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diff --git a/21120.txt b/21120.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..205df20 --- /dev/null +++ b/21120.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11195 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fortunes of the Farrells, by +Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Fortunes of the Farrells + +Author: Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey + +Release Date: April 17, 2007 [EBook #21120] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FORTUNES OF THE FARRELLS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + + +The Fortunes of the Farrells + +By Mrs George de Horne Vaizey +________________________________________________________________________ +Old Mr Bernard Farrell is known to be immensely rich. No one in his +family has seen him for ages. Suddenly he turns up, and is invited to +stay for a few days, as he isn't very well. His proposition is, that he +would like various of his nephews and nieces to come and stay with him +for quite a long time, so that he might gauge which of them should +receive the greater part of his wealth after he dies. + +The house-part duly convenes, and they don't find him a very agreeable +host, but for the most part they persevere. He has made a preliminary +will "in case of accident". He is trying to keep this will secret, and +of course the young people are all agog to know what is in it. One day +he accidentally leaves his desk open, and realises that someone has been +at his desk, and has read the will. He calls all the young people to +his bed, and asks them point-blank who it was. Of course he gets +various kinds of answer, from the offended, to the frightened and cowed. +But by chance he finds out exactly who had peeked into his desk and read +the will. We won't spoil the story for you, but would say this: that +it is as good a Horne Vaizey story as any, even the earlier Pixie books. +NH +________________________________________________________________________ + +THE FORTUNES OF THE FARRELLS + +BY MRS GEORGE DE HORNE VAIZEY + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +FROM PRETENCE TO REALITY. + +"Berengaria, what do you generally do with your old court trains? How +do you use them up?" + +The fire had died down to a dull red glow; only one tiny flame remained, +which, flickering to and fro, showed a wide expanse of floor, and two +easy-chairs drawn up before the fender, on which reclined vague, +feminine figures. The voice which had asked the question was slow and +languid, and breathed a wearied indifference to the world in general, +which was more than equalled in the tone of the reply-- + +"Really, don't you know, I can't say! I put them away, meaning to use +them for cloaks or evening-dresses; but I forget, or they get mislaid, +or the maid confiscates them for her own purposes. I expect, as a +matter of fact, she makes them up into Sunday blouses." + +"You spoil that woman, dear! You are so absurdly easy-going that she +robs you right and left. Do take my advice, and give her notice at +once!" + +"I couldn't, darling, even to please you! It bores me so to deal with +strangers, and no one else could do my hair like Elsie. If it pleases +her to use up a few of my garments, why shouldn't the poor soul have her +pleasure like the rest? That reminds me, Lucille--are you going to the +duchess's ball to-night? I suppose it is superfluous to ask, since no +entertainment is complete without you nowadays." + +"Oh, I suppose so! If I am not too fagged, that is to say. But I have +a dinner first, and two At-homes, and people make such a fuss if you +don't put in an appearance. One hardly feels up to dancing after +struggling through two of the asphyxiating mobs dignified by the name of +entertainments; still, I promised Arthur the cotillion, and he will be +desolated if I play him false; and I have a new frock for the occasion +which is really rather a dream. Silver tissue over satin, and shoulder- +straps of diamonds. I had them reset on purpose. I spend quite a +fortune on resetting jewels nowadays; but one must be original, or die!" + +"My dear, you will be too bewitching! Lord Arthur will be more +desperate than ever. My poor little self will be nowhere beside you! +I'm going to be sweet and simple in chiffon and pearls. Paquin made the +gown. Don't ask what it cost! I tore up the bill and threw it in the +fire. Really, don't you know, it made me quite depressed! So +perishable, too! I expect I shall be in rags before the evening is +over. But it's quite sweet at present--all frilly-willys from top to +toe. I do love to be fluffy and feminine, and my pearls really are +unique! The princess examined them quite carefully when I met her last +winter, and said she had rarely seen finer specimens. I wouldn't wear +them at all unless they were good. I cannot endure inferior jewels!" + +The speaker lolled still more luxuriously in her chair, then started +forward, as the door opened with a bang, and a harsh voice accosted her +by name-- + +"Miss Mollie, your mother wants to know if you have finished darning the +socks? She is putting away the clean clothes, and wants to sort them +with the rest." + +The Lady Lucille--otherwise Mollie Farrell, the penniless daughter of an +impoverished house--jumped up from her chair, and clasped her hands in +dismay. In blissful contemplation of imagining chiffons and cotillions, +the prosaic duties of reality had slipped from her mind, and +recollection brought with it a pang of remorse. + +"Misery me! I forgot the very existence of the wretched things! Never +mind. Tell mother, Annie, that I'll set to work this minute, and put +them away myself as soon as they are done. Tell her I'm sorry; tell her +I'll be as quick as I possibly can!" + +Annie stood for a moment in eloquent silence then shut the door and +descended the stairs; while Mollie groped her way across the room, and +Berengaria lifted herself from her chair with a sigh, and slipped her +hand along the mantelpiece. + +"I'll light the gas. How horrid it is, being dragged back to earth by +these sordid interruptions! It's always the way--as soon as I begin to +forget myself, and enjoy a taste of luxury, back I'm dragged to the same +dull old life. I really saw that silver tissue, and felt the coldness +of the diamonds against my shoulder; and then--_socks_! Those wretched, +thick, ugly socks, with the heels all out, and the toes in rags! I +think schoolboys ought to be obliged to darn their own clothes, just to +teach them a little care!" + +"Well, be aisy; you haven't to darn them, anyway. It's my work, which +is the best of reasons why it is left undone. Hurry with the gas, +there's a dear. There's no time for conundrums, if I am to finish to- +night!" + +Another sigh, the striking of a match, and the light sprang up, and +showed a tall, girlish figure, clad in a blue serge skirt, and a flannel +blouse, faded from repeated washing, and showing signs of a decided +shortage of material. + +Considered as a costume, it was a painful contrast to the silver and +diamonds of the fair Berengaria; but the shabby garments looked their +best on Ruth Farrell's slight form, and the face reflected in the strip +of mirror above the mantelpiece had a distinct charm of its own. A low +brow below masses of brown hair; a flush of carmine on the cheeks; soft +lips, drooping pathetically at the corners; and--most striking feature +of all--thickly marked eyebrows of almost jetty black, stretching in +long, straight lines above the grey eyes. A pretty, almost a beautiful +face, full of character, full of thought, full of a restless, +unsatisfied yearning. + +She threw the burnt-out match on to the fire, and turned to survey the +room--surely the most motley and curious apartment that could be +imagined! The sloping roof proved at a glance the position under the +leads, and a peep at the outside of the door would have shown the word +"Attica" painted in bold white letters on the top panel. + +Attica--or the land of attic--constituted the boudoirs of the Ladies +Berengaria and Lucille, the work-rooms and play-rooms, dens and havens +of refuge, of Ruth and Mollie Farrell, and their young stepsisters, Trix +and Betty Connor; for it was of generous proportions, measuring a square +eight yards or more, and the floor was divided into four equal sections +by lines of white paint against the brown of the original staining. + +Each sister held an exclusive right to her own domain, and for another +to enter therein without special invitation was held as an outrage +against decency and good taste. + +In the beginning of things, Ruth, as the eldest, had claimed the right +of first choice, and, being a young woman who liked her comforts, had +instantly and unhesitatingly appropriated the fireside. + +Mollie, coming next in order, plumped for the window, it being her sunny +habit to look forward to an endless summer; Trix, grumbling vigorously, +appropriated the angle made by the blank walls nearest the fire; and +poor Betty made her lair in the direct draught of the doorway, and +enjoyed a permanent cold in the head from November to March. + +A glance at the four corners of the room afforded a very fair idea of +the characters of its inhabitants. Ruth's "Fireland" domain had an air +of luxury of its own, though the draperies were of simple turkey-red, +and the pictures mounted on home-made frames of brown paper. There was +a row of shelves against the wall, holding quite a goodly show of +volumes, ranged neatly side by side, while a curtained recess at one end +contained tea-cups and canister, and a small metal kettle, as +scrupulously bright as on the day when it had left the shop. + +An old folding-chair had been painted green, and supplied with frilled +cushions. There was a sensible little table, holding a hand-machine, +and a work-basket--yawning apart, it is true, but neatly strapped to +prevent accident; and on the mantelpiece a crowd of photographs, and a +few oddments of blue china, all carefully dusted by the owner's hand, +and set out with artistic effect. + +Last, and crowning luxury of all, a screen stood behind the low chair, +manufactured out of a clothes-horse flounced with turkey-red, which was +at once the comfort and distraction of Ruth's soul; for while, from her +point of view, it was an indispensable comfort, shutting out draughts +from window and door, and giving to her little nook the last blessing of +privacy, Trix denounced the innovation as the incarnation of +selfishness, Betty's teeth chattered with a noise like castanets, and +Mollie peered round the corner with her shoulders huddled in a shawl, +and her face at once so cheerful, so unreproving, and so bleached with +cold, that it was not in human nature to refuse the desired invitation. + +Mollie's domain of "Bellevue" comprised the square-shaped window, on the +sill of which she cultivated nasturtiums and mignonette in summer, and +in the embrasure stood a window-seat covered with blue cloth, that was +really the remains of an old winter skirt. + +Visitors to "Bellevue" always paused to admire the sprays of flowers +which were embroidered here and there on this blue background; and then +Mollie "dissembled," as she called it, smiling sweet recognition of the +praise, but never once breathing the secret that the whole being and +intent of these flowers was to hide the joins beneath. + +She also possessed a table and a work-basket; but the former was +decidedly ancient and insecure as to legs, while the basket made no +pretence of shutting, but looked on unabashed while its contents lay +scattered over the rug. + +A dressmaker's stand stood in the corner, on which a blouse, more or +less complete, was invariably pinned, waiting for the moment when Mollie +had time to devote to her favourite occupation. There were no book- +shelves, but a litter of magazines behind a cushion on the window-seat, +and innumerable photographs were secured to the wall by black-headed +pins, to fade slowly but surely into unrecognition in the unbroken glare +of light. + +Mollie herself pined for curtains to mitigate the draught during the +winter months, but the three other inmates of Attica loudly declared +that they could not spare a fraction of light, so she gave way smiling, +as her custom was. Mollie never grumbled; it was so dull, as she said, +and she loved to be gay. An invincible cheeriness of heart carried her +gallantly over the quicksands in which Ruth was submerged by reason of +her moodiness, and Trix by her quick temper, and made it a physical +impossibility to repine over the inevitable. + +Fifteen-year-old Trix was in that stage when the Oxford examination +seems the end-all and be-all of existence. Her section of Attica was +proudly dubbed "The Study," and had its walls covered with maps, class +lists, and "memos" of great variety. The desk was strewn with papers +and exercise-books, and there lingered in the air that indescribable +scent of sponge, slate, indiarubber, and freshly sharpened pencils which +seem inseparable from youthful study. + +Trix confessed to one weakness,--only one!--an overwhelming greed for +pencil-boxes and sharpeners, and the contents of the wooden shelf above +the desk testified to her indulgence in this craving. "The girls gave +them to me!" she used to say when strangers exclaimed at the number of +the piled-up boxes, but she blushed even as she spoke, knowing well that +to keep sixpence in her pocket and pass a pencil-box of a new design, +was a feat of self-denial beyond imagination. + +Dear, chubby, placid Betty was only thirteen, and cared for nothing in +the world but her relations, chocolate-creams, and scrambling through +the day's classes with as little exertion as possible. She shivered in +her corner, poor mite, sucking audibly, to the distraction of her +elders, the while she skimmed over her lessons, and looked forward to +the time when she would be free to devote herself to the hobby of the +hour. + +Sometimes it was postcards; sometimes it was stamps; sometimes it was +penny toys collected from street vendors. It had once soared as high as +autographs, and a promising beginning of three signatures were already +pasted into the remaining leaves of an exercise-book. Whatever the +collection might be, it lived in heaps on the uncarpeted floor; and when +Betty had a tidy fit, was covered with a crochet antimacassar which had +known better days, and had grown decidedly mellow in tint. + +On this particular afternoon, the two younger sisters were taking tea +with school friends, while their elders enjoyed an uninterrupted _tete- +a-tete_, when they could indulge in a favourite game. When life was +unusually flat and prosaic, when the weather was wet, invitations +conspicuous by their absence, and the want of pocket-money particularly +poignant, Mollie would cry ardently: "Let's be Berengaria and Lucille!" +and, presto! the two girls were transplanted to another world--a world +with the magic letter W added to its address, where empty purses and +dyed dresses existed not, and all was joy, jewellery, and junketing. + +Lucille had lately become the bride of a millionaire and adoring duke; +the peerless Berengaria wrought havoc with the peace of Lord Arthur, and +had more suitors than she could count on the fingers of both hands. It +was a fascinating make-believe; but, as Ruth plaintively remarked, it +did come with somewhat of a shock to be dragged back to earth by--socks! + +She stood leaning against the mantelpiece, looking on with frowning +brows while her sister collected together scattered materials, and +carried them and the yawning basket back to the cosy corner in Fireland, +where, for the hour, she was an invited guest. + +"Quick's the word and sharp's the action!" cried Mollie cheerily. "Now +for a grand old cobble; and if there are any heels out to-day, my fine +young gentlemen, don't blame _me_ if you have to tread on knots for the +rest of the week! It's the strangest thing on earth that I can remember +nice things year after year without an effort, and yet forget this +horrid mending every Saturday as regularly as the day comes round." + +"Carelessness!" replied Ruth shortly, and with the candour of near +relations. "I couldn't forget if I tried. First thing when I wake in +the morning I think of all the bothersome duties I have to do in the +day, and the last thing at night I am thinking of them still. But you +are so frivolous, Mollie!" + +"And you are so morbid, my dear! You don't offer to help me, I observe; +and since you are so conscientious as all that, I should think you might +lend me a hand in my extremity. There! I'll give you Ransome's for a +treat; he breaks out at the toes, but his heels are intact. It's +playwork mending for him compared with the other boys." + +She tossed a collection of brown woollen stockings into her sister's +lap, and Ruth took them up, frowning heavily with her black brows, but +never dreaming of refusing the request, though her own share of the +household mending had kept her employed during the earlier part of the +afternoon, while Mollie was amusing herself elsewhere. She took a +darning-egg out of her basket, threaded a needle daintily, and set to +work in the painstaking manner which characterised all her efforts; but +she sighed as she worked, and Mollie sang, and that was the difference +between them. + +"Don't make such a noise, Mollie; you make my head ache. Another time, +I wish you would do your mending when I do mine, and then we should get +a chance of a rest. Just to-day, too, when the girls are out! I hate a +large family, where there is never any privacy or repose. I wish the +pater could afford to send the boys to a boarding-school. It would be +the making of them, and such a blessing to us." + +Mollie pursed her lips disapprovingly. + +"I'd miss them horribly. They are naughty, of course, and noisy and +tiresome, and make no end of work, but that's the nature of boys; on the +other hand, they are full of fun and good-humour, if you take them the +right way. And they are affectionate little ruffians, too; and so good- +looking. I'm proud of them on Sundays, in their Eton suits." + +"But there's only one Sunday, and six long days of shabbiness and +patches! Bruce ought to have a new school suit; the one he is wearing +has descended from the other two, and is disgracefully shabby. I spoke +to mother about it to-day, and she said she had intended to buy one this +month, but business was bad, and there was the coal bill to pay. The +old story! Business always _is_ bad, and the coal bill is ever with +us!" + +Mollie crinkled her brows, and for a fraction of a second her face +clouded. + +"There's no hope for me, then! I was going to plead for an extra +sovereign to carry me to the end of the quarter, for I've spent my last +cent, and there are one or two absolute necessities which I shall have +to get by hook or by crook, or stay in bed until the next allowance is +due. Well; something will turn up, I suppose! It's always the darkest +the hour before the dawn, and, financially speaking, it's pitch black at +the present moment. Let's pretend Uncle Bernard suddenly appeared upon +the scene, and presented us each with a handsome cheque." + +"I'm tired of Uncle Bernard! Ever since I was a child I have heard +about him and his eccentricities, and his house, and his wealth, and +that we were his nearest relatives, and that some day he would surely +remember us, and break his silence; but he never has, so now I look upon +him as a sort of mythological figure who has no real existence. If he +cared anything about us he would have written long ago. I expect he has +forgotten our very existence, and left all his money to charities." + +"I expect he has, but it's fun to pretend. Suppose he remembered my +birthday and sent me a ten-pound note! Fancy me, my dear, with a whole +ten pounds to spend as I liked. What fun we'd have! Most of it would +have to go in useful things, but we'd take a sovereign or two and have a +reckless burst just to see what it was like. A hansom to town, lunch at +a real swagger restaurant; and, after that, good seats at a _matinee_, +ices between the acts, and another hansom home, instead of shivering at +the corner waiting for omnibuses. Oh, bliss! Oh, rapture! If it could +only come true! If uncle would once come to see us, he couldn't help +liking us; could he?" + +"He'd like me best, because I am pretty," said Ruth calmly. + +"He'd like me best, because I am so nice!" contradicted Mollie. And +then they looked at each other, and each made a little grimace, supposed +to express scorn and contempt, but in reality there was so complete an +understanding beneath the pretence that it was almost as expressive as a +caress. + +After this came a few minutes' silence, while the two needles were woven +diligently to and fro; then-- + +"Mollie!" said Ruth suddenly, "I've come to a decision. I've been +thinking it over for ages, so don't imagine it's a whim, or that I don't +mean what I say. It's time that one of us turned out and earned some +money on our own account, and, as I'm the eldest, I'm the one to go. +Business gets worse and worse, and expenses increase, and must go on +increasing, as the children grow up. Trix will be sixteen in summer; in +less than two years she will leave school, and three grown-up daughters +are not needed in any house when the mother is well and strong. I once +thought of waiting until then; but I am twenty-two now, and, if I am to +do any good, there is no time to waste. You could get along without me +even now." + +The half-darned sock fell on Mollie's knee, and for once the sunny face +looked thoroughly shocked and startled. + +"I couldn't--I couldn't! None of us could! What would happen if +everything depended on me? You remind me, and keep me up to the mark, +and help me out of scrapes. I should be at my wit's end without you. +Mother consults you about everything, and the girls obey you, and the +boys pay more attention to you than they do to anyone else. Ruth, +_everybody_ needs you?" + +"They love you best," Ruth said quietly. And the dark brows wrinkled in +wistful fashion. + +It was the truth that she was speaking, no empty striving for +compliments; but why was it the truth? She worked hard; Mollie idled. +She was conscientious, self-sacrificing, and methodical; Mollie knew not +the meaning of method, and was frankly selfish on occasions. She +worried herself ill about ways and means, and kept sedulously within the +bounds of her small allowance; Mollie took no heed for the morrow, and +was in a chronic condition of penury or debt. + +Despite these striking contrasts, the fact remained, however, that if +any member of the household were ill, or had a secret to confide, or a +favour to request, they betook themselves to the heedless Mollie, rather +than to herself. Dearly as she loved her sister, Ruth felt a little +rankling of soreness mingling with her mystification. She did not yet +realise the magic power which cheerfulness wields in this world, or the +charm of a sunny face and a ready rippling laugh. Hearts turn to the +sun as instinctively as plants, and forgive much for the sake of the +warmth and glow. + +"They love you best," said Ruth, and honest Mollie did not contradict, +but stretched out her hand, and laid it caressingly on her sister's arm. + +"But I love you, and I can't do without you, Ruth! I couldn't live +alone, for you and I belong to each other. The others are dears in +their way; but they are only `steps,' and we two seem so close together. +Imagine Attica without you! Imagine going to bed alone, with no one to +talk to about the events of the day! What does the horrid old money +matter? We always have been poor, and we always shall be. As long as I +can remember mother has been in despair about the bills; but we wriggle +through somehow, and we shall go on wriggling. It's horrid of you to +talk of going away! Think of me!" + +"That's selfish, Mollie. You are the last person I ought to think of +just now. Mother comes first, and the poor old pater, and all those +children. It comes to this, that I can't stand the present state of +affairs any longer. I feel ashamed of taking even the pittance we have; +and I'm tired of the pittance, too, and want to make money for myself, +and not have to think a dozen times over before spending a penny!" + +Mollie laughed--a pert, derisive little laugh. + +"Sounds well, my dear; but, if it comes to that, what _can_ you do? You +can't teach, for you are not accomplished enough for advanced pupils, +nor patient enough for children. Do you remember trying to teach +Drummond to read, and rapping his poor little knuckles till they were +blue? Besides, talking of pittances, you'd get less than nothing if you +did try it. I don't see what you could do to earn a living." + +"I could be a hospital nurse!" + +"Perhaps you might--a bad one--for you don't like nursing, and would +only do it for the sake of the pay. I should have no respect for you if +you did that, Ruth. It would be too hard on the unfortunate patients?" + +"I could be a companion--" + +"People who want companions are old, or gouty, or mad; invariably +disagreeable, or why have they to advertise for a friend? I think I see +you shut up with a trying old lady, combing the lap-dog's hair, and +winding wool! You wouldn't be a very agreeable companion, Ruthans dear. +Better make the best of things, and stay where you are." + +Ruth made no further protest, but her lips tightened with an expression +of determination. Her mind being made up, she was not easily swayed +from her purpose. She decided to talk to her mother on the subject on +the following morning. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +AN EVENING AT HOME. + +The father of Ruth and Mollie Farrell had died when the latter was two +years old, leaving his wife but a few hundred pounds with which to +support herself and her children. She was a pretty, winsome creature, +the sort of woman who attracts sympathy and love, but a most difficult +person to help. + +Friends came forward with suggestions and offers of assistance, and Mrs +Farrell thanked them ardently, and wept, and agreed to all that they +said. In words, she was ready to undertake any exertion, however +arduous; but when it came to deeds, she was so weak, so incapable, so +hopelessly confused, that the school, the boarding-house, and the home +for Indian children ended successively in failure. + +At the end of three years her scanty capital was almost exhausted; but +at this critical moment the Fates--which seem to take special care of +the helpless ones of the earth--sent Ernest Connor to play the part of +rescuer. He was a round stone in a square hole, that is to say, a +student by nature, who, by the exigencies of fortune, found himself +doomed to a business life, wherein he was a painstaking but consistent +failure. + +Nervous and shy, he shrank from the society of women; but it was +impossible to be shy with the irresponsible little widow, who confided +all her troubles to him on the first day of their acquaintance, and +asked his advice with tears in her pretty eyes. To his amazement, he +found himself confiding his own troubles in return, and the ready +sympathy accorded to them seemed the sweetest thing in the world. A +month after their first meeting he asked her to be his wife, explaining +honestly his financial position, and the uncertainty of improvement in +the future. + +"But you will help me!" he said. "The money will go twice as far when +you hold the purse!" + +And Mrs Farrell agreed with ardour, unabashed by previous failures. +She went to her new home full of love and gratitude, and, let it be said +at once, never had cause to regret the step in after years. + +Ernest Connor was a devoted husband, and a most kindly father to the two +little girls; but life was not easy. It was a constant strain to make +ends meet, and as Trix, and Betty, and Drummond, and Ransome, and Bruce +came in quick succession to fill the nursery, the strain grew even more +and more acute. + +The elder girls had been educated at a neighbouring high school, but +left as soon as they were seventeen, and after that there was no money +to spare for music and painting lessons, such as most girls continue as +an interest and occupation long after schooldays are over. + +Ruth and Mollie were kept busy teaching the babies and making clothes +for the family--cutting down Trix's dress to do duty for Betty; +laboriously planning little pairs of knickers out of trousers worn at +the knees; patching, darning, covering-up, hiding over, turning and +twisting; making up something out of nothing, with the lordly sum of +fifteen pounds a year each for dress and pocket-money alike. They had +never known the luxury, dear to girlish hearts, of choosing a garment +simply because it was pretty or becoming. Dark, useful remnants were +their lot; sailor-hats in summer, cloth toques in winter; stout, useful +boots, and dogskin gloves which stood a year's hard wear. + +Many a time over had Mollie stretched forth hands and feet for her +sister's inspection, quoting derisively-- + +"`Her thickly--made country shoes could not conceal the slender contour +of her ankles; her rough gloves served only to reveal the patrician +beauty of her hands.' Look at that, my love--there's contour for you! +There's patrician beauty! What rubbish those books do talk, to be +sure!" + +Many a time had the girls groaned together over their impecuniosity, and +vaguely vowed to "do something" to remedy their condition, until at last +Ruth's unrest had reached the point of action, and she determined to +seize the first opportunity of a private conference with her mother. + +It was not easy to secure a _tete-a-tete_ in the house of Connor. On +this particular evening, Trix was practising scales on the piano in the +drawing-room, while Mollie read a novel, and Betty lolled on the rug; +the three boys were busy at lessons, or, as they eloquently described +it, "stewing," round the dining-room table. Mr Connor was smoking his +pipe and reading the evening papers in his den at the back of the house; +and the little, white-faced mother moved incessantly from room to room, +no sooner settled in one place than she was seized with an anxious +presentiment that she was needed elsewhere. + +She was pretty still, in a pathetic, faded manner; and wherever she went +she spoke loving, gentle words, and met loving glances in response: but, +alas, her efforts seemed rather distracting than helpful! She stroked +Drummond's hair, and asked if he was sure his throat was better, just as +he was on the point of completing a difficult addition; she told her +husband the tragic history of the cook's impertinence, and handed him a +heavy bill, when the poor man was enjoying the first quiet rest of the +day; she requested Mollie's advice about spare-room curtains at the +moment when long-separated lovers were united, and it was agony to lift +one's eyes from the page for the fraction of a second. + +Husband and children alike answered gently and with courtesy, for, if +there was little else, there was plenty of love in this shabby +household, and the little mother was the central figure round which +everything revolved; nevertheless, her departure was marked by half- +involuntary sighs of relief, as if a disturbing element had been +withdrawn. + +Ruth knew that she would have to bide her time until the younger members +of the family had retired to bed; but, too restless to settle down to +any definite occupation, she drifted across the drawing-room to where +Trix sat, her fingers scrambling up and down the notes of the piano. +Trix was tall and lanky; she had grey eyes, set far apart, a _retrousse_ +nose, dotted over with quite a surprising number of freckles, and an +untidy shock of light-brown hair. + +In years to come it was possible that she might develop into a pretty +girl; at the present moment she despised appearances, and certainly +failed to make the best of her good points. Now, as she sat by the +piano-stool, with shoulders hunched up and head poked forward, she +looked so awkward and ungainly that Ruth's tried nerves suffered afresh +at the sight. + +"For pity's sake, sit up, Trix!" she cried sharply. "You look a perfect +object, bent double like that! You might be deformed, to look at your +back! If you go on like this, you will grow so round-shouldered that +you won't be able to get straight again, and how will you like that?" + +Trix deliberately finished her scale, then faced her sister, and +retorted pertly-- + +"Very much indeed, thank you--if you will only realise that I _can't_ +help it, and leave me alone! I'd rather be a humpback at once, than be +worried morning, noon, and night about deportment, as I am now. My +back's my own; I can use it as I like!" + +"It's wicked to talk like that, Trix, and very impertinent as well! Who +is to tell you of your faults if we don't at home? Other people look +on, and say, `What a fright that girl looks! How shockingly she carries +herself!' But they don't trouble to tell you about it, and it is not +very pleasant for us when you take it like this. If we did not love you +and care for your interests--" + +"Oh dear me," sighed naughty Trix, "then I wish you'd love me a little +less! I could bear it quite well if you lost your interest, and left me +in peace. You and Mollie can do the beauty show for the family; I am +content to represent `intellect and common-sense.' If you want +something to do, you might help me with a French exercise instead of +nagging. It's simply awful to-day; and if I lose any more marks, it's +all up with my chance of getting a prize. Now, then--will you, or won't +you?" + +Trix's method of asking favours was hardly as ingratiating as might be +desired, and for a moment the chances seemed all in favour of a refusal. +The colour flamed in Ruth's cheeks, and her black brows drew ominously +near together. She was fighting a hard battle against pride and +resentment; but, as was usually the case, the better self won. She +nodded back at Trix, and said-- + +"I will! ... Run and bring your books. We won't venture into the +dining-room, for the