think, please you."
Florence promised that she would and her visitor
left her.
The Registrar's door opened. There entered a
man of about fifty-five, together with a lady companion.
No uncommon sight for Mr. Registrar.
Their car outside was guarded by a massive hound.
Many people on The Corso glanced at the car, and
many more regarded the hound—but that is as
far as they got. The official rubbed bony hands
together, scenting business.