boys make such a noise that one can't hear one's +own voice." + +There was something very sweet in the absolute surrender of self-will, +and Trix, who was the most warm-hearted of mortals, promptly bounded up +from her stool and flung her arms round her sister's neck. + +"You duck--you angel! You shall nag at me as much as ever you like, and +I'll never be cheeky again. It's brickish of you to worry about me at +all; but I'll always be a fright, so what's the use? You are pretty +enough for the family, Ruth. Ella Bruce's brother watches behind the +curtains every Sunday to see you pass, and he says you are the prettiest +girl he knows, and are always so nicely dressed!" + +"Poor, deluded mortal; may he be forgiven for his blindness! I'm the +shabbiest creature in the parish! It's very nice of him to watch; but I +wish he would come out from behind the curtains and let me see him. I +have not so many admirers that I can afford to have them hidden from +view. What is he like, Trix; handsome?" + +"Oh, well enough! Ella thinks him a model, but he is too thin and lanky +for my taste. He is not half good enough for you, Ruth, anyway. You +ought to marry a duke, and retrieve the fortunes of the family!" + +"I'm willing, my dear. Produce him, and I promise you I will not stand +in the way. I could do quite easily with being a duchess. It would be +so soothing to be called `Your Grace,' and a coronet is peculiarly +suited to my style of beauty. I won't have you for a bridesmaid, +though, if you stoop like that. Get your book, Trix, and let us set to +work. Better take advantage of my good mood while it lasts." + +Trix departed obediently, and returned with a pile of books, which she +dropped upon the table with a bang, which made the other occupants of +the room start in their seats, and for the next hour the two girls +wrestled with the difficulties of an advanced Brachet exercise. Truth +to tell, Ruth was not much more expert than Trix herself; but she was +infinitely more exact, and, by dint of hunting up back rules, and making +endless references to the irregular verbs, the result achieved was +fairly correct. + +It was ten o'clock. Betty and the three boys had departed to bed; +Mollie still sat gloating over her novel, with a forefinger thrust into +either ear to shut out the sound of the disturbing discussion on moods +and tenses. Trix collected her books with a sigh, and prepared to go +upstairs in her turn. She looked white and tired, and the freckles on +her nose seemed darker and more conspicuous than ever. + +"Good-night, old Ruth! Thanks, most awfully! I'll do as much for you +some day." + +"Good-night, young Trix! Mind you do. I shall remind you when the time +comes." + +The door opened and closed; Ruth rose wearily, and laid her hand on +Mollie's shoulder. Such a charming face was lifted to meet her glance-- +so fresh, so bright, full of such dazzling youth and vigour! True, +Mollie had been lazing all the evening while the others worked; but as +Ruth stood looking down at her she wondered for the hundredth time how +it was that so little was made of Mollie's beauty in comparison with her +own. + +The golden hair rippled back in a thick, soft wave; the grey eyes were +large, and generously lashed; the laughing lips parted, to show white, +even, little teeth; yet a stranger, looking for the first time at Mollie +Farrell, rarely remarked upon her good looks. + +"What a nice girl! What a dear girl! What a delightful creature!" they +cried, according to their different degrees of enthusiasm. They wanted +to know her, to have her for a friend, and forgot to think of mere +outward appearance. + +"What a noise you have been making, Ruth!" said Mollie lazily. "I can't +think why you can't be quiet when you get a chance! This book is too +exciting for words. I told you how the lovers quarrelled just after +they were married, and he went abroad, thinking, of course, that she +didn't love him any more; while, of course, she simply adored the ground +he trod on, but thought that he had grown tired of her, while he was +more madly in--" + +Ruth gave an exclamation of impatience. + +"Oh, what rubbish! I don't believe such things are possible! If they +really loved each other, do you suppose they could keep on pretending +while they lived together every day, and when it came to saying good-bye +into the bargain? Nonsense! She'd break down and howl, and he would +comfort her, and take off his coat. Look here, Mollie--go to bed! I've +waited all the evening to have a talk with mother, and you are the only +impediment left. Take your book with you if you like,--but go!" + +Mollie rose, unwillingly enough. + +"I know what you want to talk about," she said, looking into Ruth's +face. "I know; and it's not a mite of use. Mother won't let you leave +home; she needs you far too much. I shan't go to sleep, for I shall +want to hear every single word when you come upstairs. I'll snoodle up +to the hot bottle, and read till you come." + +The programme sounded very attractive,--to snoodle up to the hot bottle, +and lie at ease reading an interesting book,--much more attractive than +to linger downstairs by the dying fire, and discuss disagreeable +problems with an anxious mother. But Ruth did not waver in her +decision, and a few moments later Mrs Connor was caught paying a round +of visits to the children's bedrooms--"just in time," as Ruth thought +whimsically, "to waken the poor souls from their first sleep!"--and +escorted back to the chair which Mollie had vacated. + +"Is anything wrong, dear?" she asked nervously. Poor little woman, if a +surprise were in store, it seemed so much more likely that it should be +disagreeable rather than bright! "You don't feel feverish, or ill, +or--" + +"No, no, my dear; I just want to talk to you about my own affairs. I'm +quite well, and so strong and--and grown-up, don't you know, that it is +time I grew independent, and began life on my own account. You have +Mollie at home, and Trix and Betty growing up, and I think, mother dear, +that I ought not to be dependent on the pater any longer. He has been +very good and kind to us all these years; but, still--" + +She hesitated, and Mrs Connor looked at her with anxious tenderness. +She had honestly considered the welfare of her two little girls as much +as her own when she decided to marry a second time, and it had been a +constant joy to feel that her expectations had been fulfilled; yet here +was Ruth, her firstborn darling, her right hand in household affairs, +actually talking of leaving home! + +"Aren't you happy, Ruth? Have you not been happy all these years? I +thought you were quite content and satisfied." + +She sighed; and Ruth gave an echoing sigh, and answered honestly-- + +"Quite happy, darling, as far as you and the pater are concerned. He +could not have been kinder to us if we had been his very own daughters. +But satisfied? Oh no, mother; never satisfied for a long time back! +How could I be? I don't want to seem ungrateful; but I'm only twenty- +one, and it has been all work and no play, and there are so many, many +things that I want to do, and see, and feel. I've never been to a +proper grown-up dance in my life, for if we have been asked we have not +had decent clothes to go in, and we never invite anyone here, so now +people have given over asking us even to quiet evenings. I hardly ever +speak to a soul outside this house, and I get so tired of it all;--and +only fifteen pounds a year for dress and pocket-money! Remember what +your allowance was when you were a girl, and all the jolly times you +had, and the parties, and the visits, and the trips abroad,--and then +think of our lives. It _is_ dull for us, isn't it, dear?" + +Mrs Connor's pale cheeks flushed with a touch of offence. Not having +sufficient insight into girls' natures to understand that there was +nothing either undutiful or unnatural in Ruth's lament, she felt herself +personally injured thereby. + +"Mollie is happy--Mollie is content!" she said briefly. + +And Ruth assented with a brief "Yes," and said no more. + +If the difference between Mollie's nature and her own was not patent to +their own mother, it was useless to enlarge upon it. She waited a +moment or two to regain composure, then continued quietly-- + +"But that was not exactly the point. I did not mean to speak of my own +troubles. What I feel is that when business is so bad, it is not right +for two grown-up girls to stay at home. You could get on without me, +with a little extra help for sewing, and in time I might earn enough, +not only to keep myself but to help the others. Honestly, now, don't +you think I am right? In my place, would you not feel it your duty to +the pater to be independent, and lighten his responsibility, if even by +a little?" + +Mrs Connor sat silent, torn between two thoughts--dread of parting from +Ruth, and a longing to help the overburdened husband, who had come as a +rescuer in her own need. No one but herself guessed how it tore her +heart to present him with fresh bills, or to ask for money for all the +thousand-and-one needs of a growing family. Her very dread and +nervousness made her choose inappropriate moments for her requests, and +Mr Connor's aloofness from the ordinary workaday world made matters +still more difficult. He probably considered fifteen pounds a year a +lordly dress allowance for his two step-daughters; certainly he would +not have noticed if they had worn the same garments every day for years +on end. His own clothes lasted him for an incredible period, and were +always neatly brushed and folded. It did not occur to him that girls +needed more change than himself. + +Mrs Connor sat and pondered. It was terrible to think of parting from +Ruth, but the strain of making both ends meet was becoming so acute that +some method of retrenchment must inevitably be found. It is easy for +rich people to cut down expenses--to give up carriage and horses, +dismiss two or three servants, and indulge in fewer pleasures and +excitements; but it is a very different matter when there are no +superfluities with which to part, but only, as it seems, the barest +necessaries of life. Mrs Connor's eyes filled slowly with tears as she +stretched out her hand and laid it over her daughter's. It was the +signal of capitulation, and Ruth recognised it as such, and felt a +sinking of the heart. + +"You will let me go, mother?" she asked. + +And Mrs Connor answered brokenly-- + +"If I must, I must! You would come home for the holidays: we should not +lose you altogether. But oh, Ruth, not yet! Wait until the beginning +of the term. Years ago, when things were at their very worst with me, +and I did not know where to turn for help, God sent my dear husband to +take care of me and you two babies. Perhaps--perhaps something may +happen again. Perhaps, after all, it may not be necessary!" + +They kissed each other silently, and parted for the night. Half-way +upstairs Ruth remembered that her mother had not once inquired as to the +nature of the work she intended to undertake, and smiled whimsically to +herself. It was so very characteristic of the irresponsible little +mistress of the household! + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +A PROPOSAL AND A REFUSAL. + +It was tacitly understood in the household that after Easter Ruth was +going to do "something" to retrieve the family fortunes, but what that +"something" should be remained vague and undefined. Ruth herself +debated the question morning, noon, and night, and, like many another +poor girl in the same position, bitterly regretted an education which +had given her no one marketable qualification. She could play a little, +draw a little, speak French a little, speak German a little less, make +her own clothes in amateur fashion, and--what else? Nothing at all that +any able-bodied woman could not accomplish equally well. If she had +concentrated her energies on one definite thing, and learnt to do it, +not pretty well, nor very well, but just as well as it could possibly be +done, what a different prospect would have stretched before her now! + +If she decided to teach, she must be content to accept juvenile pupils +and a poor salary; if she became a companion, she must sacrifice all +spirit of independence, and become a dutiful drudge, while she knew in +her inmost heart that it would be wrong to take up nursing, since she +felt no real vocation for the task. + +It was useless to ask advice of anyone at home, so, one afternoon, Ruth +betook herself to almost the only intimate friend she possessed,--a +middle-aged spinster who kept house for an adored doctor brother. The +brother was a friend into the bargain--a tall, thin, clever--looking man +of thirty-eight, engrossed in his practice, which was one of the most +prosperous in the neighbourhood. Brother and sister were seated at tea +together when Ruth was announced, and she looked round the pretty room +with admiring eyes. Pink silk lamp-shades, luxurious cushions, bowls of +spring flowers, a tea equipage, bright and dainty and complete,--oh, how +delightful it all looked after the bare shabbiness of the room at home; +and what fascinating clothes Eleanor was wearing! + +Despite her affection, one-and-twenty was inclined to think pretty +things thrown away upon an antediluvian creature of forty, but if Ruth +could have had a glimpse of herself as "others saw her" at that moment, +she might have been more content. The subdued lamp-light dealt kindly +with the old blue serge coat and skirt, the pink scarf at her neck +matched the colour on her cheeks, and the eyes underneath the black +brows were unusually bright and animated. She was always a welcome +guest at this hospitable house, and it was a pleasant variety to be +petted and fussed over, provided with cushions and footstools, and +tempted to eat by a fresh supply of hot buttered scones and a delectable +chocolate cake studded over with walnuts. Ruth laughed, and dimpled +into ever brighter beauty. + +"It makes me feel so nice and young," she cried, "as if I were a spoilt +only child, instead of the staid eldest daughter of a family! But I +ought to be staid; I can't afford to frivol any longer, for I am going +to take a most important step, and start life on my own account." + +Brother and sister alike looked up with sharp inquiry, and Ruth, +understanding, broke into a merry laugh. + +"Oh, not that! Nothing half so interesting! Merely going to earn my +living, and I came to ask your advice as to how I had best set about it. +Nothing is decided so far, except that I am to earn enough money to +keep myself, and contribute largely to home expenses. That's the end, +but the puzzle is to find out the means." + +"Poor lassie!" said Miss Maclure gently. She had a soft, Scotch burr in +her voice, and her plain face was full of an almost motherly kindness as +she looked at the pretty girl across the hearth. She had private means +of her own, and her brother was a prosperous man; but she knew enough of +the world to understand the nature of the struggle of which Ruth spoke +so lightly. + +"It's easier saying than doing, I'm afraid, dearie. There are so many +women searching for work nowadays, and for many positions it is +necessary to prepare by long and expensive training. We wanted a lady +secretary for one of the societies in which I am interested, and we had +hundreds of applicants who were expert typists and stenographers, and +had all sorts of diplomas to show, but you have nothing of the kind." + +"No, nor a penny to spend on training. I must be taken as I am, or not +at all. Don't discourage me, Eleanor, please. Mollie runs the cold tap +persistently at home, and I really need appreciation. There must be +_something_ that I can do, if I set my wits to work. I am not going to +be a nurse, Dr Maclure, so don't think that I am leading up to a +request that you should get me into a hospital. I don't like sick +people unless they are my very own, and it would be almost as dull to be +shut up in a hospital as to remain at home." + +Miss Maclure looked a trifle shocked at this candid confession, but her +brother laughed, and said approvingly-- + +"That's right! I admire your honesty. We have far too many nurses who +take up the work without any real fitness, and I should be sorry to see +you added to the number. Well, let me see! ... After hospital nursing, +the next most popular resort is to turn author and write a novel. Have +you any leaning in that direction?" + +He looked across at Ruth with a humorous twitching of his clean-shaven +lips. Once again she felt conscious that the Maclures looked upon her +as a pretty child, to be petted and humoured rather than a serious woman +of the world, and once again the knowledge brought with it a feeling of +rest and comfort. + +She crinkled her brows and smiled back at the doctor, answering +frankly-- + +"Oh yes, plenty of leanings! I should love to write, and Mollie and I +are always `imagining' to make life more lively and exciting; but, when +it comes to sitting down with a pen in my hand, my thoughts seem to take +wing and fly away, and the words won't come. They are all stiff and +formal, and won't express what I want. Mollie gets on better, for she +writes as she talks, so it's natural at least. She wrote quite a long +story once, and read it aloud to me as she went on, but it was never +finished, and I don't think for a moment that any paper would have +looked at it. The people were all lords and dukes and millionaires, and +we don't know even a knight. I expect it was full of mistakes." + +Dr Maclure smiled and rose from his seat. + +"Well, I have some letters to write, so I will leave you to have your +talk with Eleanor; but I am starting off again on my rounds in half an +hour, and shall be driving past your house. It is a disagreeable +evening. Will you let me give you a lift?" + +Ruth consented eagerly. The blue serge coat felt none too warm in the +bleak east wind, and it would be a relief to be spared the chilly walk, +and be bowled along instead in the doctor's luxurious brougham. She +drew her chair nearer to the fire, and proceeded to confide various whys +and wherefores to the sympathetic Eleanor--sympathetic, but hardly +responsive this afternoon for some mysterious reason. The while Ruth +set forward one idea after another, Miss Maclure sat gazing at her with +an intent, questioning gaze, as though too much occupied with her own +thoughts to grasp the meaning of the conversation. Ruth felt chilled +and disappointed, for during the last few days the constant thought in +the background of her mind had been, "Eleanor will advise me! Eleanor +will know what to do!" + +Miss Maclure was a busy woman, whose name figured in a dozen committees. +She knew everyone, went everywhere, and her word had weight in guilds, +societies, and associations. What could be more easy than for her to +find a pleasant and lucrative berth for a pet girl friend, and settle +her in it without delay? Ruth had already imagined a touching scene +wherein she had been introduced to her future sphere of work, while +those in authority overpowered Miss Maclure with thanks for helping them +to find the ideal person to fill the vacant post. But Eleanor said +nothing, suggested nothing, only sat staring with those grave, +questioning eyes! + +It was almost a relief when the half-hour was over, and the doctor gave +the summons for departure. Then Eleanor came back to the present once +more, and was all that was kind and loving. + +"Have you no wraps with you, dear? Is that all you have on?" she asked, +as the girl buttoned her thin coat and pulled the scarf higher round her +throat; and Ruth answered "Yes," in an irresponsive tone, which +effectually put a stop to further remarks. She might speak of her own +poverty, but not even Eleanor Maclure herself could be allowed to pity, +or offer to supply a want. That was Miss Ruth's idea of proper pride, +and she straightened her back, and held her head higher than ever as she +crossed the hall and took her seat in the carriage. + +Such a luxurious brougham it was, with its well-cushioned seats, its +electric reading-lamp attached to the wall, its rack for books and +papers, and cosy fur rug! Ruth tucked the rug securely in position, +and, looking up, caught the reflection of her face in the strip of +mirror opposite. The blue serge toque sat so jauntily on her head that +it looked quite smart; the pink tie was undoubtedly becoming. Well, it +was a comfort to be pretty, at least! To have been poor and plain would +have been quite too depressing. She smiled back in approving fashion, +to feel somewhat disconcerted a moment later as the mirror reflected +Donald Maclure's face beside her own. He was staring at her with the +same intent questioning which she had noticed in Eleanor's eyes, and +surely he looked paler, older, more haggard than usual! She turned +towards him, warmed into increased friendship by the presentiment that +he was in trouble like herself. + +"It's so good of you to take me home, Dr Maclure! It may seem curious +to you, but it's quite a treat to me to drive about in this comfy +carriage. I so seldom travel in anything but shaky omnibuses. I should +not object to being a lady doctor, if I could have a brougham like this +of my very own. There! We never thought of that when we were +discussing my possible fields of labour!" + +Dr Maclure bent forward, and glanced out of the window. His horse was +travelling quickly to-night; in another ten minutes Mr Connor's house +would be reached, and his opportunity over. He turned to face his +companion, and said quietly-- + +"There is another possibility open to you, Ruth, which you have perhaps +not considered. Have you ever thought of it, I wonder? Can you guess +what I mean?" + +The grey eyes stared into his in frankest bewilderment. + +"No," cried Ruth--"no! What is it? Something nice? Tell me what it +is." + +"You have never guessed that I love you; that I have loved you for +years, since you were a girl at school? You have never once guessed it +all this time?" + +He read his answer in the blank face and startled eyes, for Ruth was too +utterly taken aback to feel the usual embarrassment. She sat perfectly +still, gazing not at him but at the reflection of his face in the mirror +opposite. Dr Maclure! Was she dreaming, or was it really his voice +which she heard uttering these extraordinary words? Dr Maclure loved +her--had loved her for years! It was too inconceivable to be grasped! +He asked if she had not guessed his secret, but Ruth had not thought of +him at all; he had not entered into her calculations except as +"Eleanor's brother"--a nonentity who might be agreeable or the reverse, +according as he drove her home on wet evenings, or interrupted a cosy +_tete-a-tete_. + +She did not reply to the question in words; but he was answered all the +same, for she heard him sigh, and saw a quiver pass across the thin +face. + +"I am too old, Ruth--is that it? You never thought of me as a possible +lover?" + +"Oh no, never once! You always seemed so busy and occupied, and you +have Eleanor to look after you. You have always been very kind to me, +but you were kind to Mollie and Trix and Betty as well. I did not feel +that you treated me differently from them. You are so clever; and you +saw yourself, when we talked this afternoon, I can do nothing.--I don't +see how you can possibly like me." + +"Don't you?" he asked quietly. "But I do, Ruth; I care more than I can +express. I have not spoken before, for you seemed too young. I should +not have spoken to-day if you had not told us of this new move. You +don't know how hard it is for a girl to go out into the world and earn +her living; but I do, and I should like to save you from it, if it can +be done. I could give you a comfortable home, and enough money to make +life easy and pleasant. It would be my best happiness to see you happy. +We could travel; you would be able to help Mollie and the rest. If you +married me, your people would be my people, and I should be as anxious +as yourself to let them share our good fortune; and I would love you +very dearly, Ruth! I seem old to you, perhaps, but my love would be +more proved and certain than if I were a boy of your own age. I am a +prosperous man, but I want something more from life than I have had so +far--something that you alone can give roe. You hold my key to +happiness, Ruth!" + +Ruth drew back into the corner of the carriage and turned her face into +the shadow. She wanted to think. What an extraordinary change in the +outlook at life to have happened in a few brief moments! Dr Maclure's +wife! Here was an answer indeed to the question which had been +occupying her thoughts for the last few weeks! + +Suppose--suppose, just for one moment, that she said yes? Suppose that +on getting home she walked into the dining-room and announced her +engagement to a prosperous and charming man, who was already a family +friend and favourite? What fun! What excitement! What pride on the +part of the little mother; what transparent relief to the overtaxed +pater! Mollie and Trix would begin at once to discuss bridesmaids' +dresses, and there would be a trousseau to buy, and all the bustle and +excitement of a first marriage in a family. And afterwards? A big, +handsomely appointed house, pretty clothes, lots of money, the power to +help those whom she loved... + +It sounded good--very good indeed! Much more attractive than those +nursery governess and companion schemes which she dreaded, despite all +her resolutions. It would be delightful to be her own mistress, and do +just as she liked... + +And then a thought occurred. What of Eleanor? Ruth recalled the intent +gaze which had mystified her so much during the afternoon, and felt +convinced that Miss Maclure had guessed her brother's secret. What was +her feeling in the matter? Was she jealous of a rival in her brother's +affections, or loyally anxious for his happiness, regardless of how her +own future might be affected? A spasm of curiosity found voice in a +sudden question-- + +"But there is Eleanor. If you married, what would become of her?" + +"There would be no difficulty about that. When we took up house +together we made a solemn agreement that if either wished to marry in +the future the other should not hinder in any possible way. Eleanor has +her own income, and many interests in life to keep her happy and +occupied. She would live near us, I hope, but you should be entire +mistress of your home, Ruth." + +He evidently thought she had looked upon his sister's presence in the +house as a hindrance to her happiness, but, in truth, Ruth felt a chilly +sinking of heart at his reply. The thought of the big house was not +half so attractive, shorn of the figure of the sympathetic friend. The +library with no Eleanor sitting writing at her desk; the drawing-room +with no Eleanor in the deep-cushioned chair; the dining-room with no +Eleanor at the head of the table--how blank it all seemed! How +dreadfully dull to be alone all day, with only the doctor to break the +monotony! Only the doctor! The blood rushed in a flood to Ruth's +cheeks as she realised the significance of that one word. She turned +impetuously towards her companion, and gripped his arm with nervous +pressure. + +"Don't tempt me!" she cried earnestly--"don't tempt me! There are so +many things that I should like, and I keep thinking of them, when I +should think only of you.--I'd love to be rich, and have a nice house, +and play Lady Bountiful at home! I'd love to travel about and see the +world, instead of jogging along in one little rut; and, really and +truly, I dread turning out to work, and am a coward at heart--but,-- +that's all! I have always liked you very much as a friend, but I can't +imagine ever feeling any different. When I was thinking over things +just now, I--don't be angry! I don't want to hurt you, only to be +quite, quite honest--I thought more of Eleanor than of you! I hardly +thought of you at all." + +The doctor's thin face looked very drawn and pained, but he smiled in +response to her pleading glance. + +"I'm not angry, dear. Why should I be? It is not your fault that you +do not care, and it is best for us both to know the truth. I feared it +might be so. I am too old and staid to attract a bright young girl, but +I even now cannot bring myself to regret my love. It has given me the +happiest hours of my life, and I hope you will always let me help you in +any way that is possible. I think you owe me that privilege, don't you, +Ruth?" + +"Oh, I do--I do! If it is any pleasure to you, I promise faithfully to +come to you whenever I need a friend, and I should like you to help me. +That means a great deal, for I am horribly proud. There are very few +people from whom I can accept a favour." + +He smiled again, but with an evident effort, and Ruth, peeping at his +averted profile, felt a pang of real personal suffering at the sight of +his pain. It seemed dreadful that she should have such power to affect +this strong man; to take the light out of his face and make it old and +worn and grey! + +The carriage was nearing home; in a few minutes' time the drive would be +over, and she would have no chance of continuing the conversation. With +a sudden swelling of the heart she realised that she could not part +without another expression of regret. + +"I am so sorry, so dreadfully sorry to have grieved you! But you would +not like me to marry you just for what you could give me; you would not +have been satisfied with that, would you, Dr Maclure?" + +His eyes met hers with a flash of determination. + +"No," he cried--unhesitatingly--"never! I want a wife who loves me, or +no wife at all! One never knows what lies ahead in this world, and if +dark days come I should like to feel that she cared for me more, rather +than less. It would be hard for us both if she valued only my +possessions, and they took to themselves wings and fled. And there is +your own future to consider. Love will come to you some day, and you +must be free to welcome him. Don't distress yourself about me, Ruth; I +have my work for consolation. Before I get home to-night I shall have +seen so much suffering that I shall be ashamed to nurse my own trouble." + +"Yes," said Ruth faintly. + +His words seemed to place her at an immense distance, as if already he +had accepted his burden and put it resolutely out of sight. She felt +chilled and humiliated, for in the depths of her heart she knew that if +Dr Maclure had been persistent in his request, and had condescended to +"tempt" her, to use her own expressive phrase, she would very probably +have succumbed to the temptation, however much she might have regretted +her decision later on. But Donald would have none of her; he wanted a +wife who cared for himself, and not for his possessions. Ruth felt +almost as if it were she herself who had been refused. It was not an +agreeable sensation to experience after a first proposal. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +A MEETING. + +One bright spring afternoon about a week after Ruth's visit to Miss +Maclure, Mollie went out to execute some shopping commissions, and on +her way home took a short cut through the park, which was the great +summer resort of the northern town in which her lot was cast. + +She was an ardent lover of Nature, and it was a joy to see the tiny +green buds bursting into life on trees and hedges, and to realise that +the long winter was at an end. + +"Nasty, shivery, chilblainey thing,--I hate it!" said Mollie to herself, +with a shiver of disgust. "It might be very nice if one had lots of +furs, and skating, and parties, and fires in one's bedroom. People who +can enjoy themselves like that may talk of the `joys of winter,' but, +from my point of view, they don't exist. Give me summer, and flowers at +a penny a bunch! This dear old park and I have had many good times +together. I think I have sampled most of the seats in my time!" + +It was, indeed, a favourite summer custom of the Farrell girls to repair +to a shady bench under a tree with such portable sewing as happened to +be on hand, for when the sun shone in its strength the temperature of +Attica was more like that of an oven than a room. The winding paths +were, therefore, familiar to Mollie; but they were apt to be puzzling to +strangers who, like herself, wished to take a short cut from one side of +the park to another. + +To-day as she approached the junction of four cross-ways, she saw before +her the figure of an old man, glancing irresolutely from side to side, +then turning round, as though in search of someone whom he could consult +in his perplexity. Besides Mollie herself, there was no one in sight, +so she quickened her pace and approached the stranger with the bright, +frank smile which came so readily to her lips. Mollie was nothing if +not sociable; she never lost a chance of talking if it came in her way; +even to direct wandering old gentlemen was more amusing than nothing, +and this one had such a curious old-world appearance! + +"Can I help you?" she asked brightly; and the old man planted his stick +more firmly on the ground, and stared at her with grim disfavour. + +"In what way, may I ask, do I appear to be in need of help?" + +It was decidedly a snub, but some people are not easily quelled, and +Mollie Farrell was one of the number. Instead of being annoyed, she was +simply amused, and her grey eyes twinkled with mischief. He was a cross +old dear, and proud too! quite amazed that anyone should suppose it +possible that he should need assistance of any kind. + +"I'm sorry," she replied; "I thought you had lost your way, and that I +might be able to direct you. Please forgive me for seeming to +interfere." + +She took a step forward, but the old man's eyes seemed to hold her back. +He was looking at her fixedly beneath his heavy brows; such bushy, +black eyebrows they were, and she fancied that the grim expression +softened for a moment as he replied-- + +"You are right. I _have_ lost my way! My cabman brought me to the park +gates, and as he said there was a direct path across, I thought I should +like the walk. As a result, I find myself completely out of my +reckoning. It is a stretch of imagination to call this a direct path." + +"Oh, it's direct enough when you know it," said Mollie easily, "ever so +much nicer than going round by the streets. It is a beautiful park, and +we are very proud of it. When the trees are in blossom, it is like +fairyland--you can't imagine how beautiful it is." + +"Possibly not," returned the stranger curtly. "In the meantime, +however, there is nothing particularly alluring in the scene, and you +will excuse my reminding you that we are standing in a direct draught. +I should be obliged if you could direct me to Langton Terrace without +further delay." + +Mollie laughed merrily. + +"That is just what I have been waiting to do, but you would not tell me +where you were bound. I am walking in that direction myself, and if you +will allow me I will show you the shortest cut. I know the park so well +that I can dodge about from one path to another, and cut off some of the +corners. It is cold just here, but the cross-roads are sheltered even +now." + +The stranger shrugged his shoulders, and said "Humph" in an incredulous +manner, and that was his sole reply in words. He turned, however, and +walked by Mollie's side, leaning heavily on his stick, and taking such +short, laboured steps, that it was evident that the exercise was almost +too much for his strength. Mollie longed to offer him the support of +her strong arm, but even her audacity failed at the sight of the grim +face. She looked inquiringly at his feet, for the symptoms of temper +all hinted to the explanation of gout. But no! there were no cloth +shoes to be seen, only the trimmest of well-polished boots. + +"Perhaps he is just recovering from an attack, or sickening for +another," said Mollie to herself. "Anyway, he is ill, poor old fellow, +for his face looks quite grey, just like that poor Mr Burgess before he +died. I expect he can't help being cross. I should be horrid myself if +I were always in pain. I remember that day I had on those new boots +that hurt my feet, I quarrelled with Ruth all the way home... The +question is, shall I talk, or let him alone? If it were me, I'd like to +be amused, to make the time pass. I'll try anyway, and see how he +responds." + +They had entered one of the smaller paths by this time, and to the right +lay the wide, grey surface of a lake dotted over by little islands, the +largest of which was connected with the shore by an ornamental bridge. +Mollie felt a kind of possessive pride in the scene, and pointed out the +beauties thereof as eagerly as though she were the owner of all she +surveyed. + +"It's the largest lake in any of the parks in the north; some people say +it is nearly as big as the Serpentine. I don't know, for I have never +been in London. In summer-time hundreds of men come and sail boats-- +quite great big boats--from side to side. It looks so pretty to see all +the white sails floating about in the sunshine." + +"Indeed!" + +("Doesn't care for boats. I'll try something else.") "Do you see that +big island, the biggest of all?" pursued the indefatigable Mollie aloud. +"It is full of peacocks. There are dozens and dozens of peacocks! You +can see them sometimes strutting about with their tails spread out, and +roosting right up in the trees. People say that peacocks are the +laziest birds in existence. They go to rest earlier, and get up later +than anything else." + +"Indeed!" + +Still grimmer silence; still slower and more halting footsteps. +Presently the stranger stopped short and asked abruptly-- + +"How far are we still from Langton Terrace? Five minutes' walk--ten +minutes? We are more than half-way, I suppose?" + +"Not quite, I am afraid. If you are tired, would you not rest on this +seat for a few minutes? It is really quite sheltered behind the trees. +If you can tell me which end of the terrace you want to reach, it will +make a little difference in the way we ought to take. There are three +blocks of houses, which are all known by the same name. You wanted to +go to--" + +"Number 7," said the stranger; and sat down heavily upon the seat. He +leant both hands on his stick and rested his chin upon them, as though +thankful for the support; and Mollie stood before him staring fixedly at +his face. + +Aquiline features, sharpened by suffering into yet finer lines, closely- +set lips drooping out into lines of fretful impatience, sunken eyes +beneath overhanging brows. She studied them one by one, until, struck +by her silence, the old man looked up in surprise. + +"Number 7, I said. If you live in the neighbourhood, you may know the +house, and possibly its inmates?" + +"Yes, I know them all; they are nice people and very kind to me. I've +known them quite a number of years." + +"Mr and Mrs Connor have a large family, I believe--a number of young +children." + +"Oh, dozens!" replied Mollie easily. She was enjoying herself +intensely, but trying to preserve an appearance of innocent calm. "What +an adventure," she was saying to herself--"oh, what an adventure. What +fun to tell it all to Ruth and the girls! I must remember every word, +so as to repeat it in style!" Aloud, she added carelessly, "There are +two girls, and lots of little boys. It seems as if there were boys, +boys everywhere, wherever you turn all over the house; but they are +ubiquitous creatures, so perhaps there are not quite so many as it +seems. They are handsome little fellows, and I believe clever too. +Mrs Connor is a very pretty woman, and always kind and gentle. +Everybody likes her. Mr Connor is nice too. I don't think he is at +all strong, and he has to work very hard for that big family." + +"Indeed!" The strange old man did not display the slightest sign of +sympathy for Mr Connor's anxieties. He relaxed his hold of the stick, +and sank wearily against the back of the seat. "There are two step- +daughters, I believe--the two Miss Farrells?" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Mollie deeply. It was quite a tragic note, as who +should say, "Now we are beginning to talk! Now, at last, we reach the +real point of the discussion! Just that deep `Ah,' and no more, until +perforce another question must be asked. + +"You know the Miss Farrells also?" + +"I do!" + +"And find them as attractive as the rest of the family?" + +"Oh, more--much more! They are darlings!" cried Mollie, with unction, +"especially the younger. Her name is Mary, but they call her Mollie, +because it suits her better. Don't you always imagine a Mollie very +sweet, and charming, and attractive?" + +"I can't say that I have devoted any attention to the subject. So Mary +is the younger of the two, is she? And the elder?" + +"Ruth! she's pretty and serious, and very, very nice; but Mollie is +nicer, all the same. When you get to know them, you must promise to +like Mollie best, for my sake! I'm so fond of her, that I want +everybody to be the same. I like her better than anyone I ever knew!" + +The old man smiled grimly. + +"You appear to be of an enthusiastic temperament; I fancy I shall prefer +to judge for myself when I make the young lady's acquaintance. We had +better be getting on now. I am sorry to hinder your progress, but it is +not possible for me to move more quickly at present. I should not have +attempted the walk if I had known that it was so long; but the cab +jolted insufferably, and the sunshine was tempting. Well,--there is +nothing for it but to make another effort!" + +He pressed his hands on the seat to lighten the effort of rising, but +before he had got any further, Mollie stepped forward eagerly, and laid +a hand on his shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed with colour, her eyes +a-sparkle with excitement. + +"Unless you will let me help you! ... I'm very strong; I could support +you easily, if you would take my arm and lean on me. I'd love to do it. +Do let me? Won't you,--_Uncle Bernard_?" + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +AN INVITATION. + +The old man fell backward on the seat with an exclamation of keenest +surprise. His sunken eyes stared into Mollie's face as she bent over +him; at the golden hair curling beneath the dark toque, the grey eyes, +the curving lips. Each feature in turn was scrutinised as if he were +searching for something familiar which had so far escaped notice. +Apparently it was not discovered, for the expression of amazement +deepened upon his face, and he asked sharply-- + +"What did you say? _What_ did you call me? I don't understand what you +can mean!" + +Mollie sat down on the bench, and smiled brightly into his face. + +"Uncle Bernard! You are Uncle Bernard Farrell! I knew you the moment +you said that you were going to Number 7, and asked if I knew the +Connors. Of course I know them, because I am--" She hesitated, and Mr +Farrell finished the sentence for her. + +"You are one of Mr Connor's daughters. The eldest, I presume. I have +not the pleasure of knowing your name." + +"No-o! I am not Trix. She is a child, only fifteen. I was nineteen on +my last birthday. I am,"--for once in her life Mollie had the grace to +blush, and looked a trifle discomposed--"I'm Mollie Farrell." + +The glance which the old man cast upon her was the reverse of +flattering. + +"You are Mollie Farrell, are you?" he repeated coldly. "Evidently +modesty is not one of your failings, young lady. It might have been +wiser if you had allowed me to discover your attractions for myself. Do +you consider it quite honest--we will not discuss the question of good +taste--to play a double part, and criticise your relations to any +stranger whom you may meet in your walks?" + +"You asked me; you began it! I should not have mentioned them if you +had not asked that question. Then I recognised you, and thought it +would be fun. You were not a stranger, you see; you were Uncle +Bernard." + +"That may be my name, but as I have never seen you before, I can hardly +rank as a friend. May I ask how you came to recognise me at all?" + +"Oh yes! We have your portraits at home, and mother often talks of you, +and the happy times she had when she used to visit you with father when +they were engaged. When we were children it was a favourite game for +one of us to be Uncle Bernard, and the other guests staying at the +Court, and we used to go through all the adventures which father had as +a boy,--fall into the mill-stream and be rescued by the dog, and be +chased by the bull in the long meadow, and ride on the top of the +waggons at the harvest home. We know all about the house, and the +tapestry in the hall, and the funny wooden pictures of the Dutch +ancestors, and the long gallery where you used to dance at night. +Mother loves talking about it. She has not much fun in her life now, +poor dear, and that makes her think all the more of her youth. We envy +her, Ruth and Trix and I, because we have a very quiet time at home. We +are poor, you see. You can't have much fun if you are poor." + +"You think that riches are the one thing needful; that if you had enough +money your happiness would be assured?" + +"Ah!" sighed Mollie rapturously. "_How_ happy I should be! I've never +had enough money for my wants in all my life, so I can't even imagine +the bliss of it. I should not know how to be happy enough." + +The old man looked at her silently. She saw that he was about to speak, +but the words were long in coming. A cloud had drifted across the sun, +and the stretch of park looked suddenly grey and bare. Mollie drew her +shoulders together with an involuntary shiver. Something had suddenly +damped her ardour of enthusiasm; but it was not so much the bleak wind +as the sight of the face gazing into her own, with its set lips, and +bleached, joyless expression. For years to come Mollie could recall +that moment, and feel again the chill in her veins with which she +listened to his reply. + +"All my life long," said Bernard Farrell slowly, "all my life everything +that I have touched has turned to gold, and everyone I have loved,"--he +paused, lingering on the word, and again Mollie shivered in sympathetic +understanding--"everyone whom I have loved has _died_!" The wind seemed +to take up the word, and repeat it in melancholy echo. "Died! died! +died!" wailed the trees, tossing drearily to and fro. "Died!" shivered +the ripple over the cold grey lake. The clouds gathered in a pall +overhead. + +"I'm sorry!" gasped Mollie faintly--"I'm so sorry!" But Mr Farrell +stopped her with a hasty gesture. + +"Please spare me protestations of sympathy. They were the last thing I +wished to evoke. I merely wished to impress upon you that I am in a +unique position for judging the worth of riches.--Is it your pleasure +that we continue our journey? The afternoon is growing chill." + +Mollie rose in confusion, but she did not reply, nor make any further +offer of support. There was something in the old man's voice which +forbade familiarities. He was no longer merely cross and unamiable; she +had caught a glimpse into the secret of a desolate heart, and the sight +sobered her youthful spirits. + +"First his wife," she said to herself, as she led the way +onward--"pretty Aunt Edna, whom mother loved so much. He adored her, +and they were never parted for a day till she took typhoid, and died. +The little girl died the year after, and he had no one left but Ned. +Mother says he was the handsomest boy she ever met, and the cleverest, +and the best. Even now, after all these years, she can't speak of the +day he was drowned without crying... I always hated to hear that story! + +"She says the real Uncle Bernard died with Ned. He seemed to disappear +from that day, and an entirely different person appeared in his place. +He had been kind and hospitable, fond of having people around him and +making them happy; but after that he shut himself up and became a +regular hermit. Then he went abroad, and since he came back four years +ago and reopened the Court, he has written to nobody, and nobody has +seen him. But he has come to see us to-day of his own free will. I +wonder why? Something has happened to make him break the silence. What +can it have been?" + +She dared not ask the question; but, as the feeble steps endeavoured to +keep pace with her own, a possible explanation darted into Mollie's +mind. The poor old man was ill, very ill; there was an expression on +the grey, sunken face which was eloquent even to her inexperience. +Death was coming forward to meet him, coming very near; standing upon +the very threshold! Strong, happy nineteen shuddered at the thought, +and felt an overpowering pity for the waning life. + +Mollie longed to comfort the old man with the assurance that there were +many still left who could help and minister to his declining days; but +her previous overtures had met with so little success that she was +afraid of meeting yet another rebuff, and, with unusual prudence, +decided to await a better opportunity. + +Langton Terrace was reached at last, and Mollie produced a key and +opened the door of Number 7. In a household where there are so many +children and so few servants, the latchkey was in constant use, and thus +it happened that she could bring her guest unnoticed into the house and +escort him to her stepfather's sanctum, which was sure to be unoccupied +at this hour of the afternoon. She drew forward an armchair, poked the +fire into a blaze, and laid Mr Farrell's hat and stick on the table, +while he lay wearily against the cushions. He looked woefully +exhausted, and Mollie's kind heart had a happy inspiration. + +"I shan't tell anyone that you are here until you have had a rest," she +said assuringly. "This is the pater's den, and his private property +after four o'clock, so you will be quite undisturbed. Just tell me what +will refresh you most--tea, coffee, wine? I can bring what you like +quite quietly." + +"Tea, please--tea, and ten minutes' rest. I shall be better then," Mr +Farrell said wearily. + +Mollie left the room to prepare a dainty little tray in the pantry, and +beg a private pot of tea from the kitchen. The idea of waiting in +secret upon Uncle Bernard was delightfully exciting; it was almost as +good as running the blockade, to creep past the dining-room door where +her mother and sisters were assembled, and listen to the murmur of +voices from within. + +If they knew--oh, if they knew! She had prepared some crisp slices of +toast, skimmed the cream off the milk in defiance of cook's protests, +and made sure that the water in the little covered jug was boiling, and +not only moderately warm, as the custom was. It was the simplest of +meals, but at least everything was as tempting as hands could make it, +and Mollie had the satisfaction of pouring out two cups of tea, and +seeing the last slice of toast disappear from the rack. She took +nothing herself, and preserved a discreet silence until Mr Farrell +replaced cup and plate on the table, and condescended to smile approval. + +"Thank you, Miss Mollie; I am obliged to you for securing me this rest. +Judging from my first impressions of your character, I should not have +expected so much common-sense. I feel quite refreshed, and ready to see +your mother when it is convenient." + +Mollie lifted the tray, and stood for a moment looking down with an air +of triumph. + +"I'm so glad! I talk a lot of nonsense, but I can be quite sensible if +I like, and I _did_ want to help you, Uncle Bernard; I'll send mother in +here, where you can have your talk in peace. It's the only chance of +being uninterrupted." + +Mr Farrell made no reply, and Mollie made haste to deposit the tray in +the pantry, and rush for the dining-room door. The secret had been kept +so long that she felt sore--absolutely sore with the strain. It seemed +incredible that her mother and sisters should be sitting munching bread- +and-butter as calmly as if it were an ordinary day, when nothing +extraordinary had happened to break the monotonous routine. She leant +against the lintel of the door and called her mother by name--"Muv! you +are wanted at once in the Den. Somebody wants to speak to you!" + +Mrs Connor's brow furrowed into the usual anxious lines as she prepared +to hear a story of fresh disaster from her husband's lips; but at the +doorway two magic words were whispered into her ear which brought the +blood into the white cheeks, and sent her trotting down the hall on +eager feet. Then came the delicious moment to which Mollie had looked +forward ever since the meeting at the cross-roads. She walked back into +the room, while Ruth looked up with weary curiosity, and Trix with +unconcealed wrath. + +"You might have let mother finish her tea in peace! She has been +slaving all day, and was just enjoying a rest!" + +"What is it, Mollie? Why did the pater come home so early? Is he ill?" + +"It isn't pater, my dear. Guess again! A friend of mine, whom I met in +the park and brought home to tea. He was rather tired, so I, gave him a +private little feed in the study, instead of bringing him straight in +here. Considerate of me, wasn't it? He was quite touched." + +"He?" repeated Ruth breathlessly. "Mollie, what are you talking about? +Don't make a mystery out of nothing! Why can't you say at once who it +is?" + +"I'm afraid of your nerves, dear. I want to break it to you by degrees. +Sudden shocks are dangerous for the young. My own heart is quite +palpitating with all I have undergone to-day. I was walking along,--all +innocent and unsuspicious,--gazing upon the fair spring scene, when +suddenly, glancing ahead, I beheld a figure standing at the junction of +the cross-roads. 'Tis ever thus, my love! Fate stands waiting for us +where the paths diverge, to point out the way in which we should go. +End of volume one ... Do you feel excited?" + +Trix grinned broadly, Ruth looked tired and impatient. + +"Oh, thrilled, of course! So many interesting people come to see us +that it's difficult to choose between them. The piano-tuner, perhaps; +or the gasman, to look at the meter." + +"I should have walked home with them, shouldn't I, and given them tea in +the study? A little higher in the social scale, please!" + +"The curate calling for a subscription?" + +"Cold; quite cold! Try again! Someone you have often wished to see, +but who has never displayed any great anxiety to make your acquaintance +in return." + +"Uncle Bernard, I presume?" said Ruth sarcastically, not for one moment +believing the truth of her words, though her mind instantly reverted to +the personage of that mythical uncle who had played so large a part in +her mental life. She did not even trouble to look at Mollie as she +spoke; but Trix did, and bounded to her feet in excitement. + +"Is it--is it? Oh, Mollie, not really! He hasn't really and truly +appeared after all these years? You don't seriously mean it? Look at +her, Ruth! I believe it _is_ true!" + +Ruth looked, and flushed the loveliest of pinks. It seemed almost +incredible that Trix was right, yet something very much out of the usual +course of events must have happened to excite Mollie so keenly. Her +cheeks were burning as though with a fever, the hand resting on the +table was actually trembling. "Tell me, Mollie!" she pleaded; and +Mollie nodded her head in triumph. + +"Uncle Bernard himself! The real, genuine article sitting in solid +flesh and blood in our very own study, and I'm the one who brought him +here. What do you think of _that_ for an adventure? I saw an aged, +aged man a-leaning on a stick, as the poem says, and I went up and asked +him if I could help him in any way. I once read about an old man whose +nose suddenly began to bleed in an omnibus. He searched for a pocket- +handkerchief, but had evidently forgotten to bring one, and the other +passengers began to smile and titter, all except one girl, who opened +her bag and presented him with a nice clean one of her own. The old man +died soon afterwards, and left her a million pounds as a token of +gratitude. I think it's just as kind to escort a stranger through a +lonely park when he has lost his way! If Uncle Bernard adopts me and +gives me a million, I'll treat you both to a nice new hat.--I asked +where he was going, and he said to Number 7 Langton Terrace, and I +looked at him. And, Ruth, do you know what I thought of? I thought of +_you_! He had black eyebrows like yours, and he scowls, as you do (only +when you are cross, dear, not when you're in a good temper), and his +lips droop like yours, too. I thought, `I have seen that face before!' +and then I remembered the photographs, and it burst upon me all in a +moment. Then he asked me if I knew the Connors, and I said I'd known +them for years, and the step-daughters, too, and that they were a +charming family, but Mollie was the nicest of all." + +"Mollie, you didn't!" + +"I did! Why not? It's true, isn't it? When I revealed myself to him, +however, he seemed to think that I was rather vain. I must leave it to +time to prove the truth of my assertion." + +"You are in earnest? You really mean it? Mollie, what has he come for? +What has made him remember us after all these years? Has something +happened that we know nothing about?" + +"I can't tell you. There's only one thing certain,--he is very old and +ill, and if he wants to see us at all there isn't much time to spare. +He is not at all like the Uncle Bernard mother remembers, but very cross +and irritable, and his poor old face looks so miserable that it goes to +your heart to see him. I wanted to put my arms round his neck and kiss +him, but I would as soon have attempted to embrace a tiger. He snubbed +me the whole time. Oh, talk of adventures! _What_ an afternoon I have +had!" + +"If you met him walking across the park he can't have any luggage, and +if he hasn't any luggage he can't intend to sleep here to-night," +reasoned Ruth thoughtfully. "Perhaps he will just stay to dinner. Pea- +soup, cold beef, and apple-pie--that's all there is, and he is +accustomed to half a dozen courses, and two men-servants to wait upon +him. Poor dear mother will be in despair because she didn't order a +fresh joint for to-day. Shall I go to the kitchen and see if there is +anything that can be made into a hot dish?" + +Mollie pursed up her lips, but, before she had time to reply, the sound +of footsteps was heard from without, and Mrs Connor appeared in the +doorway, followed by the tall, gaunt figure of Uncle Bernard. The girls +rose from their seats as he entered the room, and Ruth and Trix +approached him with diffident smiles, while Mrs Connor introduced each +by name. + +"This is my eldest girl, Ruth; you saw her last when she was a baby in +arms. This is Beatrice Connor; she knows you quite well by name, don't +you, Trix dear?" + +But Mr Farrell betrayed not the faintest interest in Trix or her +memories, and barely touched the hand which she extended towards him. +All his attention seemed concentrated on Ruth, as she stood before him +with her beautiful, flushed face raised to his own. + +"This is Ruth!" he repeated slowly. "She is not at all like her sister. +I am glad that one of your girls takes after her father's family, Mary. +This one is an unmistakable Farrell!" + +Mollie turned aside with an expressive grimace. + +"I'm cut out already," she told herself. "Ruth's black brows have +walked straight into his affections! I might as well resign myself to +play second fiddle forthwith." + +Mr Farrell accepted an invitation to stay for the family dinner, but it +cannot truthfully be said that his presence added to the gaiety of the +meal. Mrs Connor was nervous and ill at ease, regretting, as her +daughter had foretold, that she had not ordered a hot joint for to-day, +and allowed the cold meat to be used on the morrow. + +She looked gratefully at Ruth when a small dish of curry made its +appearance, in addition to the scanty menu; but Uncle Bernard had spent +some years of his life in India, and his ideas of curry evidently +differed from those of the plain cook downstairs, for after the first +taste he laid down his fork and made no further pretence of eating. + +Mr Connor made several attempts to introduce interesting subjects of +conversation, but receiving only monosyllabic replies, relapsed in his +turn into silence. With every moment that passed, the girls felt less +able to imagine the reason for the appearance of a visitor who showed so +little interest in the affairs of the family; for Mr Farrell asked no +questions, paid no attention to the general conversation, and, for the +greater part of the time, appeared lost in his own thoughts. + +The three little boys alone were unaffected by the general tension, and +chattered about their school adventures in their usual noisy fashion. +On another occasion Mrs Connor would have checked them, but anything +was better than the dead silence which at one time had threatened the +whole table; so she left them unreproved, and Uncle Bernard scowled at +them beneath his bushy brows in a manner the reverse of approving. + +It happened that Betty occupied the seat immediately opposite the +visitor, and it was one of Betty's idiosyncrasies to repeat the grimaces +of others with an imitation as faithful as it was unconscious. When, +for example, Mollie was speaking, Betty tossed her head, tilted her +chin, and arched her brows, to the delight and amusement of the family; +and now, there she sat--good, kind, most inoffensive of creatures-- +drawing her wisps of eyebrows together in a lowering scowl, and twisting +her lips into an expression of sour distaste. + +The three boys nudged each other and tittered together, and Mr Farrell +looked round to discover the reason of their mirth, and beheld Betty's +transformed face peering into his own. His glance of indignation made +her flush with what appeared to be conscious guilt, though, in truth, +the poor child had no idea of the nature of her offence. Mrs Connor +beheld the incident with petrified horror, Ruth registered a +determination to lecture Betty out of so dangerous a habit, but warm- +hearted Mollie rushed headlong into the breach. + +"Uncle Bernard, Betty did not mean to be rude! Please do not think she +was intentionally disrespectful. She has a habit of imitating people, +without knowing what she is about, and I am afraid we laugh at her for +it, because it is so funny to watch; but she would be dreadfully sorry +to be rude to anyone, wouldn't you, Betty dear?" + +Betty's lips opened to emit a hoarse, inarticulate murmur. Uncle +Bernard turned his eyes upon Mollie, and said coldly-- + +"You wish to imply that she was imitating my expressions? Indeed! It +is always interesting to know in what light one appears to others. I +regret that I failed to catch the likeness." + +"Dear Uncle Bernard, shall we go to the drawing-room now? The children +use this room to prepare their lessons. We will have coffee in the +drawing-room!" cried Mrs Connor eagerly. And the elders filed across +the hall, leaving poor Betty reduced to tears of misery, while the boys +comforted her by jibes and jeers in true schoolboy fashion. + +In the drawing-room a ghastly silence prevailed, broken by fitful +efforts of conversation. Mr Farrell had asked that a cab should be +ordered by nine o'clock to take him back to his hotel; but, though the +time drew nearer and nearer, he still vouchsafed no explanation of the +unexpected visit. Surely--surely, before going away he would say +something, and not once more disappear into the mist, and let the veil +of silence fall around him? The same thought was in every mind, the +same wondering anticipation; but it was only when the cab was announced +and Mr Farrell rose to say good-bye that he appeased their curiosity. + +"I came here to-day to make the acquaintance of my nephew's daughters. +I should be glad, Mary, if you would allow them to pay me a visit at the +Court. I have arranged to have a lady in residence who will look after +them and do what chaperonage is needful. If Monday will suit you, I +should like them to arrive on that day." + +It sounded more like a command than an invitation, but such as it was it +thrilled the listeners with joy. To pay a visit, and above all, to +visit the Court, of which they had heard so much, had been the girls' +day-dream for so long that it seemed impossible that it had come at +last. Ruth's mind flew at once to considerations of ways and means, and +she suffered a moment of agonising suspense before Mrs Connor's eager +consent put an end to anxiety. + +"Oh, I shall be delighted--delighted! The girls will love it, of all +things. How kind of you, dear Uncle Bernard! Ruth! Mollie! Are you +not delighted to have such a treat in store?" + +"Thank you, Uncle Bernard; I should love to come!" cried Ruth warmly. +"Mollie and I have often said that there is nothing in the world we +should enjoy more than paying a visit to the Court. It is most good of +you to ask us!" + +"And we will try to behave very nicely, and not bother you at all," +added Mollie, her eyes dancing with happiness. "We are to come on +Monday week. And will there be other people, too--other visitors, +besides ourselves?" + +"Probably," said Uncle Bernard curtly. "There are several important +matters to be discussed, into which I cannot enter in a short interview. +I am inviting you--and others--in order that we may talk them over at +leisure. A carriage will meet the train arriving at four-twenty. Good- +afternoon, Mary. I shall not see you again, as I leave by an early +train to-morrow." + +Even as he spoke, Mr Farrell made his way towards the door with an air +of finality which forbade further questioning. He had waited until the +last possible moment before giving his invitation, and, having obtained +an acceptance, was evidently determined to take his departure without +further delay. Mrs Connor escorted him to the door, her husband helped +him into the cab, offered to accompany him to the hotel, was coldly +snubbed for his pains, and came back into the house heaving deep sighs +of relief. + +"Now for my smoke!" he exclaimed, and hurried off to the study, while +Mrs Connor was dragged into the drawing-room and subjected to a +breathless cross-questioning. + +"Matters of importance to discuss! Mother, what can he mean?" + +"Other people besides ourselves! Mother, who can they be?" + +"How long does he want us to stay?" + +"What are we going to do about clothes?" + +"That's just exactly what I'm asking myself!" cried Mrs Connor, +referring with equal truthfulness to all four questions at once. "It is +most awkward, not knowing how long you are expected to stay, or what +sort of a party you are to meet; but, in any case, I am afraid you must +have some new clothes. I will have a talk with pater, and see what can +be done, and you must divide my things between you. I have a few pieces +of good lace still, and one or two trinkets which will come in usefully. +I am afraid we cannot manage anything new for evenings; you must make +the black dresses do." + +Mollie groaned dismally. + +"They are so old and shabby! The sleeves look as if they had come out +of the Ark. I do so long to be white and fluffy for once. Can't we +squeeze out white dresses, mother? I'd do without sugar and jam for a +year, if you'll advance the money. Even muslin would be better than +nothing, and it would wash, and come in for summer best, and then cut up +into curtains, and after that into dusters. Really, if you look at it +in the right light, it would be an economy to buy them! I am sure Uncle +Bernard would like to see me in white! Now don't you think he would?" + +"I'll do what I can, dear--I'll do what I can! I should like you both +to look as well as possible. `Matters of importance!' ... I can't +think what matters of importance Uncle Bernard can wish to discuss with +children like you. And who are the other guests? And are they also +included in the discussion? I don't know of any near relations he has +left, except ourselves; but he was even more intimate with his wife's +people than his own, and she belonged to a large family. Dear, dear! +It is most awkward to be so much in the dark. I do wish he had been a +little more explicit while he was about it." + +"Never mind, muv; it makes it all the more exciting. We are going to +meet someone, and we don't know whom; and to discuss something, and we +don't know what; and to stay, we don't know how long. There's this +comfort--we can easily take all our belongings, and still not be +overburdened with luggage! Ten days--only ten days before we start! It +sounds almost too good to be true. But how will you manage without us, +dear little mother?" + +"Oh, don't trouble about me, dear! I'll manage beautifully. Old Miss +Carter can come in to help me if I get too tired; but, indeed, I shall +be so happy to think of you two girls staying at the dear old Court that +it will do me as much good as a tonic. Now I will go and talk to pater +about money matters. We ought to begin preparations at once." + +Mr Connor joined in the general satisfaction at the invitation which +had been given to his step-daughters, and, though mildly surprised to +hear that any fresh equipments would be required, took his wife's word +for the need, and produced two five-pound notes from his cash-box, which +she was deputed to use as she thought fit. + +"If you don't need it all, you can give me back whatever is over," said +the innocent male, little reckoning that three feminine heads would lie +restless on their pillows that night, striving in vain to solve the +problem of making ten pounds do duty for fifty. + +Next morning, pencils and paper were in requisition to check mental +additions, while Ruth drew up a list of usefuls, and Mollie one of +fineries which seemed equally essential. At a most modest estimate it +seemed possible to purchase the whole for something under thirty pounds. +A painful curtailment brought it down to twenty, but by no persuasion +could that sum be halved. + +"Unless we play Box and Cox!" cried Mollie, in desperation. "One rain +cloak, and an understanding that one of us invariably feels chilly, and +stays at home on wet days. One white dress, to be worn in turn on +special occasions, while the other languishes in bed with a headache. +One evening cloak, ditto. Ditto gloves and sundries. It is the only +way I can see out of the difficulty." + +"Don't be absurd, Mollie! We shall _both_ have to stay in bed if +anything special takes place, for we can't afford any extras. I +remember once asking Eleanor Drummond's advice about spending my +allowance, and she said, `Wear a shabby dress, if you must; wear a +shabby hat, if you have not taste and ingenuity to trim one for yourself +out of next to nothing; but never, never, never condescend to a shabby +petticoat or shoes down at the heel!' I thought it splendid advice, and +have always acted upon it, as far as I could. Let us buy really nice +boots and slippers and petticoats before we do anything else!" + +"I'll have a silk one, then, and rustle for once, if I die for it!" +cried Mollie recklessly. "And the boots shall be thin, not thick, with +a nice, curved sole to show off my patrician instep. If I have to +content myself with usefuls, they shall be as ornamental as possible. +Don't you think we might possibly squeeze out net over-skirts to wear +with the black silks, sometimes, so as to make them look like two +dresses instead of one?" + +"Oh, my dear, I like luxuries as much as you do! It's only grim +necessity which makes me prudent. The black net is really an +inspiration, and if we make it up ourselves we can manage quite well, +and have enough money left for gloves and ribbons, and one fresh blouse +a-piece." + +For the next week all was bustle and excitement. The girls paid two +long shopping expeditions to town, and returned laden with interesting +parcels, the contents of which were displayed to an admiring audience in +the drawing-room, and then taken upstairs to Attica, which was +transformed into a dressmaker's work-room, barriers being for once +ignored in consideration of the importance of the occasion. + +The five-pound notes became wonderfully elastic, and even after they +were expended little offerings came in from friends and members of the +family to swell the great sum total. One sent a pretty tie, another a +belt, a third a lace handkerchief. Trix supplied a most stylish +collection of pens, pencils, and indiarubbers, reposing in her very best +box; and Betty, not to be outdone, rummaged among her various +collections for a suitable offering. Eventually she discovered a half- +emptied bottle of eau-de-Cologne, which had been presented to her the +Christmas before, filled it up with water, and presented it to her +sisters for mutual use, unperturbed by the fact that the transparent hue +of the scent had changed to a milky white. + +On the morning of the fifth day Ruth had a conviction that she was +sickening with a dire disease; on the sixth, she anticipated a disabling +accident; on the seventh, she waited hourly for a telegram from Uncle +Bernard, retracting his invitation; on the eighth, she wanted to know +what would happen if there was a cab strike in the city; and on the +ninth, talked vaguely of blizzards and earthquakes. Something it seemed +_must_ happen to prevent this long-dreamed-of journey; it did not seem +possible that the stars should run placidly in their courses, while Ruth +and Mollie Farrell were going a-visiting with a box full of fineries! + +Yet the day did break, an ordinary, grey morning, with no sign to +distinguish it from another. Looking out of the window, men and women +could be seen going calmly about their duties. The postman and +newspaper-boy arrived at their accustomed time. No one outside the +household seemed to realise that the day was big with fate. + +At eleven o'clock a cab drove up to the door; the boxes were piled on +the roof; and the heroines of the hour made their appearance in the +doorway, immaculately trim and tidy in travelling array. The brothers +and sisters were absent at school, so there was only the little mother +to say adieu, and stand waving her hand until the cab had disappeared +from view. + +Once, she too had been young and fair, and life had stretched before her +like an empty page, on which the most marvellous happenings might be +enrolled. Now, she was old and harassed and poor, and there seemed +little ahead but work and worry; yet she could not call life a failure. + +"I have had the best thing," she said to herself, as she shut the door +and re-entered the empty house--"plenty of dear ones to love, and to +love me in return. God bless my two girls, and give them the same sweet +gift." + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +AT THE COURT. + +The girl whose lot has been cast in narrow places, and whose youth has +known few relaxations, should take heart at the thought of the future. +There is a good time coming! However long be the lane, the turning must +eventually be reached; and then--ah, then, what zest of delight, what +whole-hearted, unqualified enjoyment! + +If Ruth and Mollie Farrell had been in the habit of paying half a dozen +visits a year,--if, indeed, they had even once before started off +together on pleasure bent, would they have hailed every incident of the +journey with the delight which they experienced to-day? Not a bit of +it! + +They would have grumbled at the wait on the platform, at the stoppages +of the train at country stations, at the draught from the window, the +banging of the door, the constant requests for tickets. They would have +yawned and lolled back in their corners, and eventually shut their eyes +and fallen asleep, regardless of the scenes through which they were +passing. + +As it was, every fresh stop was a delight. They beamed at the porter +who collected their luggage, paid for return tickets with the +complacence of millionaires, and thought it lucky that there were ten +minutes to spare before the arrival of the train. They tried each +other's weight, to the delight of the onlookers; put a penny in every +available slot, and made a reckless expenditure in penny magazines. +Last, and greatest luxury of all, Ruth actually ordered a tea-basket to +be handed into the carriage at a half-way station; one basket to do duty +for two, but still a deliberate extravagance, when refreshments had been +provided from home; and oh, dear me, how delicious it was to be +extravagant for once! + +When the train came in, one porter dashed forward to secure window-seats +in an empty carriage, another hurried up with rugs and handbags; groups +of people standing upon the platform looked after the two girls with +kindly glances; everybody seemed kind and interested, as though +understanding the nature of their expedition, and wishing them good- +speed. + +They sat opposite to each other, gazing out of their respective windows, +or making an affectation of reading the magazines which lay littered +about the seat; but the end was always the same, their eyes met in +irrepressible smiles, and they began to talk once more. + +Real life was so much more interesting than romance! + +"I feel so very Lucille-y!" Mollie declared "Travelling on pleasure, +with a tea-basket coming to meet me! It was an inspiration of yours to +order it, Ruth! I shall be grateful to you to the end of my life! +Let's talk about what we shall do to-night... Let's guess who will be +there, and what they will be like. The lady chaperon, now! Should you +think that the presence of a chaperon implied that there would be young +men in the party? I hope there are." + +"So do I," assented Ruth frankly. "But I fancy that they are more +likely to be old. Some nieces and nephews of Aunt Edna's, about +mother's age, perhaps--middle-aged couples, with caps and spectacles. +How will you feel if we are the only young people there?" + +"I refuse to imagine anything so ghastly! The couples may have +children, mayn't they? I imagine a charming girl who has no sisters, +and who will adopt us as her dearest friends, and ask us to stay with +her. I rather think she will be dark, and wear eyeglasses, and have a +brother who is musical, and has a tenor voice. Then there will be +another man--Sir Somebody or other, who has a big estate in the county. +He will be very superior at first, and take no notice of us, but in the +end he will be conquered by our modest charms and become a devoted +admirer. Perhaps there may be some couples, but they will be young and +festive, and the chaperon will be a dear old thing with side-ringlets, +who will let us do as we like, and take our part with the old man. That +sounds about the right thing, doesn't it?" + +Ruth smiled happily. + +"Ah, well! whoever we meet, I am going to enjoy myself. A change, a +change--that's what I wanted. Everything will be different, and there's +a world of refreshment in that alone. How thankful I am that Uncle +Bernard asked us both, Mollie! It's half the fun to talk things over +together." + +She lay back in her corner, and gazed out of the window once more, +smiling dreamily as a whirl of thoughts flew through her mind. What +would have happened before she travelled once more past these flying +landmarks? What new friendships would be formed--what experiences +undergone--what matters of importance revealed? + +Life seemed all to lie ahead; yet from time to time her thoughts drifted +back unconsciously to Donald Maclure, and lingered on the memory. She +had not seen him since the eventful afternoon, but Eleanor had conveyed +his good wishes for a happy visit, and her manner showed she was in +ignorance of what had occurred. + +Ruth was grateful for a silence which left her friendship untouched, and +her thoughts of the doctor were gentle and kindly. + +"But I couldn't--I couldn't!" she said to herself excusingly. "I don't +want to marry anyone yet. I just want to be young and happy, and have a +good time!" + +At the half-way station the tea-basket made its appearance, and the +girls sat side by side taking turns at the cup, and nibbling at bread- +and-butter and plum-cake like two happy children out for a holiday, +which in good truth they were. + +They made a pretty picture, and more than one of the passengers upon the +platform cast admiring glances as they passed by. So far, the carriage +had been empty, except for themselves; but, just as the train was +preparing to leave the junction, a young man turned the handle of the +door, threw a bag on the seat, and leapt in after it. He was on the +point of seating himself in the place which Ruth had just vacated, but, +seeing the scattered papers, checked himself, and took possession of the +further corner, while the sisters studied him furtively from time to +time. + +He was tall, he was handsome, he was probably about thirty years of age, +and he looked thoroughly bored and out of temper. After one casual +glance at the pretty sisters, he unfolded a newspaper, and turned from +page to page seeking for some item of interest. His eyes were blue, he +was clean-shaven, his nose was aquiline, and his nostrils were arched, +and had a trick of dilation. + +"Like a high-bred horse, who wouldn't like the bridle a single bit," was +Mollie's comment, as she turned back to the window; for, after all, the +unknown landscape through which the train was now passing was more +absorbing than the appearance of a stranger who took so little interest +in herself. + +She gazed and whispered, and dreamed afresh, until at last the name of a +familiar station gave warning that the journey was nearing its end. In +another ten minutes the train was due to reach Nosely, and in the +interval there was much to be done. Ruth solemnly lifted down the aged +dressing-bag, which dated from her mother's youth, and, with a furtive +glance at the stranger in the corner, took out a looking-glass and +carefully surveyed her hair, pulling it out here, tucking it in there, +patting it into position with those deft little touches which come +naturally to a girl, but which seem so mysterious to a masculine +observer. + +The young man in the corner glanced across the carriage with an +expression of lordly amusement at the foibles of a member of the weaker +sex; and there was even worse to come, for when Mollie, in her turn, had +arranged her hair, a cloth brush was produced to remove the dust of +travel, and two pairs of well-worn dogskin gloves were thrown into the +bag, and replaced by others immaculately new. + +Mollie was absolutely without embarrassment in these attentions to her +toilet, but it required a little resolution on Ruth's part to ignore the +stranger's presence. Only the reflection, "We will never see him +again!" supported her through the critical moments during which she +trained a fascinating little curl into position on her temple, conscious +meantime of a steady scrutiny from behind the newspaper. + +It was something of a shock to see the stranger rise from his seat a +moment later, and begin making those preparations which showed that he +also was approaching his destination; but, although he alighted at +Nosely Station, he had disappeared from sight while the girls were still +looking after their luggage, and when they took their seats in the +carriage which was waiting to convey them to the Court there was no sign +of him on platform or road. + +"That's a comfort!" remarked Mollie thankfully. "I am glad he did not +see where we were going. How superior he looked when we were prinking, +Ruth! I don't like him a bit--do you?" + +"Oh, I don't know--I can't think! I'm Berengaria, Mollie! I never +_was_ a poor girl travelling third-class, and changing her gloves at the +last moment! I must have been a duchess in my last incarnation, for I +feel so thoroughly at home in an atmosphere of luxury!" sighed Ruth, +leaning back against the cushions, and glancing languidly from side to +side. "Our luggage is following behind in the cart. I hope it will +arrive soon, for I want to change my blouse. I suppose we shall have +tea in the hall with the rest of the house-party, as they do in books, +but I hope they won't be assembled when we enter. I should feel awful +walking in, and knowing that they were all staring and criticising our +appearance, wouldn't you?" + +Mollie laughed gaily. + +"Not a bit. I'd criticise, too, and shake hands high up--like this--and +be pleasant and condescending. We are Uncle Bernard's nearest relations +remember, and the guests of honour... Now, we are beginning to go up +the hill! You remember mother said there was a long, winding hill, and +at the top to the left stood the lodge gates. Don't talk! I don't want +to miss a single thing." + +So each girl stared steadily out of her window as the horses slowly +mounted the hill path. For the first few hundred yards there were +hedges on either side, and beyond them a wide, uneven landscape; then +came a little village, grouped round a square "green," with all the +picturesque accessories of church, ivy-covered parsonage, thatched +roofs, and duck-pond, which travellers look for in a well-conducted +English village. This passed, there was another climb upwards, a wider +view of the valley beneath, and finally a sharp turn to the left, and a +long drive leading to the greystone Court, whose beauties photographs +had made familiar. + +The butler threw open the door as the carriage stopped, and the +travellers thrilled with excitement as they crossed the threshold. +First a square vestibule, then the great hall itself, stretching the +whole length of the wing, and turning to the right by the foot of the +staircase. + +The girls' eyes turned in a flash to the tapestry on the walls, and the +wooden portraits of ancestors; but besides these historic relics there +were many articles belonging to a later and more luxurious age. Carved +oak tables, laden with books and magazines; chairs and lounges of every +description; a fireplace brilliant with beaten copper and soft green +tiles; leather screens shielding cosy corners; cabinets of china and +curios. + +It was even more imposing than imagination had painted it; but--there +was no one there! No Uncle Bernard to speak a word of greeting; no +flutter of silken skirts belonging to nice girls who had no sisters, and +were dying to adopt other nice girls without delay; no scent of +cigarettes smoked by interesting young men, who might have sisters or +might not, but who would certainly be pleased to welcome Berengaria and +Lucille! + +Ruth had knitted her dark brows, and drawn herself stiffly erect; Mollie +was prepared to smile in benign patronage on less important guests. It +was a trifle disconcerting to see no one at all but a little, black- +robed lady, who came hurriedly forward as they approached the staircase +and stammered a nervous greeting. + +"Miss Farrell! Miss Mary! I hope you have had a pleasant journey. I +am Mrs Wolff. Mr Farrell was kind enough to ask me--yes! I hope you +are not cold. Your uncle thought you would like to have tea in your own +room. It will be brought up to you at once. Mr Farrell desired me to +say that he wished to see you both in the library at half-past five. +Shall I take you upstairs at once? We have given you one room--a very +large one; but if you prefer to have two separate ones, it can easily be +arranged--yes!" + +The girls protested that they wished to be together, and followed their +guide up the broad staircase to a room on the first story, where the +curtains were already drawn, and a cosy tea-table spread before the +fire. Mrs Wolff had called it large, and she might truthfully have +used a more emphatic word, for what had originally been the best bedroom +in the house had been, like the drawing-room beneath, enormously +enlarged by the addition of a curved, mullioned window, the entire width +of the floor. + +"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, _nine_! Nine dear +little windows!" counted Mollie rapturously, as the door closed behind +the figure of the lady chaperon. "What a view we shall have to-morrow +morning, Ruth! Sofas, armchairs, writing-tables, two long mirrors to +show the set of our skirts--this is a room after my own heart! I shall +have one exactly like it when I marry my duke!" + +"But I didn't expect to have tea in it, all the same," Ruth objected, as +she took off her hat and jacket. "The house feels very quiet and +deserted. If we hadn't uncle's own word for it, I should think there +was no one here except ourselves. He might have come to meet us +himself! It seems so cold to leave us to strangers!" + +"You will be disappointed, my dear, if you expect warmth from Uncle +Bernard. My short interview taught me so much, at least. But he wants +to see us at half-past five, Ruth. I'll prophesy something--he is going +to talk to us about the `important matters'! It would be just like him +to explain his position before we have been an hour in the house, so +that there can be no misunderstanding. I'm right--I know I am! We are +on the eve of solving the mystery!" + +Ruth shivered, and drew closer to the fire. + +"Don't make me nervous. It will be bad enough when it comes to the +point, without thinking of it beforehand!" she cried. + +And it was all the easier to change the conversation, as at that moment +a maid entered with a tea-tray and a plate of hot, buttered scones. + +Tea after a journey is always a most enjoyable meal, and when it was +over the girls made as careful a toilet as could be managed with the +materials at hand, the heavier luggage not having yet made its +appearance. Shortly before half-past five a tap came to the door, and a +maid entered with a double request. + +"I have come to show you the way to the library, miss; and if you would +kindly give me your keys before you go, I will have your boxes unpacked. +What dresses would you like to wear for dinner?" + +The horror of that moment was never to be forgotten. Before Ruth's eyes +there arose, as in a vision, the patches on the under-sleeves of her +morning blouse, the faded dressing-gown, the darns, and make-shifts and +pitiful little contrivances of poverty. Her cheeks flamed before the +sharp eyes of the abigail, and then flamed again with scorn at her own +folly. + +"It is all neat and clean and tidy. I _won't_ be ashamed of it!" she +told herself angrily, as she turned to search for her keys. + +But the evening-dresses! The next moment with a mingling of relief and +irritation, she heard Mollie's unabashed reply-- + +"Oh, we have only black dresses! We will wear the net over-skirts, +please!" + +Just like Mollie, to wear her best clothes on the first possible +occasion, instead of prudently storing them up for a special need! But +it was too late to protest; already the maid was leading the way onward. +The all-important interview was at hand! + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +MR. FARRELL'S PLAN. + +"Miss Farrell, sir!" said the maid, throwing open the door of the +library. + +And Ruth walked forward, followed closely by Mollie. + +It was a long, narrow room, lined with book-shelves, and the solitary +light from a crimson-shaded lamp on the central table gave an air of +gloom after the bright illumination of the hall without. On a lounge- +chair beside the table sat Bernard Farrell, looking more cadaverous than +ever, with a velvet-skull-cap over his whitened locks. He did not rise +as his great-nieces approached, but held out his hand in a greeting +which was courteous enough, if somewhat cold. + +"How do you do? I am pleased to see you. Excuse me for not having met +you earlier, but I am not feeling well to-day. I trust you have +received every attention since your arrival at the Court. Mrs Wolff +had my instructions to look after your comfort." + +"Thank you, yes; we had tea in our room--a lovely room. We are looking +forward to enjoying the view from that splendid window!" + +"Ah, yes; it is very fine in clear weather! Please make yourselves at +home, and ask for anything that you need. The servants are good, but +they are unused to visitors. Have no hesitation in keeping them up to +their duties. Will you be seated? In a few minutes we can, I hope, +begin the business of the hour." + +He waved them towards some chairs which were ranged before his table. +Four chairs! In the twinkling of an eye the girls had grasped both the +number and what it implied. Two other guests at least were at present +in the house, and equally interested with themselves in the coming +discussion. Their advent was evidently momentarily expected, for Mr +Farrell turned an impatient glance at the clock, and even as he did so +the door opened once more and two young men entered the room. One was +tall and dark, with an olive skin, and a curious, veiled look about his +eyes, caused by the presence of short but abnormally thick black lashes. +Viewed in profile the lashes entirely hid the eye, but the effect of +the thick black line was, singularly enough, rather attractive than the +reverse. He had a dark moustache, and his chin was square and well- +developed. + +His companion was--well! the girls felt that they might have guessed it +before, as one of the awkward things which was bound to happen. He was +the stranger of the railway carriage, the supercilious personage whom +they had flattered themselves they would never see again! + +Like the two girls, the new-comers had evidently not seen their host +before, for they were greeted by him with practically the same phrases; +and then came a general introduction. + +"I must make you known to your fellow-guests--Mr Jack Melland, Mr +Victor Druce--Miss Farrell, Miss Mary Farrell. Mr Melland and Mr +Druce are great-nephews of my late wife. Miss Farrell and her sister +are my own nephew's only children." + +The two young men turned towards the girls with curious glances. Over +Mr Jack Melland's face flitted an amused glance of recognition. His +companion's dark eyes widened with a curious scrutiny; then the lashes +dropped, and hid them from sight. Seen thus, with mouth and eyes alike +veiled, the face was a mask devoid of expression; yet Mollie had a +conviction that she had surprised something closely approaching +disappointment in that fleeting glance. Why the sight of Ruth and +herself had affected the stranger in so unpleasant a fashion it was +difficult to understand; but the impression remained. Her eyes +travelled upward to the face of Jack Melland, and marvelled at the +contrast. + +"His face betrays him, in spite of himself. His nostrils alone would +give him away," she told herself, smiling. "He is cross, the other +inscrutable; Ruth is frightened, and I am amused. We look like four +school-children seated in a row, with Uncle Bernard as the teacher... +When is the lesson to begin?" + +At once, apparently; for Mr Farrell lost no time in preliminaries, but +began his explanation as soon as the young men were seated. + +"I have asked you to meet me here as soon as possible after your +arrival, for it is better that we should understand each other from the +beginning. You have thought it strange, no doubt, that, after having +had no communication with your families for so many years, I should +suddenly develop a desire for your company. Circumstances have, +however, materially altered for me during the last few weeks by the +discovery that it is necessary that my affairs should be settled without +delay. + +"I have, as you know, no child left to inherit, and as this place is not +entailed, it is entirely in my hands to bequeath as I think fit. Until +now--for reasons which you may perhaps understand--the idea of making a +will has been so painful that I have continually postponed the ordeal; +but my doctor, who is also my old friend, has convinced me that I must +delay no longer. + +"I am suffering from an affection of the heart which makes it impossible +that I can live longer than a couple of years, and probably the time may +be but a few months. He has urged me, therefore, to settle business +affairs, so that I might spend the remainder of my days undisturbed; but +to decide on a suitable heir is not an easy matter. I am, as you may +have heard, a very rich man, and I hold strong, and perhaps somewhat +unusual, ideas as to the qualifications which are necessary for the +owner of great wealth. It is not my intention to divide the inheritance +in any way, therefore it is the more important to make a right choice." + +He paused for a moment, and the four young people looked up sharply. +Victor Druce's eyes roved quickly from one to the other of his three +companions. Jack Melland's lips closed more tightly than before. +Ruth's cheeks glowed with a carmine flush. She was the nearest +relation; hers was the first claim! Her heart beat with quick, +sickening thuds; only Mollie looked frankly curious and unperturbed. + +"As I said before," continued Mr Farrell, "we are, so far, complete +strangers to each other; but I judge you all to hold equal rights to +anything which I have to leave. Ruth and Mary are my nearest legal +relations; but my wife's people always ranked with me as my own, and, +other things being equal, I should prefer a male heir. I make no point +of the name; the Court is not an estate which has descended to me from +many generations of ancestors. My father bought it from the late owner, +so there is no real reason why a Farrell should necessarily inherit. + +"It is from one of your number, then, that I shall adopt my heir; but, +in order to do so, I must have some knowledge of your respective +characters and attainments. As I said before, I hold somewhat unusual +views. What the world in general would probably consider the best +qualification for the owner of a big estate is, in my eyes, an +insuperable objection. What I look to find, others might regard as a +fault. We all have our own ideas, and must act according to our lights. +I wish then, in the first place, to make your acquaintance but do not +be afraid that I shall make the task too unpleasant. + +"For the furtherance of my plan, I should wish you to lead as full and +interesting a life as may be. The Court has been shut up for years, but +its doors can now be thrown open for your benefit. You are free to come +and go, to invite whom you will, and no doubt the neighbourhood will be +eager to meet you half-way. My own health will not permit me to arrange +your amusements; but I give you the use of my house, carte blanche as +regards expenses, and Mrs Wolff to play propriety--the rest you must +arrange for yourselves. If each in turn took the management of affairs +for a few weeks at a time, it would meet my views, as helping me to form +the necessary ideas of character and tastes." + +There was a simultaneous movement of surprise on the part of the +listeners, and one and the same word was repeated by four pairs of +lips-- + +"Weeks!" + +Mr Farrell smiled grimly. + +"You are surprised at the time implied. My invitations were +intentionally vague, for I had not at the time made up my mind as to +various details. I have now decided that for the proper development of +my scheme three months at least will be necessary. I therefore invite +you to be my guests at the Court during that period." + +Again came the involuntary, simultaneous start of surprise, and Jack +Melland cried hastily-- + +"It is impossible! I am obliged to you, sir; but it is quite +impossible, so far as I am concerned. My business--" + +"My--my mother!" cried Ruth. "We could not leave her so long; she needs +our help--" + +Mr Farrell interrupted with upraised hand. + +"We will defer objections, if you please! I am prepared to meet and +answer them, later on. For the present I ask you to think quietly over +the prospect which lies before you, and to consider how far such +obstacles as you have mentioned should be allowed to stand in the way. +Surely the object is worth some temporary inconvenience or loss. This +house, and all that it contains, with various properties bringing in an +income of over ten thousand a year, will in due course become the +property of one of your number--of the one who best fulfils a certain +condition which I consider essential." + +"And the condition--the condition?" queried Mollie eagerly. + +Mr Farrell looked at her in silence, while a grim smile passed over his +features. + +"That," he said slowly--"that, my dear Miss Mary,--will be discovered, +with other things,--when you hear my will read aloud on the day of my +funeral?" + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +SPECULATIONS. + +"Well!" exclaimed Ruth, sinking back in armchair number one, at the +right of the bedroom fireplace. + +"Well!" exclaimed Mollie, sinking back in armchair number two, facing +her sister. "Likewise, good sooth! By my halidom! Gadzooks! Of a +surety these are great happenings, fair sis!" + +"Don't be so tiresome, Mollie! You make a joke out of everything. I +want to talk over the position seriously." + +"So do I--just dying to. Go on! Where shall we begin?" + +"With the time, of course. Three months! I never dreamt of more than a +fortnight, at most. Do you think we can possibly be spared?" + +"I don't think at all--I know! If it was three years, with such an +interest at stake, the poor little mother would jump at it. Three +months soon pass, and there will be two people less to feed and wait +upon, and a room less to keep in order. Every little tells when people +are as hard up as we are, and with the savings mother will be able to +pay Miss Carter to help with the mending. It will be good for Trix, +too. The more you depend upon Trix the more she rises to the occasion. +I have a shrewd suspicion that she is going to cut us out, and be the +show daughter of the family. Mother will be blissfully happy building +castles in the air; Trix will be blissfully happy playing eldest +daughter, and bossing the family. We shall be blissfully happy not +pretending, but actually being, Berengaria and Lucille. It's all quite +smooth and easy!" + +Ruth heaved a sigh, half convinced, half reluctant. + +"That's what you always say! I see such crowds of objections. To begin +with, I hate the position; it's awkward and humiliating. To stay here +on approval, studied like specimens in a case; being on one's good +behaviour, and `acting pretty' to try to get a fortune for oneself, away +from other people--bah! It makes me hot even to think of it. I should +feel a hypocrite!" + +"Don't be high-flown, dear; it's quite unnecessary. You couldn't be a +hypocrite if you tried; you are too ridiculously `proud,' I suppose you +would say. I call it quick-tempered! If Uncle Bernard snubs you, you +will flare out, fortune or no fortune, and if you feel mopey, mope you +will, if he disinherits you the next moment. I shall be honest, too, +because I'm too lazy to be anything else; besides, you know, there is +always the pleasing reflection that he may _prefer_ us to be crotchety! +Everything is possible where everything is vague. Imagine how maddening +it would be if we kept our tempers, and smiled sweetly from morning till +night, and in the end he left everything to that cross Mr Melland, +because he considered it necessary for the owner of wealth to have a +will of his own!" + +Ruth laughed involuntarily. + +"You _are_ a goose! Not much chance of your being the chosen one, I am +afraid. Uncle Bernard is not in the mood for appreciating nonsense; he +is too sad and ill, poor old man! That's another hateful thing. I +should love to nurse and coddle him, and read aloud, and be good to him +generally; but if one does, it will seem-- Oh, you know-- you +understand! It's a loathsome position!" + +"If I feel affectionate, I shall act affectionate! He will probably +loathe it, so there's just as much chance of injuring one's chance as of +bettering it. In fact, if we are to get on at all, we had better try to +forget the wretched money, and behave as if it did not exist. If anyone +had told us a month ago that we should be staying in a big house with +two quite good-looking young men as fellow-guests, and carte blanche to +enjoy ourselves as much as we pleased, we would have thought it too +impossibly good to be true; but now that it has come true, we shall be +idiots if we don't make the most of it. I hope Uncle Bernard keeps to +his idea of making us each master of the ceremonies in turn. Won't I +make the money fly when it comes to my turn! Picnics and luncheons by +day, dances and theatricals by night--one giddy whirl of excitement the +whole time long. I'll take the old dear at his word, and give no +thought to expense, and entertain the whole countryside until the name +of Mollie Farrell is immortalised for ever in grateful hearts. I have +always credited myself with a genius for social life; now for the first +time you will behold me in the halls of the great, and gaze with +surprise at your sister reigning as queen over the assembled throngs?" + +"In your one black dress?" + +"Certainly not! I've thought of that, too. Suitable equipments must, +of course, be part of the carte blanche." + +"I am sure nothing was further from Uncle Bernard's thoughts. He looks +to me like a man who would never notice clothes, or care what we looked +like, so long, of course, as we were respectable. He has more important +things on his mind." + +"Humph!" Mollie tossed her saucy head. "If he doesn't notice of his +own accord, his eyes must be gently, but firmly opened. We stay at his +special request; at his special request we entertain and are +entertained; it is only reasonable that he should bear the expense of +making our appearance do him credit. I'll tell him so, too, if he +doesn't see it for himself." + +"Mollie, you won't! You shan't! You never could!" + +"Couldn't I? You wait and see!" + +"And if you did I would never touch a farthing. I warn you, once for +all, that it is useless, so far as I am concerned." + +Mollie looked at her sister's flushed, defiant face, and laughed her +happy, light-hearted laugh. + +"Dear old High-falutin'! We won't argue about it. Half a dozen +invitations will show you the soundness of my position better than a +hundred discussions. Meantime, I'm going to dress. I have a horrible +conviction that that maid will return and offer to do `your hair, +madam,' so I mean to be beforehand with her." + +Ruth sat still in her chair, enjoying the unwonted luxury of idling, +with no disturbing spasm of conscience to remind her that she ought to +be mending or patching, or giving Betty a music lesson, or helping Mary +to hang clean curtains in the drawing-room. It was delightful to nestle +back against the cushions and study one by one the dainty appointments +of the room, and revel in the unaccustomed sense of space. Imagine just +for a moment--imagine possessing such a home of one's own! The house, +with its treasures of beautiful and artistic furnishings, which +represented the lifelong gatherings of a man renowned for his taste; the +extensive grounds, with gardens and vineries and forests of glass, +providing an endless summer of blossom; the income, that in itself was a +fortune, and held such inexhaustible possibilities of good. What she +could do with it, if it were only hers! With one stroke of the pen she +would repay the poor old tired pater for all his goodness in the past, +and lift the weight of care for the future from his shoulders. She +would heap luxuries upon the dear little mother, who was still a child +at heart; so pathetically easy to please that it seemed a sin that she +should ever be sad. The girls should be sent to finishing schools, and +the boys given a thorough training to equip them for their fight in +life. Mollie, of course, should live at the Court, and share equally in +all her possessions; and they would travel, and help the poor, and be +kind to everyone, and never forget the day of small things! or grow +arrogant and purse-proud. Ruth dreamed on in a passion of longing till +Mollie, standing before the dressing-table, with her white arms raised +to her head, caught sight of her face in the mirror, and uttered a sharp +exclamation. + +"Ruth! What is it, darling?" + +Ruth started nervously and glanced upwards with guilty eyes, but there +was nothing alarming in the aspect of the figure which stood over her, +white necked, white armed, with the loosened golden hair falling round +the anxious face. She caught the outstretched hand, and gripped it +tightly between her own. + +"Oh, Mollie, I want it! I want it _dreadfully_! When I think of the +possibility I feel half wild. If I am disappointed, I believe I shall +die! I can't be unselfish, even for you. I want it for myself!" + +She was on the verge of tears, but Mollie's matter-of-fact cheeriness +had the usual bracing effect. She seemed neither shocked nor surprised, +but only anxious to soothe. + +"Of course you do; so do we all!" she replied easily. "It's humbug to +pretend anything else, only I'm not going to die, in any case, but live +and make myself agreeable to the Chosen. If it's you, I shall sponge on +you for life, so don't imagine you will have all the fun to yourself. +Now get dressed, and don't think about it any more. We must look our +best to awe those two superior young men. I am convinced that they look +upon us as country bumpkins, and it's most important to put them in +their proper position at once, so that we may start fair. If you are +going to do your hair in skriggles it will take you an age, so do +begin!" + +Ruth rose obediently. "Skriggles" was an inelegant but descriptive +title for her most becoming coiffure, which she had already decided must +be adopted for the first eventful evening at the Court. She set to work +at once, and was half-way through her task when the maid appeared, as +Mollie had prophesied, paused upon the threshold for one horrified +moment, and then hurried forward with an "Allow me, miss!" which could +not be gainsaid. + +The girls grimaced at one another furtively, but in the end the value of +the skilled hands was proved by a dainty finish to hair and toilette +which sent them downstairs agreeably conscious of looking their best. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +MR. JACK MELLAND. + +In the drawing-room Mr Farrell and his two nephews were standing with +their backs to the fire, in the position affected by mankind in that +trying wait before dinner. Little Mrs Wolff was stiffly perched upon +an uncomfortable chair, twisting her mittened fingers together and +looking supremely uncomfortable, and there appeared to be no attempt at +conversation. Everyone looked at the two girls as they crossed the wide +room, and once again Mollie surprised that curious gleam of disapproval +in Victor Druce's veiled eyes. Mr Melland was apparently still on his +high horse, a faint flush upon his face, his nostrils curved and +dilated. As for Uncle Bernard himself, his set face showed no sign of +approval or the reverse; he simply bowed to his nieces, and waved them +towards a seat, saying curtly-- + +"Our party is not complete. I have asked the vicar and his wife to dine +with us, and make your acquaintance. They will probably arrive in a few +minutes." + +"Oh yes!" said Ruth vaguely. Even Mollie suffered a moment's eclipse, +during which she sought in vain for an appropriate remark. It was too +absurd, she told herself, to sit round the room like mutes at a funeral. +What was the use of a lady chaperon if she could not fill up the gaps +with harmless inanities? She glanced from one stolid face to another, +then made a desperate plunge. + +"What time do the posts go, Uncle Bernard? We ought to let mother know +of our arrival." + +"I have already directed a telegram to that effect to be despatched. +May I suggest that you delay any communication on your own part until we +have had a future conversation." + +Checkmate! Mollie gave a vague murmur of assent, and cast about for +remark number two. + +"It seems so funny to be here and to see all the things we have heard +about so often! I recognise this room quite well from mother's +description. There is an alcove behind me, isn't there, with a harp in +the corner?" + +"The harp was removed years ago. I imagine there are a great many +alterations since your mother's last visit. The use of the word `funny' +is somewhat inappropriate, is it not? I see nothing ludicrous in the +position." + +Check number two! Mollie's wide-eyed perturbation was almost pathetic +in its intensity. She was not accustomed to being snubbed in this +public fashion, and, after the first shock, a feeling of resentment +brought the colour rushing into her cheeks. + +"I meant `curious.' The two words are often used for each other." + +"Mistakenly so. Many situations are curious which are not in the least +degree amusing." + +"They are indeed!" was Mollie's mental comment. "The present, for +example; anything much less festive I fail to imagine." Her lips +twitched involuntarily as the thought passed through her mind, and, +looking up, she met Jack Melland's eyes fixed full on her, with an +answering twinkle in their blue depths. For one agonising moment she +trembled upon the brink of laughter, when mercifully the door was thrown +open to announce the arrival of the vicar and his wife. Mr Thornton +was tall and thin, with a much-lined face full of shrewd kindness and +sympathy; his wife was a pretty, plump little woman, who looked on +exceedingly good terms with herself and the world at large. + +"Thank goodness, they will talk! They look alive, not mere graven +images," Mollie said to herself thankfully, as the necessary +introductions were taking place. Then the squire gave his arm to Mrs +Thornton, Mr Thornton offered his in turn to Mrs Wolff, and Victor +Druce, evidently obeying a previous instruction, paired off with Ruth, +leaving Mollie to his companion. + +In silence the little company crossed the hall; in silence they seated +themselves round the dinner-table and prepared for the feast. Ruth's +grey eyes were brilliant with excitement as she turned from side to +side. She did not want to talk; conversation would have been but an +interruption at the moment; she wanted but to look and to think. + +The walls were covered with portraits of ancestors--Captain Farrell who +sailed the seas with Nelson's fleet; General Farrell who fought under +Wellington; Lord Edward Farrell, the famous judge; fresh-faced country +squires in quaint, old-world costumes. The dim faces looked down from +their frames with a curious, haunting likeness running through all; and +at the head of the table sat the last of his race, the grim old man to +whom death was coming. Ah, it must be hard to look back on so good a +race, to realise that no son remained alive to carry on the name, and +that one of the strangers now seated round his own table would shortly +reign in his place! + +Ruth thrilled with pity; her beautiful eyes grew soft and dreamy; and +the clergyman, looking at her across the table, could scarcely restrain +an exclamation of surprise. He had understood that Mr Farrell +possessed only distant relatives, but this girl was a true chip of the +old block; allowing for difference of age and sex, here was the same +face which was repeated again and again upon the walls--the aquiline +features, the melancholy lips, the straight heavy brows. + +Mr Thornton knew that the time had come when his host was to choose his +successor at the Court, and, looking from one to the other of the four +young people, he personally felt no doubt as to the one on whom the +choice would fall. Ruth Farrell bore her credentials in her face, and +with a thrill, half painful, half amused, he realised how great a factor +in his own life this slim young girl might be. As lady of the Court and +his own patron, she would have it in her power to ensure his comfort or +the reverse. Ah, well, well, it was too early to speculate! The child +had a sweet, good face; no doubt all would be well. + +While Ruth and the vicar were absorbed in their own thoughts, Mrs Wolff +was also silent, overcome with the weight of responsibility which +pressed heavily on her unaccustomed shoulders. Little Mrs Thornton +prattled of cheery nothings at the other end of the table, and Jack +Melland, turning towards his companion, remarked formally-- + +"I--ah--I think we have met earlier in the day!" + +"In the train, you mean; yes! We saw you get out at the station, but +you disappeared so quickly that I could not think what had happened to +you." + +"Nothing mysterious. A dogcart had been sent for me. I jumped into it +with my bag, and was out of sight before you had gathered together your +possessions." + +"Ah, yes; we had boxes in the van." Mollie tilted her head to its +characteristic angle and smiled at him with wide grey eyes. "And you +watched our toilette across the carriage, little guessing it was for +your own benefit. We knew that we were to meet other visitors here, but +had no idea who they were or how many there might be. We imagined +walking into the midst of a big house-party; hence the preparations. It +was only natural we should want to look nice." + +"Perfectly! I am glad I was fortunate enough to see the result, since I +suppose no one else--" + +Mollie shook her head tragically. + +"Not a soul! Mrs Wolff met us and sent us straight up to our room. If +it had not been for you, the new gloves would have been wasted on the +desert air; but now we can console ourselves that our trouble was of +some use, after all, since at least half the party had the benefit. +Were you also despatched straight upstairs?" + +"I was. Afterwards, Druce and I had tea in the billiard-room, and went +on to join you in the library. It has been a somewhat trying +opportunity; I sympathised with your conversational efforts before +dinner." + +Mollie's brows went up at this, and she made a sceptical little grimace. + +"That is not my idea of sympathy! You stood by and watched me flounder +without making a effort to help. It's not at all pleasant to be snubbed +before a roomful of strangers. You might easily have remarked that it +was a fine day, or that the train was punctual. Anything is better than +a ghastly silence." + +"But, you see, I had had my innings before you arrived. As a matter of +fact I had introduced those very subjects, and added some original +remarks on the beauty of the scenery. I fared no better than you, so my +fellow-feeling made me sympathise with you, though I had no spirit to +try again." + +Mollie laughed under her breath, the influence of her surroundings +instinctively subduing the usual merry trill. This Mr Melland was an +unexpectedly pleasant companion, now that his former gloom and +irritability of manner had disappeared. It was as if a dreaded prospect +had been removed, and he was luxuriating in recovered freedom. Mollie +wondered what the change of circumstances could be; time, no doubt, +would show; and, when they had reached a greater degree of intimacy, she +would tease him about his sudden change of front, and treat him to a +pantomimic imitation of his former gloomy frowns. The prospect pleased +her, and she laughed again, showing the pretty dimples in her cheek, +while Jack Melland looked at her inquiringly. + +"What's the joke? May I hear it?" + +"Oh, nothing--I was just imagining! All sorts of things fly through +one's head, especially to-day, when we really are in an exciting +position. At home my sister and I have a very quiet time, and we get +most of our excitement in dreams. We imagine things until they are +almost real. Don't you know the feeling?" + +"No!" cried Mr Melland bluntly. His brows were arched, his nostrils +curved with the old look of scornful superiority. "I have no experience +of the kind, and I don't want to have. It's a dangerous habit. We have +to live among realities, and very commonplace realities, for the most +part; and it unfits one for work to be dreaming of impossibilities." + +"No, no, no; it helps one! It is like a tonic which braces one up for +the ordinary routine." + +"It is like a sleeping draught--agreeable for the time, but mischievous +and relaxing in its after effects." + +Grey eyes met blue with a flash of defiance, then softened into smiles. + +"It depends upon disposition," said Mollie firmly. "We find nothing +relaxing about it, but a great deal of innocent amusement. When we are +out shopping and want something badly and can't have it, because it +costs five shillings and we only possess half a crown, Ruth says to me, +`Let's pretend a letter arrived by the afternoon post to say someone had +left us a million pounds! What would you do first of all?' Then we can +talk about it for the rest of the walk, and decide what dresses we would +have, and where we should live, and the papers we should have in the +entertaining room, and the furniture in our bedrooms; and we choose +things out of all the shop-windows as we pass, and decide where they +shall go. I've furnished my house so often that I really know the +rooms, and love them into the bargain." + +"And when you go back into the real house you are discontented and +amazed at the contrast." + +"Oh dear, no! That would be silly. I am so refreshed by my visit to +the castle that I can laugh over the shabbiness which annoyed me before. +You don't think it wrong to read an interesting book? Very well, then, +why is it wrong to indulge in a little fiction on one's own account?" + +"Wrong is rather a strong word, perhaps, but there is a great difference +between the two. In reading a book you forget yourself in your interest +about others; in dreams--excuse me--you think constantly of yourself, +and play the part of hero. It is a habit which is inclined to make one +consider oneself the most interesting person on earth." + +"Well, so you are! To yourself, I mean; you know you are!" cried +Mollie, with an innocent _naivete_ which made Mr Melland laugh again. +It was seldom, indeed, that anyone was honest enough to confess to self- +love, and her candour seemed infectious, for, on the verge of +contradicting her assertion with regard to himself, a sudden +recollection rushed through him of his own thoughts, doubts, conflicts, +and final determination of the past twenty-four hours. Did not every +one of these concern himself as a primary, if not an only, motive? Was +he not exercised, first of all, by a sense of his own importance, so +that the wishes of a dying man availed nothing against the preservation +of his own dignity? The laugh gave place to a frown as he replied-- + +"If it is so it ought certainly to be discouraged. One ought not +deliberately to pamper selfishness." + +Mollie's eyes dropped to her plate, and her lips pouted in an +involuntary grimace. + +"Rather inclined to preach," she said to herself naughtily, "and so +intensely practical and matter of fact! I must devote myself to the +education of his higher faculties. I shall have something to say to +you, Mr Jack Melland, the first time that will of yours comes into +opposition with my own.--`One ought not deliberately to pamper +selfishness.'--Delightful sentence! I must not forget it." + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +INTRODUCTIONS. + +In the drawing-room, after dinner, Mrs Thornton made herself agreeable +to the two girls, and was evidently full of interest and curiosity. + +"Having the Court open again will make a great deal of difference to the +village in general, and to ourselves in particular," she said, smiling. +"Mr Farrell has been so invalided of late years that we have seen +nothing of him, and it is quite an excitement to dine here again. Dr +Braithey told us whom we were to meet, and that, of course, added +greatly to the pleasure. I hope you will like the neighbourhood, and +enjoy your visit. You must let me help you in any way that is in my +power. I hope you will, for I love being with young people and making +them happy." + +One glance at the kindly face of the speaker proved the truth of her +assertion, and both girls assented gladly. A few hours' acquaintance +had proved Mrs Wolff to be a mere figurehead of a chaperon, and Ruth +shrewdly suspected that her very weakness had been the attraction in Mr +Farrell's eyes, since, in consequence, she would be less likely to +hinder that display of character and self-will which it was his object +to study. Failing Mrs Wolff, then, it was a comfort to meet this +brisk, motherly woman, who might be depended on as a helpful confidante. + +Mollie glanced at the heaped-up fire, and, with a sudden impulse of +friendliness, pulled forward an armchair, saying eagerly-- + +"Do sit down! Let us all sit down and be cosy till the men come; and +will you tell us about the neighbourhood and the people we shall know? +We are to be here for three months, and uncle says we can entertain as +much as we like. He wants us to entertain, but of course we must know +the people first. Do you suppose we shall have many callers?" + +Mrs Thornton laughed merrily. + +"There's no doubt about that, my dear. Everybody who is anybody within +a radius of a dozen miles will think of nothing, and speak of nothing, +and dream of nothing else but you and your cousins until they have made +your acquaintance. We have not much to excite us in the country, and to +have the Court open again, with four young people to act as hosts, is a +sensation of the first water. There will be a stream of callers after +you have appeared in church on Sunday. You will have a busy time +driving over the country returning their calls, and after these +formalities are over the invitations will begin. I don't think you will +find any lack of hospitality." + +The girls looked at each other with tragic glances which said "One black +dress!" so plainly to their own understanding that it seemed as if +everyone else must interpret the meaning. Ruth flushed, and asked +hurriedly-- + +"Are there many girls like ourselves living pretty near?" + +"Oh dear, yes; girls are never at a discount in a country place. Let me +see, now, how shall I describe them! In the village itself there is +Dora Braithey, the doctor's daughter, a very good, useful worker in the +parish; and Lettice Baldwin, who lives with her widowed mother; and the +three Robsons, who are what they call good sportsmen, and go in for +games; and further afield there is Honor Edgecombe of Mount Edgecombe, a +charming girl, and very musical; and Grace and Schilla Trevor; and the +Blounts at the Moat have a London niece, Lady Margot Blount, who pays +them a long visit every year. She is staying there now, and is sure to +call. She is very elegant and distinguished-looking, and we all admire +her immensely. My husband thinks her a model of everything that a girl +should be." + +Ruth and Mollie, staring fixedly into the fire, were naughtily conscious +of a dislike towards the immaculate Margot, who had suddenly loomed on +their horizon as a formidable rival in the favour of the neighbourhood, +while Mrs Thornton unconsciously proceeded cheerily with her recital-- + +"Of course there are many more, but I am mentioning the most attractive. +We have a few young men, too, and most of the big houses have constant +visitors for shooting or fishing, so that you can manage to get partners +if you want a little hop now and then. And then, as you would suppose, +I hope you will find time to take an interest in the parish. I don't +ask you to take up any active work, for, of course, as visitors your +time will not be your own, but I should like to tell you of our various +clubs and enterprises." + +"I hope you will not only tell us of them, but show them to us as well. +Uncle Bernard wishes us to do exactly as we choose, so our time is our +own, and I should like to do some work. I should feel so idle doing +nothing but enjoying myself," cried Ruth eagerly. + +Mrs Thornton's smile of approval had a somewhat wistful expression. + +As her husband had done before her, she looked at these two young girls, +and wondered if the time to come would see one of them acting the role +of the squire and patron, and as such holding almost unlimited power +over the parish. They seemed kindly, natural creatures, who would be +well disposed towards the vicar and his family; and a woman had more +understanding of little things than any mere man. + +In the flash of an eye Mrs Thornton's mind reviewed the damp patch on +her drawing-room wall, the ill-fitting windows which let in a constant +draught; the hopeless ruin of the tiny conservatory, wherein she reared +her precious "bedding-outs." + +She could not but remember that other squires not only kept their +vicar's house in order, but assisted in sending sons to college, +daughters to finishing schools, and expressed their interest in the +family in a hundred helpful ways; but Mr Farrell had seemed unconscious +of the very existence of her precious olive branches, and had never gone +beyond the bare duties of his position. + +Mrs Thornton was no vulgar schemer for her own benefit, but just a +mother of a large family, struggling to make the most of a small income; +and a quick repentance for the selfishness of her dreams prompted the +desire to help these two young things who were suddenly called upon to +fill a difficult position. + +"Remember, I am always to be found at home or somewhere about the +village. You will soon get to know my haunts, so that you can run me to +earth if you need my services. Just come in and out as you like; the +oftener you come the better I shall be pleased, for I am so anxious to +help you, if you will allow me." + +"We will, we will! it is lovely of you to offer; and do please help us +now!" cried Mollie eagerly, as the sound of an opening door was heard in +the distance, and footsteps crossed the hall towards the drawing-room. +"Talk, talk; do talk! I tried before dinner, and got snubbed for my +pains; and we are such strangers that it is difficult to know what to +say next." + +Mrs Thornton laughed. + +"I'll do what I can," she promised good-naturedly. "Someone may suggest +to Mr Farrell a game of whist. He used to be a crack player, so I +don't think he can resist the temptation, and that would leave you young +folks free to make each other's acquaintance." + +As she spoke the gentlemen entered the room and approached the group by +the fireside. Judging from their appearance, the last half-hour had not +been particularly lively, for the vicar looked tired and worried, and +the young men unmistakably bored. Mr Farrell's set face showed few +changes of expression, but a faint gleam of pleasure manifested itself +at the mention of his favourite game, and presently the four elders of +the party were occupied, while the younger members stood together in a +somewhat embarrassed silence. + +Left entirely to their own resources, no one knew what to say or what to +do; each girl looked first at her partner of the dinner-table, and then +shyly across at the other stranger who was to be a daily companion +during the next three months. Ruth met no answering glance, for Jack +Melland was frowningly regarding the carpet; but for the first time +Mollie had a direct view of the eyes which were habitually hidden behind +Victor Druce's thick eyelashes, and was surprised to find how bright and +friendly was their expression. + +"Shall we investigate the conservatory?" he said at once, as if +answering an unspoken appeal. "They won't want us to stay here and +interrupt the game. I think we had better make a move." + +"But may we? Would Uncle Bernard like it?" + +"May we! Are we not told to amuse ourselves in any way we choose? Of +course we may," he replied laughingly, leading the way forward, while +the others followed, nothing loth. + +The conservatory opened out of the drawing-room by means of a long glass +door, which, being shut, made it into a separate room. A room it was, +rather than the ordinary glass passage, for it had a wide, open floor, +broken only by spreading palms standing in wooden boxes, and in the +midst an old-fashioned pink camellia-tree. Stands of flowers encircled +three sides, and a lamp stood out from the walls in a bracket. Given a +few rugs and accessories, it would have made an ideal lounge. As it +was, there was no provision for visitors, and it was evident that no one +but the gardener took the trouble to enter. Mr Druce looked round +rapidly, spied a wooden box under one stand, a stool under another, and +brought them forward one after another, flicking off the dust with his +handkerchief. + +"You must have something to sit on. Can you manage with these, or shall +I bring chairs from the drawing-room? I don't want to make a noise if I +can help it." + +"No, no; please don't! These will do perfectly. But what will you do, +and Mr Melland? You must not stand all the time." + +"Oh, don't trouble about us! We can look after ourselves," responded +Jack Melland, pushing the flower-pots nearer together on the staging, +and lightly swinging himself into the vacant space. Victor followed his +example, and thrust his hands into his pockets. + +For the next few minutes silence reigned while the young men took in and +quite obviously admired the charming picture made by the two girlish +figures against the background of flowering plants. + +Ruth's stool had been placed against the camellia-tree, and the pink +blooms matched the soft flush in her cheeks, and relieved the sombreness +of her black attire. Thus placed she looked charmingly pretty, and held +herself with an air of dignity, which was a new accomplishment. + +Ruth was an adaptive creature, tremendously influenced by the +surroundings of the moment. At home her little head was wont to droop +with despondency, and the consciousness that she was poor and unknown +and shabbily dressed. At the Court she was intensely, delightfully +assured of being Miss Farrell--of possessing the family features, and of +being, so far, the recipient of her uncle's greatest favour. And so +Ruth now leant back with an air of languid elegance, smiling sweetly at +her companions. + +Mollie's bright head peeped from beneath the shadow of a palm. She held +in her hand a spray of heliotrope, which she had picked in passing, and +from time to time bent to smell the fragrance, with little murmurs of +delight. + +But Mollie was obviously longing to say something, and when the time +came that she met Jack Melland's eye she suddenly plucked up courage to +put it into words. + +"Don't you think we ought to introduce ourselves properly?" she cried +eagerly. "We have been told each other's names, and talked politely at +dinner, but that's not really being introduced. We ought to know +something about each other, if we are to be companions here. I don't +know if you two know each other; but we did not know of your existence +until to-day. My mother used to stay at the Court when she was a bride, +and she loved Aunt Edna, and has often talked to us about her; but she +knew very little of her relations, and for the last twenty years or more +she has never seen Uncle Bernard until he suddenly descended upon us +last week. + +"We live in the North--in Liverpool. People in the South seem to think +it is a dreadful place; but it isn't at all. The river is splendid, and +out in the suburbs, where we live, it's very pretty, near a beautiful +big park. The people are nice, too. We are rather conceited about +ourselves in comparison with the people in the towns round about. You +have heard the saying, `Manchester man, Liverpool gentleman,' and we are +proud of our county, too. `What Lancashire thinks to-day, England +thinks to-morrow.' I really must boast a little bit, because South- +country people are so proud and superior, and seem to think that no one +but themselves knows how to speak or behave. Someone said to me once, +`You live in Liverpool, then why haven't you a Lancashire accent?' I +was so cross. What should she have thought of me if I had said, `You +live in London, why don't you speak like a Cockney?' We are not at all +ashamed, but very proud indeed, of coming from the North-countree." + + "`Oh, the oak and the ash, + And the bonnie ivy tree,'" + +chanted Victor, in a pleasant baritone voice, at the sound of which +Mollie flushed with delight, and cried eagerly-- + +"Ah, you are musical! That's nice. We must have some grand singing +matches, but you mustn't sing that ballad. It's Ruth's special +property. She sings it with such feeling! + + "`And the lad that marries me, + Must carry me home to my North-coun-tree!'" + +"Mollie!" Ruth's tone was eloquent of reproof, but Mollie only laughed, +and said easily-- + +"Oh well, of course, if you inherit the Court you will have to change +your plans. I wish I could lift it up bodily and put it down among the +dear Westmorland mountains; but I'm afraid that's impossible. I think +that is all the history we have. No two girls could possibly have led a +less eventful life. We have had no money to travel and see the world, +and we are not in the least bit accomplished, but we have had a happy +time all the same, and we mean to be happy, whatever happens; don't we, +Ruth?" + +Ruth did not answer, but sat with downcast eyes, staring at the ground. +She more than half disapproved of Mollie's candour, despising herself +the while for so doing, so she preserved a dead silence, until Jack +Melland nobly stepped into the breach. + +"Well, if you are North-country, Miss Mollie, I suppose I am Colonial. +I was born in India, where my father's regiment was stationed. He died +when I was a youngster, and my poor little mother had a hard struggle to +keep herself and me. If a fortune had come to us in those days it would +have been a godsend, and she would probably be with me now; but she died +eight years ago, and I am alone in the world, with no one to think of +but myself. I have dingy diggings and a garrulous landlady, but, like +you, I manage to have a very good time. I am interested in my work--I'm +interested in life generally. I mean to make something out of it before +I am done." + +He threw back his head with a proud, self-confident gesture. Young, +strong, high-spirited, he felt at that moment that the world lay at his +feet. All things seemed possible to his unaided powers, and the thought +of help was repugnant rather than welcome. The two girls looked at him +with the involuntary admiration which women pay to a strong man, while +Victor Druce smiled his slow, inscrutable smile. + +"A good thing for you that you are not in my profession, Melland! A +barrister can't push; he must sit still and wait his turn. I have been +waiting a long time, and I can't say that I seem much nearer the +Woolsack. Still, one can amuse oneself in London, and I have my home in +the country to which I can retire whenever I need a rest. My old +parents are alive, and one sister--an invalid. Altogether, I have +nothing to complain of in the past, and the future looks pleasant just +now. Three months in this charming place--in such society!" + +Victor Druce made a graceful little bow, which took in both the girls, +and his glance lingered on Mollie bending forward, the spray of +heliotrope still raised to her face. + +"Stealing already, Miss Mollie! You will get into trouble with the +authorities. How do you know that plant was not being specially +preserved for exhibition at a show?" + +"I hope it wasn't; but it's no use telling me to do as I like, and then +to object if I pick a flower. I shall pick them every day--several +times a day. I shall always be picking them! I think I shall take the +care of this house altogether, and do the watering and snip off the dead +leaves. I love snipping! And I shall arrange the flowers on the table, +too; they are very badly done--so stiff. Just like a man's taste!" + +The two men smiled at each other, while Ruth protested quickly-- + +"No, you can't, Mollie. I'm the eldest, and I've `barleyed' it already. +You can arrange the vases in the drawing-room, if you like." + +"Thank you, ma'am!" said Mollie calmly. "Just as you like." + +Judging from the fervour with which she had stated her intentions a +moment earlier, the listeners expected that she would dispute her +sister's mandate and hardly knew how to account for her unruffled +composure. But, in truth, Mollie was already reflecting that flowers +took a long time to arrange satisfactorily, and that it would be a bore +to saddle herself with a regular duty. Much more fun to let Ruth do it, +and criticise the results! She sniffed daintily at the heliotrope, +turning her head from side to side to examine the possibilities of the +conservatory. + +"Well, anyway, I shall take this place in hand! It will make a lovely +little snuggery, with rugs on the floor and basket-chairs everywhere +about, and an odd table or two to hold books and work, and tea when we +like to have it here. I'll have a blind to the door, too, so that we +shan't be surprised if visitors are shown into the drawing-room. Is +there a door of escape, by the way? I hate to be penned up where I +can't run away to a place of safety." She peered inquiringly round the +trunk of the palm, whereupon Victor Druce slid down from his perch, and +walked to the further end of the floor. + +"Yes, there's a door here. If you see anyone coming for whom you have a +special aversion you can get out, and hide in the shrubbery. I promise +not to tell. Perhaps I may come with you. I am not fond of afternoon +calls." + +"Don't encourage her, please, Mr Druce," said Ruth quickly. "Mollie +talks a lot of nonsense which she doesn't mean; but if people are kind +enough to come here to see us, she must not be so rude as to refuse to +see them. I am sure Uncle Bernard would be very angry if we did not +receive them properly." + +But Mollie was obstinate this time, and refused to be put down. + +"How do you know?" she asked rebelliously. "He might be very pleased +with me for sharing his own retiring tastes! He said himself that he +approved of what other people would consider a fault. Perhaps he likes +unsociability. There's as much chance of that as anything else!" + +Victor Druce came back from his tour of investigation, but instead of +taking his former seat, leant up against the stem of a huge palm-tree, +whose topmost leaves touched the glass roof, folded his arms and looked +down at the two girls with an intent, curious scrutiny. + +"It's an odd position," he said slowly, "a very odd position for us all +to be plunged in at a moment's notice! None of us have any knowledge of +Mr Farrell's tastes, so any attempts to please him must be entirely +experimental. If we please him we may thank our good fortune; if we +offend, we can, at least, feel innocent of any bad intentions. It's +rather a disagreeable position, but I expect the poor old fellow shirks +being left to himself any longer, though he would die rather than +acknowledge it. It's dull work being left alone when one is ill. +Personally, it is extremely inconvenient for me to be away from home for +three months, but I shall manage it somehow. One can't refuse a request +from a man in his condition, and it would be a pleasure to cheer the +poor old fellow a bit, even at the cost of one's own comfort." + +There was silence for a moment after he had ceased speaking. Jack +Melland stared at the ground, and swung his feet gently to and fro. +Ruth knitted her black brows, and Mollie looked puzzled and thoughtful. +It was a kind speech. She would have liked to admire it thoroughly, +but--did it ring quite true? Was there not something unnatural in the +avoidance of any reference by the speaker to his own possible gain? + +"I'm afraid I didn't think much of Uncle Bernard; I was too busy +thinking of myself. I want to have a good time!" she said bluntly. +"It's a lovely, lovely house, and the grounds are lovely, and the spring +flowers are coming up, and we can live out of doors, and be as happy as +the day is long. I am not going to worry my head about the money, or +anything else. I'll be nice to Uncle Bernard in my own way, as nice as +he will let me; but he said that we could enjoy ourselves, and I am +going to take him at his word, and do every single thing I like. It's +an opportunity which may never occur again, as the shop people say in +their circulars, and it would be foolish not to make the most of it." + +"I want the money!" said Ruth clearly. The pretty flush had faded from +her cheeks, and she looked suddenly wan and white. The hands which were +resting on her knee trembled visibly. She had evidently strung herself +up to what she considered a necessary confession, and her eyes turned to +one after another of her companions in wistful apology. + +"I want it dreadfully! I have been poor all my life, and have longed to +be rich, and I would rather live here, in this house, than anywhere else +in the world. If we are going to live together and be friends we ought +to be honest with each other from the beginning. It's selfish, but it's +true! I want the money, and I mean to do every single thing in my power +to get it." + +"Bravo!" cried a man's voice suddenly. Mollie was frowning and biting +her lips in obvious discomfort; Victor Druce's drooping lids once more +hid his eyes from sight as he stood with folded arms leaning against the +palm. It was Jack Melland who had spoken--Jack Melland, roused for once +to display unqualified approval and enthusiasm. He bent forward on his +seat, hands in his pockets, his tall, lithe figure swaying gently to and +fro as he faced Ruth with his bright blue eyes. + +"Bravo, Miss Farrell! I admire your honesty, and wish you good luck. +You are perfectly justified in doing all you can to gain your point, and +I sincerely hope you may be successful. It is only right that a Farrell +should inherit the Court, and if you were the old man's grand-daughter, +you could not possibly be more like him." + +Ruth flushed, but did not reply. Victor Druce's measured voice cut like +a sword across the silence. + +"You are unselfish, Melland! Are you quite sure that you share the +honesty which you admire so much in Miss Farrell? Have you forgotten +how the question affects yourself?" + +Jack Melland jumped lightly to the ground and straightened his long +back. + +"Unselfish or not, it's the truth. The question does not affect me at +all. I am not going to stay!" + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +AN EARLY DECISION. + +"I am not going to stay," said Jack Melland; and whatever his faults +might be, he looked and spoke like a man who knew his own mind, and +would abide thereby. + +His three companions stared at him in silence, and one of the three at +least felt a distinct sinking of the heart. + +"I was beginning to like him; we got on quite famously at dinner, and I +thought we were going to have ever such a good time together. Now we +shall be a wretched uncomfortable three, and Mr Druce will like Ruth +best, and I shall be out in the cold. How horrid! How perfectly +horrid!" grumbled Mollie to herself. + +Just because she was so perturbed, however, she would not allow herself +to speak, but put on an elaborate display of indifference, while Victor +asked curiously-- + +"You mean that? May one ask your reason?" + +"Oh, certainly. I never looked upon myself as having the slightest +claim upon Mr Farrell, and I don't care to ruin my business prospects +for the sake of an off-chance. Besides, the whole position is +unpleasant; I object to being kept `on approval,' with the consciousness +that if I allow myself to be ordinarily agreeable I shall at once be +credited with sponging for the old man's favour. I am quite satisfied +with my own lot, without any outside assistance." + +"Don't you care about money, then?" asked Ruth timidly. + +Jack Melland threw back his head with an air of masterful complacency. + +"I care about making money. That is to say, I love my work, and wish it +to be successful, but I am keen on it more for the sake of the interest +and occupation than for what it brings. A few hundreds a year supply +all that I want, and I should not care to be burdened with a big +fortune. If you come into this place, Miss Farrell, I shall be grateful +to you if you will ask me down for a few days' shooting in the autumn, +but I shall never envy you your responsibility. To kick my heels here +in idleness for three solid months, and know that the business was +suffering for want of my presence--nothing would induce me to do it!" + +But at this Mollie found her tongue, indignation spurring her to speech. + +"You are not very polite to the rest of us! I should not have thought +it would be such a great hardship to stay in a lovely big house with +three young companions, when summer was coming on, too! I should think +there are one or two people in the world who would like it even a little +better than poking in a stuffy office from morning until night. But +there's no accounting for tastes. When you are grilling with heat in +the City you can think of us sitting under the trees eating +strawberries, and thank Fate you are so much better off. We promise not +to send you any. It might remind you too painfully of the country!" + +"Mollie!" cried Ruth in sharp reproof; but Jack laughed with good- +natured amusement. + +"Oh, I deserve it, Miss Farrell! My remarks sounded horribly +discourteous. I assure you if I had the time to spare I should +thoroughly enjoy staying on for a time under the present conditions; but +as it is quite impossible to remain for three months, I might as well +depart at once. I don't suppose Mr Farrell will wish to keep me under +the circumstances." + +It appeared, however, Jack Melland was wrong in his surmise, for when he +announced his decision to his host before bidding him good-night, the +old man looked at him coldly and replied-- + +"I thought I had explained that we would discuss objections at a later +date. May I ask what limit you had mentally fixed to your visit when +you did me the honour of accepting my invitation?" + +"I hardly know--this is Monday. I thought, perhaps until Saturday, or, +at the longest, a week." + +Mr Farrell waved his hand in dismissal. + +"We will leave it for a week, then. On Monday morning next I will +discuss the position as fully as you wish. Now, if either of you young +gentlemen cares to smoke, the billiard-room is at your service. Please +ring for anything you require. Meantime, as it is past my usual hour +for retiring, I wish you a very good-night." + +"Checkmate, old fellow!" cried Victor Druce, as the door closed behind +the stooping figure; but Jack deigned no reply. + +The cloud had returned to his forehead, his nostrils were curved with +annoyance and thwarted self-will. + +The cloud was still there when he came down to breakfast next morning, +and did not lighten even at the sight of the well-appointed breakfast- +table, and the two pretty girls who were seated thereat. Some meals may +be more attractive abroad than at home. A French dinner, for example, +has certain points above an English dinner; but we give way to none as +regards our breakfast--that most delightful of meals to the strong and +healthy, especially in springtime, when the sunshine pours in at the +open window, and the scent of flowers mingles with the aroma of freshly +made coffee. + +The breakfast-table of the Court had all the attractions which one +instinctively associates with old country houses. The massive, old- +fashioned silver, the revolving stand in the centre, the plentiful +display of covered dishes to supplement the cold viands on the +sideboard; and, as Mr Farrell invariably remained in his own room until +lunch-time, the restraint of his presence was removed. + +Little Mrs Wolff busied herself with the duties behind the urn, and +Ruth and Mollie in serge skirts and spick and span white blouses looked +as fresh as paint, and a great many times as pretty. They were laughing +and chatting with Victor Druce, who had donned Norfolk jacket and +knickerbockers, and was quite the country gentleman both in appearance +and in his manner of leisurely good-humour. + +The entrance of Jack in what are technically called "Store clothes," +with a gloomy frown upon his forehead, seemed to strike a jarring note +in this cheerful scene, and both girls were conscious of a distinct +feeling of grievance against the offender. Was it so dreadful a fate to +be doomed to spend a whole week in their society? Need a man look as if +his last hope in life were extinguished because Fate kept him away from +the City for seven days, and placed him instead in the sweet green +country, with three companions of his own age who--to put it mildly-- +were not perfect ogres in appearance! + +The necessary greetings were observed. Jack helped himself to a bowl of +porridge, and, looking up, asked discontentedly-- + +"Hasn't the newspaper arrived?" + +"Not yet, sir; it will be here by ten o'clock, sir," the butler replied; +and Mollie pulled down her lip with an expression of solemn propriety, +and added-- + +"But perhaps I can relieve your anxiety in the meantime. Cotton is down +twenty points, very strong and steady, and the Bears are making +fortunes. `Mauds' are fluctuating, but `Louisa Christinas' are in great +demand; everybody is rushing after them. The Bank rate is ten and a +half, and Consols have gone up two per cent. General market firm, with +a tendency to drop." + +"My good child, what nonsense are you talking!" cried Ruth aghast, and +the two young men exchanged glances and burst into a laugh; even Jack +laughed, though such a feat had seemed impossible a moment before. + +"What a thrilling report! You make me more impatient than ever. It is +just like my luck to be out of the way when there is a chance of a good +thing, though, after all, I don't know if the wisest plan would not be +to sell everything one had, and put the money in the bank--eh, Druce? +Ten and a half per cent! Where do you get your knowledge, Miss Mary?" + +"Oh, I see things in the newspapers, and I hear the pater talking to his +friends. Don't call me `Miss Mary' please, it sounds far too quiet and +proper for me. I am never called anything but Mollie, except when I +overspend my allowance, and mother feels it her duty to scold me. Are +you on the Stock Exchange, Mr Melland? What sort of business is it +which you find so attractive?" + +"I am afraid you would not be much wiser if I tried to explain. We are +what is called `brokers'; but there are an endless variety of businesses +under the same name. I have nothing, however, to do with `Mauds' and +`Christinas'!" + +"Neither have I," volunteered Victor smilingly, "To tell the truth, I +have no money to invest, Briefs don't come my way, and I am at present +occupied listening to more fortunate fellows, and thinking how much +better I could plead myself. It palls at times, but I am fond of the +profession, and have no wish to change it." + +"No," said Mollie reflectively. "The wigs _are_ becoming!" and when the +two young men leant back in their chairs and roared with laughter, she +blushed and pouted, and looked so pretty that it did one good to see +her. + +The three earlier comers had finished their meal by this time, but they +sat still until Jack had disposed of the toast and marmalade which makes +the last breakfast course of every self-respecting Briton; then they +rose one after the other, strolled over to the open window, and faced +the question of the day-- + +"What shall we do?" + +It was Ruth who spoke, and at the sound of her words the shadow came +back to Jack's brow. + +"Yes, what shall we do? Think of it--three months--twelve weeks-- +eighty-four separate days to lounge away with the same question on your +lips! I'd rather be sentenced to hard labour at once. Life is not +worth living without work. I'd rather be a clerk on sixty pounds a year +than stagnate as a country squire." + +"You would be a very bad squire if you did stagnate!" cried Mollie +spiritedly, throwing back her little head, and looking up at him with a +flash of the grey eyes. "You would have your tenants to look after, and +your property to keep in order, and the whole village looking to you to +lead every scheme of pleasure or improvement, and the vicar looking to +you to be his right hand, and all the growing boys looking to you to +help them to a start in life, and the old people expecting you to make +their last days easy. You would be the hardest-worked man in the +country if you did half the work that was waiting for you, and it would +be unselfish work, too--thinking of others, and not of yourself." + +Jack looked at her, and his face softened. + +"That's true," he said frankly. "I'm sorry! You are right, and I am +wrong. I'm in a bad temper, and can't see things in their right light +to-day. Of course, if one really settled down to it, there would be +plenty to do; it's when one is only playing with the position that time +drags." + +"Well, it ought not to drag to-day, at all events. We must be very dull +if we cannot amuse ourselves in surveying the domain, and seeing all +there is to be seen. I am going to put on my hat this minute and +examine the gardens, and go down to the stables to look at the horses. +If anyone likes to come too, they may, but my plans are fixed," cried +Mollie, nodding her saucy head; and at the magic word "stables," a ray +of interest lit up the two masculine faces. + +Ten minutes later the four young people were strolling down the drive, +the girls with serge coats over their white blouses, and sailor-hats on +their heads, the men wearing their cloth caps with an evident air of +enjoyment. They turned the corner of the house, and coming round to the +south side uttered simultaneous exclamations of surprise and delight. + +Along the entire length of the house ran an enormously wide terrace +edged with a balustrade, from the centre of which a flight of marble +steps led to an Italian garden, its green sward and stiffly outlined +flower-beds flanked by a quantity of curiously cut shrubs. + +Beyond this garden the ground dipped sharply, showing first a glade of +trees whose fresh spring foliage contrasted with the dark colours of the +evergreens; then came a glimpse of a lake, a sweep of park; and beyond +all a glorious, wide-stretching view over the countryside. Perched upon +one of the highest sites for miles around, this terraced walk afforded +such a panorama of beauty as is rarely to be found even in our well- +favoured isles, and withal the beauty was of that peaceful, home-like +nature which irresistibly endears itself to the heart. + +The four young people stood in silence gazing from side to side, and +into each mind, even that of the rebellious Jack himself, there crept +the same thought. This was indeed a goodly heritage, whose owner would +be an enviable person! The possibility of possessing it as a home was +worth a far greater sacrifice than anything which had been demanded of +themselves. + +In those few minutes of silence dreams ran riot, and finally found vent +in words. + +"When the Court belongs to me I shall have an awning put up on this +terrace and sit here all day long," said Mollie; as usual the first to +break the silence. + +"I shall have a table brought out, and breakfast here every fine +morning," said Ruth. + +"I'll smoke here after dinner!" said Victor. + +"I'll do ditto in every case!" said Jack, then caught himself up +sharply--"when I come to visit the Chosen, that is to say! Of course, +I'm out of the running. What are you smiling at, Miss Mollie?" For, +turning towards her, he had seen the grey eyes light up with a merry +twinkle. She shook her head, however, refusing to gratify his +curiosity, and sped rapidly down the broad marble steps. + +"He is beginning to have qualms! The very first morning, and for a +moment his resolution wavered. The spell is working," she told herself +triumphantly; for, despite his lack of gallantry, both girls had already +candidly admitted that upon Jack's going or staying depended a great +part of the pleasure of the next three months. "Don't persuade him; +don't mention the subject at all. Let him think we don't care how he +decides. Men are contradictious creatures, and the less he is urged the +more likely he is to give way," argued Ruth the experienced. And Mollie +dutifully agreed. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +A NOVEL EXPERIENCE. + +Down the winding path, the visitors, as they walked together, came upon +masses of daffodils, standing up erect and golden from the carpet of +dead leaves which covered the ground. Not the ordinary common or garden +daffodil, charming as it is, but named varieties of every description-- +white trumpeted _Horsefieldi_, stately yellow Emperors, _Bari Conspicui_ +with its dainty outline of orange; these, and a dozen others were +growing in patches, not in dozens or scores, but in literal hundreds, +beneath the budding trees. There were violets, too; and white and +purple and golden saxifrages peeping out between the stones which +bordered the trickling stream--a scene of enchantment, indeed, for City +eyes accustomed to gaze only on bricks and mortar. The girls were wild +with delight, and flitted about gathering specimens of the different +flowers; while the two young men were content to watch them with an air +of masculine superiority. + +"What is the use of burdening yourselves with all those things at the +very beginning of our walk?" + +"They aren't a burden, they are a joy. Hold them for me, please, while +I get some more," replied Mollie, laying a stack of long-stemmed +beauties in Jack's arms, regardless of his look of dismay. "Don't crush +them; I want them kept quite fresh." + +"What are you going to do with them, if I might ask? There are plenty +in the house. It's a pity to cut them just to waste." + +"I wouldn't waste them for the world, the beautiful darlings! I'm going +to send them home to mother. We will pack them in a box, and take them +down to the post-office this afternoon. It will provide honest work for +the afternoon," retorted Mollie. + +She was too happy, too supremely happy, to be stiff and formal. As she +darted from one flower-bed to another she looked like an incarnation of +the bright spring morning. There was no room in her mind for doubts and +fears. The future simply did not exist; the present was all-sufficient. + +From the gardens the quartette strolled onwards past the lake, and +across the wide park to the further gates; then, returning, paid a visit +to the stables. The groom greeted them with a smile, which showed that +he had anticipated their coming; and, like the other servants, hailed +with delight a return to livelier days. + +"The horses will get some work now, I hope, ma'am," he said, touching +his forehead as he addressed himself to Ruth, as the head of the party. +("The Farrell eyebrows again!" said Mollie to herself.) + +"They have had it far too easy for a long time back. The master's fond +of horses, and we need a good many for driving up these steep hills, as +everything has to be brought up from the station; but it's regular +gentle exercise as suits 'em best. I've a nice little mare as would +carry you, if you'd care to try her. She's in this box. Fanny, we call +her. Whoa! Fanny, old girl, come and show yourself! Nice gentle +creature, you see, miss: no temper in her." + +"But I don't ride," began Ruth, smiling. "I should like to very much; +and I don't think I should be nervous, but--" + +"Oh, I'd love to ride! Is there a horse for me, too? And would you +teach us--would you? Could we come down every day and have a lesson?" +interrupted Mollie impetuously. + +And the groom wheeled round to face her, and touched his forehead again, +his face one smile of delight. + +"Ay, would I, miss! Proud to do it. Many's the one I've taught to ride +in my time. You settle any hour you like, and I'll have the horses +ready for you, and take you a turn across the park. There's some old +side-saddles put away in the loft. I'll have 'em down, and put in order +for ye. And the gentlemen? You'll not be needing any lessons, I'm +thinking." + +"Oh no! I think I can manage to sit any horse you have here," replied +Victor in a slightly superior tone. + +Jack, however, shook his head, and said-- + +"No use for me. I can't ride, and it's no use beginning. I'm only here +for a week." + +The groom looked the surprise he was too well trained to express. + +"Indeed, sir. Well, I can give you a mount if you change your mind. It +wouldn't take long to get your seat; and it's pleasant exercise these +spring days. The carriages are round this way, miss. There's a pretty +little cart you might like to drive yourself." + +He led the way forward; but while the others followed, Mollie hung +behind, blocking Jack's way. Something prompted her to speak, an +impulse too strong to be resisted. + +"Do learn!" she cried entreatingly. "Learn with us. Why won't you? It +would be such fun. You said you hated to be idle. It wouldn't be +wasted time if you learnt a useful accomplishment." + +"Hardly useful to me, I am afraid, Miss Mollie. I have no money for +horses. My only acquaintance with them is from the top of a City +omnibus." + +"But you can't tell what might happen. We might go to war again, and +you might want to volunteer. You might grow rich. Besides, you +volunteered to come and stay with the `Chosen,' and then you will +certainly find it useful. So you will join us, won't you?" + +Jack laughed and hesitated, looking down at the flushed, eager face. It +seemed a very trifling matter. He could not tell that with the +acceptance or refusal of this light request the whole of his future +destiny was involved. He only thought that Mollie was a charmingly +pretty girl, and that it would be amusing to practise riding by her +side. + +"Well! since you put it like that, I can't refuse," he answered +laughingly. "We will learn together, Miss Mollie, and good luck to our +efforts." + +"But what about the riding-habits?" asked Ruth. + +"We must get them," said Mollie. + +"Where?" asked Ruth. + +"At a tailor's," said Mollie. "Bond Street, for choice; only it would +be difficult to arrange about fitting. I'm not at all sure that we +shan't have to pay a visit to town on this matter of clothes. For the +present I mean to consult that maid, and see what can be done until we +can get habits well made for us. And--who knows?--there may be some old +things stored away somewhere which will come in handy. Anyway, I'm +going to begin lessons to-morrow, habit or no habit. You can do as you +like." + +As there was no time to be lost, the maid was summoned only to proclaim +her inability to manufacture riding attire in the space of twenty-four +hours, or to produce the same from the household treasures. + +"There is the mistress's habit, of course, but that was locked away with +her other clothes; and even if I could get at it I wouldn't dare to use +it. Mr Farrell keeps everything she wore, and nobody touches them but +himself. There's a very good tailor at Bexham, miss--only half an +hour's rail from here. Many of the ladies go to him for their things." + +"But we want something now--at once! Something to wear to-morrow. +Surely you can think of something? Mr Farrell said we were to ask you +for everything we wanted, and this is the first thing we have asked for. +You must suggest something!" cried Mollie imperiously. + +Thus adjured, Emma pursed up her lips, and wrinkled her forehead, leant +her head on one side, and stared at the ceiling for inspiration. +Presently it came, for the frown disappeared, the lips relaxed into a +smile. + +"Well, miss," she said, "there's the parson's young ladies; they are +nearly as big as you, though they are still at school. They ride with +the father in the holiday, for the squire let's them have a mount from +the stables whenever they send up. Their habits will be at home, lying +idle. They are not much for style, of course, but for a few days, until +you have time to get fitted yourself--" + +"Emma, you are an angel! It's a splendid idea! Mrs Thornton begged us +to let her help in any way she could. We'll call this very afternoon, +when we go down to post off the flowers, and I'm sure she will be +delighted to lend them. Now we can have our first lesson to-morrow. +That's glorious! I do hate to wait when I have planned anything nice." + +At luncheon Mr Farrell made his appearance, and listened with polite +indifference to the history of the morning's doings as volunteered by +his guests. He asked no questions, made no suggestions, and retired +into the library the moment the meal was over for his daily perusal of +the _Times_. Here for the first time he discovered the inconvenience of +the novel interruption to his solitude, for the newspaper was missing +from its accustomed place, and, on ringing to make inquiries, he was +informed that Mr Melland had carried it off to the billiard-room. + +"Tell Mr Melland, with my compliments, I should be obliged if he would +allow me to have it for the next hour--and order two copies for the +future," he said grimly. + +And five minutes later Jack appeared in person the bearer of the +newspaper and frank apologies. + +"I'm really awfully sorry! I did not know you had not seen it. Would +you care for me to read aloud any article? I should be glad to be of +use." + +"Thank you. My eyes are still quite useful. I prefer to read for +myself." + +Jack had the good sense to depart without further protest, and Mr +Farrell stretched himself on his big chair with a sigh of relief. He +took no pleasure in his guests, whose bright young presence depressed +him by reviving memories of happier days. If it had not been for the +necessity of choosing an heir, he would have cherished his solitude as +his dearest possession. He congratulated himself, however, that by +reserving one room for his own use he could be still safe from +interruption, and, turning to a leading article, read the first few +paragraphs with leisurely enjoyment. The writing was excellent, the +views irreproachable, in that they exactly coincided with his own. He +turned with anticipatory pleasure to the article next in order, when the +sound of a light tap-tap came to the door, and Ruth appeared upon the +threshold, blushing shyly. + +"Uncle Bernard, Mrs Wolff says that you always read the _Times_ after +luncheon... Would it be any help if I read aloud what you wish to hear? +Sometimes, when pater is tired--" + +"I am obliged to you. I require no help of the sort. Is there any +other subject on which you wished to speak to me?" + +The tone was so suggestive of concealed wrath that Ruth quailed before +it, and the faltering "No" was hardly audible across the room. Mr +Farrell lifted the paper from his knee so that his face was hidden from +view. + +"Then you will forgive my remarking that I prefer to be undisturbed. We +shall meet in the drawing-room for tea." + +Ruth shut the door, advanced a few steps into the hall, and stamped her +foot violently upon the floor. The thick Turkey carpet reduced the +noise to the faintest echo, but an answering laugh sounded from behind a +screen, and Jack Melland's eyes looked quizzically into her flushed +face. + +"Allow me to sympathise. I was sent about my business a few minutes +ago. Took back the _Times_ by request, and ventured to offer to read +aloud--" + +"Oh, so did I! His eyes looked so tired, that I long to do something! +It's like living in an hotel, to take everything and do nothing in +return, but if he is so cross and glares like that I shall never dare to +offer again. Do you suppose it will go on like this all the time? Will +he avoid us entirely except at meal-times? Shall we never get to know +him really? If it is like that, I don't think I can stand it. I shall +run away and go home!" + +Jack looked down at her with a kindly sympathy. + +"Ah, well, it's early days to judge! I don't think it would be +consistent with Mr Farrell's plans to remain a stranger. Opportunities +are bound to arise as the days pass by. Don't worry about it, but enjoy +yourself while you can.--I am going to sit out on the terrace. Will you +come, too? It will be quite warm so long as the sun lasts." + +They strolled away together, to make acquaintance in a quiet _tete-a- +tete_, while once more interruption approached the library in the shape +of Mollie, primed for battle. She rapped at the door, received a low +growl by way of reply, and had no sooner crossed the threshold than an +infuriated voice startled her ears. + +"I tell you no! I want no help. I can read without assistance. Am I +stone-blind that I cannot be left in peace to read my paper, as I have +done these forty years? How many times over have I to answer the same +question?" + +"But--but--I haven't asked you anything yet!" gasped Mollie blankly. +Eyes and lips alike were wide with amazement, but instead of retiring at +full speed, as the other two visitors had done before her, she shut the +door carefully and advanced towards the fire. "What did you think I was +going to say?" + +"I have already had two interruptions in the last half-hour; two offers +to have my news read aloud--a thing I detest. I conclude you have come +on the same mission?" + +"No!" Mollie shook her head, half penitent, half amused. "Indeed such +a thing never entered my mind. I was selfish enough to be thinking of +myself--not you. Something is worrying me. May I sit down and talk to +you about it, Uncle Bernard?" + +She drew forward a chair even as she spoke, and Mr Farrell made no +objection. The _Times_ lay on his lap, his thin hands crossed above it, +while his sunken eyes were fixed upon the girl's face with a curious +scrutiny. + +"If it is any argument about going or staying, I have already +explained--" + +"Ah, but it isn't! I am going to stay. I love staying! I don't know +when I have been so happy in my life as I've been to-day, wandering +about this sweet old place. It was the most curious feeling this +morning before you were down--like living in an enchanted castle where +the owner had disappeared! When I gathered the flowers I felt quite +like Beau--" She drew herself up sharply--"They were such lovely +flowers!" + +A short laugh proved that the interruption had come too late. + +"As I said before, Miss Mary, you are not overburdened with modesty! I +am obliged for my part of the simile!" + +But the speaker's eyes were twinkling with quite the most amiable +expression Mollie had yet seen, and she laughed unabashed. + +"Ah, well, one description is as exaggerated as the other. I didn't +mean to say it; it just popped out. You know that I didn't mean to be +rude. I wanted to speak to you about something very important--to us, +at least. Ruth will be scandalised, but it's bound to come out sooner +or later, and I want to understand our position... We told you this +morning that we proposed to learn riding." + +"You did." + +"And you made no objection." + +"On the contrary, I quite approved. It is almost essential for your own +comfort and convenience it you wish to enjoy a country life." + +"Yes! so we thought. But there is one great objection. We have no +habits." + +"Indeed!" + +"No; of course, we have never ridden at home." + +"I presume not." + +"And we cannot ride without habits. Emma, the maid, suggested that Mrs +Thornton might lend us her daughters' just for a few days; but we cannot +keep them long." + +"Certainly not!" + +Mr Farrell made his remarks with an air of polite indifference, which +was peculiarly baffling. It was evident that no lead was to be expected +from him, and that Mollie would have to put her request in the plainest +possible words. Her lips were pressed together in a momentary +hesitation between embarrassment and laughter; then she thought of the +lecture she would receive from Ruth if her errand ended in failure, and +grew strong again. Her eyes met those of Uncle Bernard still fixed +intently on her face. + +"I wanted to ask you what we were to do about them, and about clothes +altogether! You know we are very poor. Ruth and I have fifteen pounds +a year to dress on. You have never been a girl, so you don't understand +what that means; but though we can get along on that at home and could +look respectable for a few days' visit, we can't manage as we are for +three whole months, especially when you wish us to go about, and have +parties here, and meet your friends on their own terms. We have only +those black evening-dresses which you saw last night, and girls can't +always wear the same things, as a man does his dress suit." + +"I suppose not." + +"No they can't. So--" + +"So?" + +Mollie's cheek flushed with a dawning impatience. + +"Uncle Bernard, don't you think you make it very hard for me? After +all, it was your wish that we should stay, and we cannot put the pater +to more expense. You said we were to have carte blanche. I want to +know if that applies to clothes also?" + +"I must say I had not anticipated anything of the sort when I made my +remark." + +"Well then, are you content to have us as we are? It won't be easy or +pleasant, but I suppose we _could_ rub along if you don't object. +People would make remarks, and as they are your friends--" + +"It is a great many years since I have troubled my head about what +people say. That argument has no weight with me; but, as you say, you +remain here and go into society at my invitation, and it is therefore +only reasonable that I should make it possible for you to do so in +comfort. I am in ignorance as to what is required. What sum, may I +ask, would you consider sufficient to make up deficiencies?" + +Mollie's smile of rapture was a sight to behold. The victory was won, +and won so easily that there had been no fight worthy the name. Her +mind flew to Ruth, picturing the scene between them when she retold the +conversation; then turned at a tangent to gloat over the thought of +fineries to come. + +"Ah-ah! That's a difficult question to answer. We shall need riding- +habits, and summer things, and evening-dresses, and hosts of etceteras. +I could make myself look respectable for twenty pounds; I could look +smart for fifty; I could be a vision for a hundred!" cried Mollie, +clasping her hands ecstatically, while once again a faint twinkle showed +itself in Mr Farrell's eyes. His words were, however, as a rule, +decidedly damping in tone. + +"That is interesting to know, but something less bewildering than +visions might be more in keeping with ordinary life. Very well, then, +Miss Mary, order what you please, and tell your sister to do the same, +and let the bills come in to me. You can run up to town for the day +whenever it is necessary, and no doubt you will enjoy the variety. Is +there anything more you wish to say?" + +He took up the newspaper in sign of dismissal, but Mollie sat her +ground, flushing and knitting her brows. + +"Uncle Bernard, you are an angel, and I'm ever so much obliged, but +please mightn't we have a fixed sum? It would be so much more +comfortable! If it is left like this, we should not know what you would +think reasonable or extravagant!" + +"And in the other case, I should not know it of you! No; it must be +left entirely to your discretion. Get what you please, and as much as +you please. I make no restrictions. As I have said before, money is no +object to me, but it is my great aim at present to understand your +position as to it." + +"I understand, but it's very awkward!" sighed Mollie. Her forehead was +puckered with thought; she stroked her soft little chin in thoughtful +fashion. "I should like to please you, but I am so completely in the +dark. A man's ideas are so different from a girl's. If I get all I +think necessary, you may think me extravagant!" + +"Very possibly I may." + +"And if I get less than the best, you might think me mean." + +"Very possibly again." + +Mollie made an involuntary gesture of impatience, then laughed and +tossed her head. + +"Uncle Bernard, it is hopeless to try to understand you. There is only +one thing to be done; since I don't know how to please you, I must take +extra good care to please myself." + +"A most sensible conclusion! I congratulate you upon it. I have, +however, one request to make. It is my wish that you and your sister +should be independent of each other; each acting exactly as she thinks +fit, without reference to the other's wishes. Is there anything more +that you wish to say? If not, may I suggest that I am generally left +free from interruption after lunch?" + +"I'll never come again--I promise I won't, but there is a lot I should +like to say if you would let me. I'd like to thank you and tell you how +much fun and happiness we shall get out of your generosity; but, I +suppose, if I did you would hate it, and call it gush. The best thing I +can do is to go away at once; but you can't prevent me thanking you in +my heart." + +She looked at him half smiling, half wistful, longing for some sign of +softening which might break down the barrier between them, but Mr +Farrell did not even meet her glance. His eyes had already strayed +towards his newspaper; he was settling himself in his chair and +preparing to resume the interrupted reading. Mollie turned with a sigh +and left the room. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +LEARNING TO RIDE. + +The riding-lessons duly began the next day, and, continuing each morning +of the week, proved a veritable godsend to the four young people, in +providing amusement for hours which might otherwise have hung somewhat +heavily on their hands. The season was yet too young for outdoor games, +and in the early stages of their mutual acquaintanceship it was +difficult to keep up a perpetual flow of conversation. Some occupation +of general interest was thus badly needed, and this was supplied by the +delightful canters over the moors--delightful, despite the drawbacks +which were inseparable from inexperience. + +On the first morning the girls were kept sternly in hand by the careful +groom, each taken in turn for an amble along a quiet road under his own +supervision; while the other strolled about, feeling very fine and large +as she held up the skirt of her habit, and nonchalantly flicked her whip +to and fro. + +From the safe vantage of the ground also it was amusing to watch Jack +Melland's plungings to and fro, and offer him good advice as to the +management of his steed. Jack, needless to say, disdained the groom's +good offices, and set forth confident of being able to master any horse +by the sheer force of his manhood. His seat was not elegant, certainly, +and for once he was at a distinct disadvantage beside Victor, who looked +his best on horseback, and was evidently an experienced rider. + +On the third day the horses were led to the broad road, crossing the +well-treed park, and, after half an hour's patient trotting to and fro, +Ruth was started on her first independent canter, which was fated to +have an ignominious end; for the horse, impatient of restraint, +increased its pace to a gallop, which swiftly left the groom behind and +sent its rider's composure to the winds. Her foot slipped from the +stirrup, she dropped her whip, clung wildly to the pommel, and, +regardless of dignity, screamed for help at the pitch of her voice. It +seemed an eternity of time, but in reality it was only a couple of +minutes, before Victor overtook her, and leaning forward, seized the +reins and brought both horses to a halt. + +The groom came running up behind, followed by Jack, jogging painfully up +and down on his saddle, while Mollie puffed and panted in the rear. +Their faces were all keen with alarm, but fear changed to amusement at +the sight of Ruth with hat cocked rakishly at one side and a thick coil +of hair hanging snake-like down her back. She looked piteously for +comfort, and, meeting only smiles, drew herself up with what was +intended to be an air of haughty disdain; but it is difficult to look +haughty when with every moment fresh hairpins are falling to the ground, +and with the descent of fresh coils your hat is continually assuming a +still more impudent angle. + +"You _do_ look a sight!" cried Mollie with sisterly candour, and Ruth +beckoned imperiously to the groom to help her to dismount. + +"Take me down! I've had enough of this for one morning. You must give +me another horse to-morrow, Bates. I'll never trust myself on this +hateful creature again. No, thank you, I prefer to walk on my own +feet." She jumped to the ground and stood twisting up her hair, her +cheeks aflame with mingled fright and annoyance--a sight, indeed, as +Mollie had remarked, though the young men's translation of the term was +not perhaps precisely the same as her own. + +"I'll put in a thousand hairpins next time," she said angrily, as she +fastened the coils to the best of her ability, and straightened the +rakish hat. "You had better see that your hair is safe, Mollie, before +you have your turn. I am going to sit down on the grass and jeer at you +for a change. It's so easy to be superior when you are doing nothing +yourself!" + +"I shan't hang on to my pommel, anyway, and I won't call, `Help, murder, +thieves!' whatever happens," cried Mollie lightly. "I am going round +this curve, so you can all watch and see how well I do it!" + +She flicked her horse's side as she spoke with quite a professional air +of unconcern, and started off at a brisk canter, holding herself +resolutely erect, despite the ever-increasing pain in the small of her +back. Echoes of "Bravo! bravo!" followed her down the path and goaded +her to increased exertion. A second flip on Prince's back sent him +forward at such a surprising increase of speed that, involuntarily, she +gripped the pommel; then, remembering her resolve, let go her hold to +hang on more and more tightly to the reins. + +Prince tossed his head and gave an expostulatory amble. Mollie set her +lips and pulled the stronger. She was not conscious that the right hand +pulled more strongly than the left, but that it did so was proved by the +fact that the horse gradually abandoned the path and directed its course +across the grass. The watchers behind gave cries of warning as they saw +what was happening, but in her agitation Mollie mistook their meaning +for more applause and dashed headlong on her way. + +She was so much occupied in keeping her seat that she had no eyes to +discover danger ahead, but the groom looked with dismay at the low- +spreading trees on right and left, and raced across the grass to +intercept her progress. He was too late, however. Maddened by the +incessant dragging of the reins Prince galloped ahead, skirting so +closely a clump of trees that it was only by crouching low over the +saddle that Mollie escaped accident. The watchers drew deep breaths of +relief, but renewed their anxiety as once more horse and rider +disappeared from sight behind a giant elm, whose branches hung +threateningly towards the ground. + +Ruth gripped her habit in both hands and sped across the grass after the +groom; the two young men galloped ahead; and from one and all came a +second cry of alarm, as a moment later Prince sounded his appearance +careering wildly along riderless and free. + +What were they going to see? A helpless form stretched on the ground; a +white unconscious face; a terrible, tell-tale wound? A dozen horrible +pictures suggested themselves one after the other in those breathless +seconds; but when the fatal spot was reached there was no figure upon +the ground, senseless or the reverse; no Mollie was seen to right or +left. + +It seemed as if the earth had opened and swallowed her up, until a +feeble squeak made the rescuers lift their eyes suddenly to the heart of +the tree, where a black skirt and two small kicking feet were seen +swinging to and fro in the air. Another step forward showed the whole +picture, gauntleted hands clutching wildly to a bough, and a pink +agonised face turned over one shoulder, while a little pipe of a voice +called out gaspingly-- + +"Catch me! hold me! take me down! oh, my arms! I'm falling, falling, +I'm falling! oh, oh, oh--I'm falling down!" And fall she did, so +suddenly and violently that the groom, although a stoutly built man, +tottered beneath her weight. + +The ordinary heroine of fiction is so frail and ethereal in build that +when she faints away, under a stress of emotion, the hero gathers her +lovely form in his arms and carries her for a couple of miles with +delightful ease; but Mollie Farrell was a healthy, well-grown girl; and +for one agonising moment it appeared as if the sequel to the adventure +was to be an ignominious tumble to the ground of rescuer and rescued. + +The moment passed, the groom steadied himself with an involuntary +"Whoa!" and Mollie turned to confront her friends, swaying painfully to +and fro, with crossed hands pressing against each shoulder. + +"Oh, my arms! my arms! They are torn out of their sockets! I know they +are! The pain is really hideous!" + +"What happened? How did you manage to perform such an acrobatic feat?" +cried Jack, now that anxiety was appeased, unable to resist a smile at +the remembrance of the pretty, comical picture, and the undignified +descent to the ground; but Mollie snapped him up sharply, her sense of +humour absolutely eclipsed by the pain she was suffering. + +"It wasn't a feat! I saw the bough before me and I thought I should be +killed, and I put out my hands to save myself and--I don't know how it +happened; but the next moment that horrid, wicked animal slipped from +under me, and my arms were jerked nearly out of my body, and I was left +dangling in mid-air. It's perfectly hateful of you all to stand there +and laugh! I might have been killed outright if it hadn't been for +Bates." + +"You were only a yard or so from the ground; you could have dropped down +yourself without making a fuss. I kept my seat at any rate, and I +didn't howl half so loudly!" said Ruth self-righteously. "What made you +do anything so mad as to ride in among all those trees?" + +"I didn't! It was the horse; he would go, whatever I did," protested +Mollie feebly: whereupon Bates shook his head with solemn disapproval. + +"We've got to be very thankful as matters is no worse," said the alarmed +groom. "I shall have a fine lecturing from the squire when he hears of +this, but you will bear me witness as it was against my wishes. If I'd +had my way you would never have ventured off by yourselves, for another +week at least, but there was no gainsaying you. I'm thinking you'll +have had about enough lesson for to-day, and I must look after those +horses. To-morrow--" + +"To-morrow we'll be good and docile, and do as you tell us. My nerves +are too shaken to be disobedient; but don't be afraid; you shan't be +scolded for what isn't your fault," said Ruth with her pretty smile. +Bates touched his cap and walked off, mollified, while the girls turned +sadly homeward. Jack and Victor offered their escort, but, finding it +impossible to disguise all traces of amusement, were promptly snubbed +and bidden to go and be superior by themselves. + +"I do hate men! horrid, patronising creatures!" cried Mollie pettishly, +as she limped onwards. "They think themselves so grand because they are +stronger than we are, and have no tiresome skirts to hamper them. I +don't like riding half as much as I expected. I'm so stiff and sore, I +should like to go to bed for a month. I shall lie down this afternoon. +I'll get a nice book, and pull the sofa up to the window, and have tea +brought up to me; and I just hope it will rain and pour, and they will +have nothing to do and be bored to death, and then they will miss me, +and be sorry that they were so rude. Laughing, indeed, when I was in +danger of my life, before their very eyes!" + +"You were safe enough before they laughed, and you did look funny +hanging in mid-air! You didn't think it was cruel to laugh at me, and I +was just as much frightened as you were!" retorted Ruth; and thereafter +a frigid silence was maintained until the Court was reached. + +At lunch Mr Farrell appeared with a clouded brow, and vouchsafed only +monosyllabic replies when addressed. It was evident that something had +displeased him, and, though no reference was made to the adventures of +the morning, the young people had discovered by now that he possessed a +mysterious power of knowing all about their actions, in sight or out of +sight, and felt correspondingly ill at ease. When the meal was over and +the servants had left the room, the storm burst suddenly. The sunken +eyes gleamed with an angry light, and the tired voice sounded unusually +loud and threatening. + +"Has neither of you two young men the sense or the prudence to prevent a +lady from running a foolish risk? I am informed that Ruth was in danger +of having a serious accident this morning. I am not personally able to +look after her safety, and she was possibly ignorant of her own folly in +attempting more than she could accomplish; but I had imagined that in my +absence she had two sufficient protectors--one of whom, at least, I +understand to be an accomplished horseman." + +Victor flushed deeply, and the lids fell over his tell-tale eyes. + +"No one regrets Miss Ruth's fright more than I do, sir. She had been +such an apt pupil that I did not imagine that there was any danger in +trying a little canter on her own account. Bates disapproved of it, but +I am afraid I sided against him. I can only promise to be more careful +in future." + +"It was no one's fault but my own, Uncle Bernard," interrupted Ruth +eagerly. "I was conceited and thought I could do anything I liked, and +I have learnt a lesson--that's all! I was frightened, but I hung on so +tightly to the pommel that I don't think there was any real danger of +falling. I really will be careful not to run any more risks." + +"I trust you will. I feel responsible for your safety while you are +under my roof, and it will be a severe strain on my nerves if I cannot +rely on your discretion. Are you feeling any ill effects from your +fright? Can Mrs Wolff help you in any way, or perhaps the doctor--" + +Ruth gave an involuntary exclamation of surprise and protest, and the +colour rushed into her cheeks. It was so surprising, so extraordinary +that Uncle Bernard should betray such concern for her safety and +actually suggest sending for a doctor on her behalf. Her heart beat +high with the conviction that she was, indeed, his favourite, his +Chosen, and that therefore her safety was all-important for the success +of his scheme. + +She turned her grey eyes upon him with a liquid glance of gratitude, as +she faltered out words of acknowledgment. + +"Oh no, indeed, it is quite unnecessary! Thank you so much all the +same. I am vexed with myself for having upset you by being so +headstrong, and didn't hurt myself a bit." + +"That is well, then!" Mr Farrell rose from the table and turned slowly +towards the door. As he did so he found himself suddenly confronted by +another face--a bright-eyed, mutinous girl's face, so transparently +charged with speech that he stopped short, uttering an involuntary +inquiry-- + +"Well! what is it? What have _you_ got to say?" + +Mollie's lips parted, her head tilted to the side. + +"_I_ was in danger, too! much more than she was. I _did_ tumble off! I +hung on to the branch of a tree. I might have been injured most +dreadfully." + +"Ah-ah!" said Mr Farrell slowly. He turned his head aside, and his +lips twitched uncertainly. "You! But you, my dear Mary, can take such +uncommonly good care of yourself!" + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +MOLLIE DEFENDS HER UNCLE. + +Mr Farrell walked to the door, and shut it behind him. Everyone stood +still, staring at Mollie, and Mollie stared ruefully back. + +"Oh!" she cried breathlessly, "oh!" and pressed both palms to her now +scorching cheeks. "I've never been snubbed like that in all my life." +Then suddenly she laughed a bright, sweet-hearted laugh, utterly free +from envy. "I'm nowhere, Ruth, when you are concerned; but there's one +comfort, I can do as I like, and no one will interfere! If it is to be +a choice between the two, I prefer freedom to riches." + +She left the room to make her way upstairs, and Jack crossed the hall by +her side. He looked intently at her as he walked, and when their eyes +met he said simply-- + +"You took that well--very well indeed! I congratulate you on your self- +control. I could not have kept my temper as you did." + +"Oh, I don't know!" returned Mollie easily. "I brought it on my own +head. It was stupid to speak of myself at all; but just for the moment +I couldn't help feeling aggrieved, because, really and truly, I was in +greater danger than she. Uncle Bernard is old, poor thing, and that +makes him querulous." + +"It ought not to. I call that a very poor excuse. When a man gets to +his age he ought surely to have learnt to be patient, even if he +imagines himself provoked." + +"But he is ill as well. You say nothing about that. Should that make +him patient too?" + +"Certainly it should. Suffering has often a most ennobling effect." + +Mollie stood on the first step of the staircase, her arm on the +banister, looking with a challenging smile into the proud self-confident +face on a level with her own. + +"Have you ever been ill, Mr Melland?" + +"I am thankful to say I have not." + +"But you have surely had a pain, or an ache, for a few hours at a time? +Ear-ache, when you were a child, or toothache later on?" + +"Oh, certainly! I've had my share of toothache, and the smaller +ailments." + +"And when the spasms were on,--were _you_ gentle and patient? Did you +feel your character being ennobled, or did you rage and champ about like +a mad bull?" + +Jack laughed. It was impossible to resist it, at the sight of the +mischievous face, and the sound of the exaggerated, school-girl simile. + +"Well," he conceded magnanimously, "perhaps the champing was the more in +evidence. I was not citing myself as a model, Miss Mollie. I know +quite well that--that I might be more patient than I am." + +"More patient! More! You are not patient at all. You are the most +impatient person I ever met. If anyone dares even to have a different +opinion from you, you can hardly contain yourself. I wish you could see +your face! You look like this." + +Mollie drew herself up, making a valiant attempt to draw her eyebrows +together, send out lightning sparks from her eyes, inflate her nostrils, +and tug the ends of an imaginary moustache at one and the same time; and +succeeded in looking at once so pretty and so comical that, instead of +being convicted, Jack laughed more heartily than before. + +"As bad as that? Really? I must be ferocious! It's rather unkind of +you to pitch into me like this, Miss Mollie, when I have just been +paying you compliments. It's a good thing I am going away so soon, as I +am such a desperate character. There is no saying to what lengths Mr +Farrell and I might get if we were long together." + +"Oh!" Mollie's face sobered, and a little chill came over her spirits. +"You are still determined, then? Nothing has happened to make you +change your mind?" + +"What should have happened?" replied Jack the ungallant. "There has +been nothing behind the scenes, Miss Mollie--nothing that you do not +know of. Only I prefer to go back to my work--that's all. I consented +to remain for a week to please Mr Farrell, but I don't see that I am +called upon to make any further sacrifice. I have my life's work before +me, and just now it needs all the attention I can give it. Besides, Mr +Farrell and I would never get on; I should be a disturbing element which +would not improve matters for any of you. Between ourselves, I think +there is little doubt who will be the Chosen, as you express it. Your +sister is evidently first in favour. Witness your experience a few +minutes ago." + +Mollie stared before her, thoughtful and absent-minded. One word in +Jack's speech had detached itself from the rest and printed itself on +her brain. Sacrifice! He had stayed at the Court for a week as a +matter of necessity, and did not feel called upon to sacrifice his +inclinations any further. Sacrifice, indeed! The word rankled the more +as she realised how differently she herself had described the past five +days, and how high Jack Melland's presence had ranked among the +pleasures of the new life. When she projected her thoughts into the +future, and imagined living through the same scenes without his +companionship, it was extraordinary how flat and dull they suddenly +became. But he called it a "sacrifice" to stay away from a dingy, +dreary office, and preferred the society of his partner to all the +Mollie Farrells in the world! He liked her, of course--she could not +pretend to doubt that; but just as a grown man might care for an amusing +child who served to while away an idle hour, but who was not worth the +trouble of a serious thought. + +"He thinks I am shallow," thought Mollie sorrowfully, and then suddenly +inverted the sentence. "Am I shallow?" she asked herself, with an +uneasy doubt creeping over her self-complacency. "I expect I am, for I +am content with the surface of things, and like to laugh better than to +think. But I'm twenty; I don't want to be treated as a child all my +life. It's horrid of him to talk of sacrifices!" + +Thoughts fly quickly, but, even so, the pause was long enough to be +unusual. Jack looked inquiringly at the thoughtful face, and said +smilingly-- + +"Why, Miss Mollie, you look quite sober! I never saw you so serious +before. Is that because I said that your sister was preferred before +you?" + +That aroused Mollie to a flash of indignation. + +"No, indeed; I am not so mean. I'd almost sooner Ruth had things than +myself, for I'd have all the fun and none of the trouble. Besides, she +wants it more than I do, and would be a hundred times more disappointed +to do without. And then you must not blame Uncle Bernard too much. He +had a good reason for saying what he did. I deserved it.--You will +never guess what I did." + +Jack looked amused and curious. + +"Nothing very dreadful, I feel sure. You are too hard on yourself, Miss +Mollie." + +"I asked him for heaps of money to buy heaps of new clothes--" + +Jack's whistle of amazement was too involuntary to be controlled. He +tried his best to retrieve himself by an expression of unconcern, but +the pretence was so apparent that Mollie laughed at the sight, albeit a +trifle ruefully. + +"Do you mean to tell me seriously that you asked Mr Farrell for money?" + +"Yes, I did. I asked him on Wednesday. It seemed the only thing to do, +as he wants us to entertain his friends, and go out whenever we are +asked, and we hadn't enough clothes to go in. Ruth wouldn't ask, so I +had to do it. We have no evening-dresses in the world except those +black things that you see every night, and we can't live in them for +three months like a man in his dress suit." + +"They are very pretty dresses. I am sure you always look charming." + +"Oh, don't feel bound to be flattering, I hate obvious compliments!" +cried Mollie irritably. She was surprised to realise how irritable she +felt. "I only told you because it was mean to let poor Uncle Bernard +get the blame." She paused, and over her face flashed one of those +sudden radiant changes of expression which were so fascinating to +behold. Her eyes shone, her lips curled, a dimple dipped in her cheek. +"But he _did_ give it to me--he gave me more than I asked--carte +blanche, to spend as much as I liked! Next Tuesday morning as ever is, +we are going up to town to shop with Mrs Thornton as assistant. Think +of it! Think of it! Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street--just to +look in at all the windows in turn, and buy what one likes best. +Hats,"--two eager hands went up to her head--"dresses"--they waved +descriptively in the air--"coats; fripperies of all descriptions, +delicious blouses for every occasion, and evening-dresses!--oh, chiffon +and lace and sequins, and everything that is fascinating! I've never +had anything but the most useful and long-suffering garments, though I +have yearned to be fluffy, and now I shall be as fluffy as I can be +made! Think of me, all in tulle and silver gauze, with a train yards +long, all lined with frills and _frills_ of chiffon!" cried Mollie +ecstatically, tilting her head over her shoulder, and pushing out her +short skirt with a little slippered foot as if it were already the train +of which she spoke. + +"Indeed, I will think of you! I wish I could do more than think; I +should like to see you into the bargain. It is hard lines that I have +to leave before the exhibition opens." + +"Oh, pray don't pose as an object of pity! Whose fault is it that you +are leaving at all?" retorted Mollie quickly. "You have made up your +mind to go, and it's a matter of pride with you that nothing or nobody +shall prevent you. My poor fineries would be a very weak inducement; +but you will have to reckon with Uncle Bernard before you get away, and +I don't think he will be easy to oppose." + +Jack Melland straightened himself, and his nostrils dilated in +characteristic, high-spirited fashion. + +"When I make up my mind I never give way," he said slowly. + +Mollie tossed her head defiantly. + +"So you say; but there is something even stronger than will, Mr +Melland." + +"And that is--" + +"Fate!" cried Mollie dramatically. + +The blue eyes and the brown met in a flashing glance; then the girl +dropped a demure curtsey, and ran lightly upstairs. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +IN THE VILLAGE CHURCH. + +The shopping expedition was, by common consent, postponed until the +middle of the following week, when Jack Melland would have taken his +departure. + +"Let us make hay while the sun shines. Three is an abominable number, +especially when you happen to be the third," said Mollie, sighing. "Mr +Druce admires you very much, Ruth. I often see him staring at you when +you are not looking; but when I appear upon the scene his eyelids droop, +and he does not deign even to glance in my direction. He puzzles me a +good deal, as a rule. I rather fancy myself as a judge of character, +but I can't decide whether he is really a model of virtue, or a villain +in disguise." + +Ruth made a movement of impatience. + +"How exaggerated you are, Mollie! Why must you rush off to extremes in +that foolish fashion? Mr Druce is probably neither one nor the other, +but just an ordinary combination of faults and virtues. He is kind and +considerate to Uncle Bernard, and very chivalrous to us;--a hundred +times more so than Jack Melland, who certainly does not err on the side +of politeness. Personally, I don't think any the less highly of people +because they are little reserved and uncommunicative at first. It will +be time enough to judge Mr Druce's character when we have known him for +weeks, instead of days." + +"Humph! I believe in first impressions," insisted Mollie obstinately; +"and so do you, really, or you would not bristle up when I dare to cast +a doubt on his excellence. You are going to like him, Ruth, I can see +that quite clearly, and he admires you; so, as I said before, I shall be +the poor little pig who stays at home, while you two wander abroad +together. It's not exactly the programme which my fancy painted when we +came down; but if I devote myself to Uncle Bernard, and cut you both +out, I shall have the best of it, after all. Perhaps, too I may make +friends with someone in the neighbourhood,--there is always the chance +of that, and I do love meeting new people. I suppose callers will begin +to arrive after we have made our first public appearance at church to- +morrow. I am quite excited at the prospect of seeing all the people-- +aren't you?" + +"I am not going," said Ruth. + +And when Mollie exclaimed and cross-questioned, she flushed +uncomfortably, but did not refuse to answer. + +"I have made up my mind to go to early service, but not again at eleven +o'clock. It's not that I don't want to go; it's because I want to go so +much--for the wrong reasons! Ever so many times during the last few +days I have caught myself thinking about it, and imagining the scene-- +everybody staring at us, while we sit in the squire's pew trying to look +unconscious, but really enjoying it all the time, and building castles +in the air about the future, when we may have a right to be there. We +should be thinking most of all of ourselves, and that's not a right +spirit in which to go to church; so I'm not going. I'm disappointed, +but I've made up my mind." + +Mollie leant her head on her hand and gazed thoughtfully before her. +The sisters were seated in the great round window of their bedroom, from +which such a glorious view of the surrounding country could be obtained; +and as Mollie's eyes wandered from the blue of the sky to the fresh +green of the trees, and anon to the patches of golden daffodils among +the grass, a wonderful sweetness softened her young face. + +"But God understands!" she said gently. "He made girls, so He must know +how they feel. This is a great occasion for us, and it is natural that +we should be excited and a little bit self-engrossed. Mother would +think it natural, and make excuses for us, even if we were carried away +by our new importance; and God is kinder and more forgiving than mother. +Perhaps, when one is quite old and staid, it is easy to sit through a +service and never think of self; but it is difficult when one is young. +I used to be miserable because every time I had a new hat or dress, or +anything that was fresh, I couldn't help remembering it and being +pleased that I looked so nice, and hoping that other people liked it too +but when I thought it over I came to the conclusion that it was only +natural. Look at that lovely view!" She waved her hand expressively +from right to left. "When God made the world so beautiful and so full +of colour, He must mean us to love pretty things without being ashamed +of it; so now I just thank Him for the new things in my prayers, and +remember them as some of the things to be thankful for. I'm sure it's +the best way. It's cowardice to stay at home because we are afraid of a +temptation. Surely it would be far better to go, to thank God for +giving us this good time, and to ask Him to send us nice friends, and, +if it be His will, to let Uncle Bernard leave us the Court, so that we +may help them all at home!" + +She broke off, looking round half timidly in Ruth's face, for it was +reversing the usual roles to find herself laying down the law as to +right and wrong to the serious-minded elder sister. Would Ruth be +annoyed--shocked--disapproving? It appeared that she was not, for the +troubled lines had gradually smoothed away from her forehead, and she +cried heartily-- + +"Yes, you are right. I feel you are! Thank you for putting it so +plainly, dear. I _did_ want to go to church, and now my conscience will +be clear, so I can go comfortably, feeling it is the right thing. But +oh, Mollie, shall we all four be praying, one against the other, each +one wanting to disappoint the others, and keep the Court for himself?" + +"Jack Melland won't, for one; and I won't for another. I'm not sure +that I want it and all the responsibility that goes in its train. I'd +honestly rather it were yours, dear; then I could come and sponge upon +you as often as I liked." + +"Sponge!" echoed Ruth reproachfully. "As if it would be any pleasure to +me if you were not here! What would become of poor Berengaria without +her Lucille? We are so grand in real life now that we forget the dear +old game; but, when we are back in Attica, we shall be able to play it +better than ever, now that we really know what it feels like to be rich +and have everything one wants!" + +Mollie did not answer, and both girls sat silently gazing before them, +while their thoughts wandered northwards to a shabby, crowded house, and +to a sloping-roofed attic under the leads, in which so many hours had +been spent. Mollie smiled, remembering the little make-shifts and +contrivances, seeing the humour of them, and feeling again the glow of +triumph with which each difficulty had been surmounted. + +Ruth shuddered with a mingling of fear and repulsion. + +Oh, how bare it was--how poor, and small, and unlovely! the few small +rooms, the shabby furniture, the little plot of grass in front of the +door which did duty as a garden. Could it be possible that in a few +short months she might have to return and take up life once more under +the old conditions? The thought of Dr Maclure's handsome house had +been a distinct temptation to her when he had asked her to be his wife; +then how much more the beautiful old Court? + +"I would do anything to get it!" thought poor Ruth desperately. "Oh, if +I could only find out what Uncle Bernard wants! It is terrible to be in +the dark like this!" + +The next day was Sunday, and the ordeal of church-going proved to be +much less trying than had been expected, for the congregation was mainly +composed of villagers, who looked too stolid and sleepy to trouble +themselves about the appearance of strangers, even when seated in the +squire's pew. The pew, moreover, was situated in the front of the +chancel, so that it was all the easier to pay whole-hearted attention to +the service. Coming out through the churchyard, the girls were +conscious of glances of interest directed towards themselves by various +little parties who plainly composed the gentlefolk of the neighbourhood. + +At the gate one or two carriages were waiting in readiness to convey +their owners home, the best appointed of which was presently occupied by +an old lady and gentleman, whom Ruth recognised from Mrs Thornton's +description as being the couple whom the renowned Lady Margot Blount was +about to visit. She said as much to Mollie, when the carriage had +passed by, and the four young people were strolling together in easy +country fashion along the road. + +"Did you notice, Mollie? Those must be Mr and Mrs Blount, who live at +the Moat. I should know them anywhere from Mrs Thornton's description. +I wonder whether they will call, and if Lady Margot Blount will come +with them? She was expected this week, I think." + +She was interrupted by a sharp exclamation, and turned with her two +companions to stare in amazement into Victor Druce's transformed face. +For once amazement had broken down the veil which gave a tinge of +mystery to his personality; his sallow cheeks showed a streak of colour, +and his eyes were wide open and eager. + +"Lady--Margot--Blount!" he repeated incredulously. "Here, in this +village! You say she is expected to meet those people who have just +driven past? Is it possible? Who told you about her?" + +Ruth stared at him, amazed in her turn by his energy of manner. + +"Mrs Thornton told us so, the night she dined at the Court. We asked +her what girls were in the neighbourhood, and among the number she spoke +of Lady Margot as a constant visitor to her uncle and aunt. Why are you +so surprised? Do you know her in town? Is she a friend of yours?" + +Victor hesitated, biting the ends of his moustache. + +"I can hardly call her a friend. We are not in the same set; but I saw +a good deal of her last autumn. Some people I know were getting up +tableaux for a charity bazaar, and asked us both to take part. There +were a good many rehearsals, so that we grew for the time pretty +intimate; but she went off to Egypt for the winter, and I have heard +nothing of her since the night of the performance." + +"But have thought a good deal all the same!" said Mollie shrewdly to +herself, looking at the dark face, which looked so handsome in its +unaccustomed animation. + +If Victor Druce often looked like that, he would be a fascinating +companion. To have the power so to influence him and excite his +interest would be perilously attractive. A few hours before, Mollie had +been almost prepared to declare that she distrusted and disliked this +new acquaintance; now she was conscious of a distinct feeling of envy +towards the unknown Margot. + +"How interesting that you have met already! Mrs Thornton was so +enthusiastic in her praise, that she roused our curiosity to fever- +pitch. Do tell us what she is like! We are longing to know." + +But Victor did not appear inclined to be communicative. The heavy lids +fell over his eyes, and he murmured a few non-committal sentences. It +was difficult to describe a girl so as to give any real idea of her +appearance. He was not skilled at word-painting. If Lady Margot was so +soon expected, would it not be better to wait and judge for themselves? +Mollie shrugged her shoulders impatiently, and forthwith began her +catechism. + +"Tailor short?" + +"Er--medium; not small, not too tall." + +"The perfect mean? I understand! Dark or fair?" + +"Dark eyes, chestnut hair." + +"Oh, that's not right. She has no right to monopolise the beauties of +both complexions. And chestnut hair, too, the prettiest shade of all! +Is she a real, true beauty, or only just pretty, like ordinary folk?" + +"That must be a matter of personal opinion, mustn't it, Miss Mollie? +Ideas vary so much on these subjects." + +"Checkmate!" sighed Mollie to herself. "He won't say what he thinks, +and I can't be so rude as to ask directly, though it's just what I'm +dying to know." Aloud, she said carelessly, "Oh, I've no doubt I shall +think her lovely, and adore her as I do all lovely people; that is, if +she doesn't scare me too much. Is she formidable and _grande dame_, or +lively and easy-going?" + +"That again must surely depend upon circumstances," replied Victor +sententiously, whereat Mollie tossed her head, declaring that he was as +aggravating as Uncle Bernard himself, and almost as enigmatical. + +As for Ruth, she walked along with compressed lips and frowning brows. +It was not possible for a girl to find herself thrown into close +companionship with two young men, and not wonder in the recesses of her +heart if perchance friendship might not eventually develop into +something warmer. Ruth and Mollie had both thought and dreamed, and to +each it had occurred that possibly some such ending of the great problem +might have occurred to Mr Farrell himself. There was no barrier of +near relationship to prevent two of the young people making a match, if +they were so disposed; and while Uncle Bernard, so far, seemed to favour +his elder niece, he had expressly stated that he would prefer a male +heir. Ruth's favour was not easily won, but as both young men appeared +agreeable, gentlemanly, and good-looking, it had been a distinctly +pleasant experience to look forward and wonder if he,--if I,--if perhaps +some day, long ahead, when we know each other well... All girls have +such dreams, and understand how their existence adds savour to a +situation. It was not a little trying, then, when Jack Melland insisted +on returning to town, and Victor Druce, in his turn, must needs betray +an undoubted interest in another girl. + +"Tiresome thing!" murmured Ruth to herself; referring, needless to say, +not to Victor, but to the innocent Margot herself. "I knew I should +dislike her from the moment when Mrs Thornton mentioned her name. Why +couldn't she be happy in town, with all her grand friends, instead of +rushing down here to interfere with us the moment we arrive? She is +sure to hear the reason why we are here--everyone knows it; and if she +is mercenary she will like Victor better now that he has a chance of +inheriting the Court, and, when he knows her connection with the +neighbourhood, she will seem to him more desirable than ever. Uncle +Bernard would be pleased, and think her a suitable mistress for the +Court, and they will get everything, and we'll get nothing, and go home +as failures... Mother will be disappointed, and everything will be +duller and pokier than ever..." + +So on and so on, conjuring up one gloomy vision after another, as was +her unhappy custom, until at length she saw herself stricken in years, +broken in health, lonely and unloved, with nothing in prospect but a +pauper's grave. A strange ending, indeed, to that first public +appearance from which so much had been expected! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +KISMET. + +When Sunday evening arrived Jack Melland was surprised to feel a +distinct strain of regret in realising that it was the last evening he +should spend at the Court. He was still not only determined but eager +to return to his work at the beginning of the week, and had counted the +hours until his release should arrive; but, as the days passed by, he +had become increasingly alive, not only to the beauty of his +surroundings but to the unusual charm of feminine society. After a +lonely life in London lodgings, it was an agreeable experience to come +downstairs to a perfectly appointed meal, set against a background of +tapestry and oak, to be greeted by bright girlish faces, and kept amused +and interested from morning till night. + +Mollie was a fascinating little creature--witty, audacious, and sweet-- +hearted, though, as yet, too much of a school-girl to be taken +seriously. As for Ruth, she was a beauty, and might become dangerous to +a man's peace of mind on a longer acquaintance. That was an additional +reason why Jack was set on leaving the Court, for, as she was obviously +first favourite, it would be a distinct stroke of diplomacy for a man to +link his chances with hers. Jack's nostrils inflated in characteristic +manner as he told himself, that this would not be his fashion of going +a-wooing, but he was less scrupulous in prophesying for his neighbour. +"Druce will make love to her! she'll marry Druce!" he told himself +confidently; and his thoughts flew ahead to the time when the young +couple would reign over the Court, and dispense the favours which were +now in Bernard Farrell's hands. + +Well, it was a goodly heritage! Even in seven short days several scenes +had printed themselves upon his memory. The drive across the park, with +the great north front of the house lying grey and chill in the distance; +the south terrace flooded with sunshine; the gardens sloping to the +level of the lake; and beyond them the open stretch of country. And in +all probability Druce was to be the master of it all. He seemed a good +enough fellow, but was he worthy of the position, and of the wife who +would go with it? Would he make her happy?--the sweet, beautiful thing! +Happiness did not come easily to her as it did to her sister. If her +husband neglected her, or fell short of her ideal, the wistful +expression, which was one of her charms, would soon develop into a +settled melancholy. Jack conjured up a vision of Ruth's face--emaciated +and woebegone--and felt a pang of regret, allied with something +curiously like remorse. It seemed as if by going away he were +deliberately leaving her to Druce's tender mercies, so certain did he +feel as to the result of the three months' companionship. For the first +time a rankling doubt of the wisdom of his decision disturbed his +complacency. When he was back in his dingy lodgings would he think +longingly of the Court, and reproach himself for having thrown aside the +chance of a lifetime; and if the business failed, despite all his +efforts, and he found himself thrown adrift on the world, how should he +feel then, remembering what might have been? + +These reflections brought a frown to Jack's brow, but he was too proud +to show any sign of wavering to his companions; and in the old man's +presence was careful to make no allusion to the coming departure. On +Monday morning the subject was to be officially discussed; but, until +the prescribed hour arrived, it would have been a brave man or woman who +dared open it in Mr Farrell's presence. + +As for Mr Farrell himself, so far from looking forward to the interview +with foreboding, he seemed in an unusually amiable frame of mind as he +took the head of the table on Sunday evening, actually deigning to +question his guests as to the day's doings, and the impressions which +they had received. In their replies the young men were, as usual, brief +and practical, Ruth tactfully reserved, and Mollie unflatteringly +honest. But to-night Mr Farrell seemed determined to take no offence, +and even vouchsafed a grim smile at the sound of the quaintly vigorous +language. + +"You will have to curb that rebellious tongue of yours, my dear Mary, if +you are to get through the next few weeks without trouble. The good +people about here are not accustomed to such picturesque exaggerations, +and will take everything you say as literal fact, so you had better +beware. You will probably have a number of visitors this week, so it +would be as well to arrange to be at home as much as possible in the +afternoons. Calling is a more serious business in the country than in +town; and when people have taken the trouble to drive eight or nine +miles, it is a disappointment to find nobody at home." He turned +towards Jack, and continued: "Of course, this restriction does not apply +to you, or to Druce. Your presence will not be expected; and if you +agree with me, the further afield you can be, the better you will be +pleased. There are some charming excursions which you could manage in +an afternoon's ride, and, from what I hear, your horsemanship has +improved so rapidly that you could easily manage them. Bates will be +happy to give you any directions you may require; or, still better, to +accompany you as guide." + +These remarks were so markedly addressed to Jack, that no one but +himself could venture to reply, and his self-will was so much ruffled by +the deliberate ignoring of his expressed determination that he was +instantly aflame with wrath. His nostrils curved, his brows arched, his +lips opened to pronounce a sharp disclaimer, when suddenly he caught +sight of Mollie's face gazing at him across the table; and if ever a +face cried "Don't!" with all the eloquence of pleading eyes and parted +lips, Mollie's said it at that moment. The message was so unmistakable +and ardent that it demanded obedience, and to his own surprise Jack +found himself murmuring conventional words of thanks, instead of the +heated disclaimer which he had intended. + +Later on in the evening he followed Mollie into a corner of the drawing- +room to demand a reason for her unspoken interference. + +"It was not honest to seem to agree when I have no intention of being +here for a single afternoon. Why wouldn't you let me speak?" he +demanded; whereupon Mollie pursed her lips, and said thoughtfully-- + +"I hardly know. You were going to be cross, and it is Sunday--our first +Sunday here. I didn't want it to be spoilt by angry words. If you must +disappoint the old man, do it gently. Don't answer back, even if he is +annoying. You will be glad afterwards--when he is dead, and you have +nothing to regret." + +Jack looked down at her in silence. Was this the pert school-girl, whom +he had just deemed unworthy of serious consideration? The face into +which he looked seemed of a sudden that of a woman rather than that of a +child--soft and sweet, grave-eyed, with lovely, serious lips. The very +voice was altered, and had an added richness of tone. It was like +catching a glimpse into the future, and beholding the woman that was to +be, when girlhood's bright span was over. Instinctively Jack's manner +altered to meet the change. The supercilious curve left his lip, his +keen eyes softened. + +"Thank you, Miss Mollie," he said gravely. "You are quite right. I'll +remember!" + +She thanked him with a luminous glance, and turned away; but he wanted +to see her again, to hear her speak once more in that beautiful new +voice. Before she had taken three steps he called to her eagerly-- + +"Miss Mollie! One moment! I expect I shall be packed off, bag and +baggage, as soon as I have announced my decision; but Mr Farrell does +not make his appearance until lunch-time, so we have a whole morning +left still. Will you come for a last ride with me after breakfast?" + +"Yes," said Mollie simply. + +Her heart beat high with pleasure, because Jack had assented so readily +to her request, because he had wished to spend his last hours in her +society. For the moment she forgot the blank which would follow his +departure, and was wholly, unreservedly happy. It was the old, +sparkling, girlish face which was turned upon him--the vision had +disappeared. + +The next day neither Ruth nor Victor offered to join the riding-party, +though they had not any settled plans for the forenoon. Mollie had told +her sister of Jack's invitation of the evening before, and Ruth was too +proud to make a third unless she were specially asked to do so. She +strolled into the grounds to interview the gardener about sending in an +extra supply of plants and flowers to beautify the house for the +expected callers, while Victor shut himself in the library to write +letters. + +Jack looked well on horseback, as tall, upright men always do, and +Mollie glanced at him admiringly, and thought regretfully of her new +habit, which was even now in the tailor's hands. It did seem hard that +she should have to wear a shabby, ill-fitting coat while he was here, +and that the new one should come home almost as soon as he had departed. +Her sigh of self-commiseration brought his eyes upon her, and he sighed +in echo as he cried-- + +"Last times are melancholy occasions! I hate them, even when the +experience has not been altogether pleasant. There is a sadness about +turning over the leaf and ending another chapter of life. This chapter +has been a very short one, but uncommonly jolly. Don't think that I +haven't appreciated it, because I am going away. I have enjoyed every +hour of this week, and when I am back on the treadmill I shall think +longingly of you all many times over. I hope we may often meet again." + +"It is not very likely, is it? You will go your way, and we will go +ours. Ruth and I have never been in London, nor you in Liverpool. We +may all live until we are old and bald, and never meet again," said +Mollie dismally; whereupon Jack looked at the shining plaits which were +coiled at the back of her head, and laughed reassuringly. + +"I can't imagine you bald, nor old either, and I expect to see you many +times over before you have the chance of changing. The Chosen, whoever +he or she may be, must surely have the good manners to invite the rest +of us to visit a house which might have been our own; and I have a +special claim, for by retiring from the lists I increase your chances. +Personally, I have made up my mind to spend many holidays here--shooting +and riding, and enjoying myself generally. I hope you won't object, if +you happen to be the chatelaine?" + +"Ah, but I shan't! I have no chance against the other two; but I also +intend to spend my holidays here, and I tell Ruth she must send home +hampers every week. It has always been my ambition to get hampers, and +she could send such splendid ones from the Court--game and poultry and +eggs, and nice out-of-season fruits and vegetables, which would be such +a help in the housekeeping! I am afraid sometimes that we count too +much on Uncle Bernard's fancy for Ruth's eyebrows, for if he changed his +mind and left everything to Mr Druce, it would be a terrible +disappointment. And there are three months before us still. He may +change a dozen times yet." + +"I think most probably he will. Better stick to your resolution, to +have a good time, and not bother your head about the future. I shall be +most anxious to know how things go. Druce has promised to send me a +line now and then. Will you jog his memory in case he forgets?" + +Mollie promised, all the more readily that Victor's letter would +naturally bring a return, which would serve to bridge over the +separation. It seems curious to remember that little over a week ago +she had not known of Jack Melland's existence. He had made but a brief +appearance upon the scene, but it would not be easy to forget him, or to +fill the vacant place. + +Both riders relapsed into silence as they neared home; but, as they +clattered into the stable-yard, Jack turned towards Mollie with rather a +forced air of triumph, and cried-- + +"Do you remember your warning, Miss Mollie, that Fate was stronger than +will? Ever since we set out this morning the words have been ringing in +my ears, and I have been expecting some accident to happen which would +keep me here in spite of myself. I have looked for it at every turn of +the road as if it were bound to come." + +Mollie shivered nervously. + +"Oh, how horrid! I am glad you did not tell me. I should have been +nervous, too, for I am superstitious about presentiments. They so often +come true." + +"Well, this one at least has not. Here we are safe and sound, and all +risk is over!" cried Jack, dropping his reins, and jumping lightly from +the saddle without waiting for the groom to come to the horse's head. + +He was anxious to assist Mollie to dismount before Bates came up; but +even as his feet touched the ground he slipped, staggered uncertainly +for a moment, and sank to the ground with a groan of pain. The groom +rushed forward; Mollie leapt inelegantly but safely to the ground, and +bent over him with anxious questioning. His face was drawn with pain, +and he bent forward to grip his foot with both hands. + +"My--ankle! I slipped on something, or came down on the side of my +foot. I don't know how it was done; but I've given it a bad wrench, if +nothing worse. You'll have to cart me up to the house, Bates. I'm +afraid it's hopeless to try to walk." + +"No, indeed, sir! Don't you trouble. I've got an old bath-chair stored +away in the stables. We'll lift you into that in no time, and take you +up as easy as possible." + +He turned off as he spoke, and Jack and Mollie were left alone. For a +moment she stood silently by his side; then their eyes met, and he said +wearily-- + +"Kismet! Fate is too much for me. For better or worse, Miss Mollie, it +is evidently ordained that I must stay on at the Court!" + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +NEW EXPERIENCES. + +The village doctor came to doctor Jack Melland's damaged ankle, and the +patient fumed and fretted beneath his old-fashioned treatment. + +"Bandaging me and laying me up by the heels for weeks at a time; it's +folly!" he declared angrily. "The man is twenty years behind the times. +If I were in town I should have had one of those Swedish fellows to +massage it, and be about in half the time. Just my luck to go in for an +accident in a place where one can't get proper attention!" + +"But you groan if anyone comes near your foot; wouldn't it hurt +dreadfully much to have it massaged?" Mollie asked. + +Whereupon the invalid growled impatiently-- + +"Hurt? Of course it would hurt! What has that to do with it, pray?" + +"Lots," returned Mollie, unabashed. "I should think so, at least, if it +were my ankle. I can't endure pain." + +"I'm not a girl," growled Jack the ungracious, between his teeth. + +There was no denying the fact that he did not make an agreeable invalid. +In the first realisation of his accident he had meekly bowed his head +to Fate; but ever since he had, figuratively speaking, kicked against +the pricks, and repaid the kindness of his companions by incessant +grumblings and complaints. He hated having to give up his own way; he +hated being tied to a sofa and a bath-chair; he resented offers of help +as if they had been actual insults, and hindered his recovery by +foolhardy attempts at independence. + +"How would you like to be an invalid for life?" Mollie asked him +severely after one of these outbursts. "There was a young man in +mother's district, every bit as strong and big as you, and a sack of +something fell on his back while they were trying to haul it up into a +warehouse. He was taken to the hospital, and they told him that he +would never walk again, never even sit up again. As long as he lived he +would be a helpless cripple. And he was just going to be married, too!" + +"Well, I'm not, thank goodness!" cried Jack bluntly. "Why do you tell +me such gruesome stories? My own troubles are quite enough just now. I +don't want to hear any more horrors." + +"It was just to distract your mind from yourself that I did tell you. +Once upon a time I met a man who read me a beautiful lecture upon the +dangers of being selfish and self-engrossed. I'll tell you his very +words, if you like. They made a deep impression upon me at the time," +said Mollie naughtily. But instead of being amused, Jack was only +irritated afresh. + +In these first days of invalidism Mollie's influence was the reverse of +soothing, for Jack was not in the mood to be teased, and if his inner +determination could have been put into words it would have been that he +objected to be cheered up, refused to be cheered up, and insisted upon +posing as a martyr; therefore, it followed that Ruth's gentle +ministrations were more acceptable than her sister's vigorous sallies. +If he could have seen again the Mollie of whom he had caught a glimpse +on Sunday evening, Jack would have chosen her before any other +companion; but, as she had made place for a mischievous tease, he +preferred to look into Ruth's lovely anxious eyes, and to dilate at +length upon his symptoms to her sympathetic ear. + +Mr Farrell's behaviour at this critical juncture did not throw oil upon +the troubled waters. He took care that Jack should have every +attention, and inquired as to his progress with punctilious regularity; +but he plainly considered a sprained ankle a very trivial affair, which, +needless to say, did not coincide with the invalid's views of the case; +moreover, he absolutely refused to believe that the accident was +responsible for keeping Jack at the Court. + +"It is only right to tell you, sir, that I had finally made up my mind +that I must return home to-day, as I could not agree with your +conditions," Jack informed him on their first interview after the doctor +had paid his visit; whereupon the old man elevated his eyebrows with +that air of ineffable superiority which was so exasperating, and said-- + +"And I, on the contrary, had made up my mind that you should stay. It +is satisfactory to me that the question is decided in my favour." + +"By an accident, sir. By an accident only. If I'd been able to move--" + +Mr Farrell held up his hand with a deprecatory gesture. + +"In that case I should have called your attention to certain arguments +which would have brought about the same result. Believe me, my dear +Jack, it would have made no difference." + +Jack's face flushed angrily. He forgot Mollie's entreaty, forgot his +own promise, and answered hotly-- + +"I cannot imagine any arguments that could keep me here against my will. +As soon as I can get about again I must return to my work. This +accident is only delaying my departure for a few weeks longer." + +"So!" Could anything be more aggravating than that little bow and smile +which accompanied the word. "In a few weeks, my dear Jack, many things +may happen; therefore, it is superfluous to discuss the subject at +present. When the time arrives I shall be ready to meet it." + +He turned and left the room, while Jack raged in helpless fury upon the +sofa. It was insufferable to be treated as if he were a boy who could +be ordered about against his will. When John Allen Ferguson Melland +said a thing, he _meant_ it, and not all the old men in the world should +move him from it, as Bernard Farrell would find out to his cost before +many weeks were past. + +For three whole days Jack's ill-temper continued, and, like most angry +people, he punished himself even more than his companions, refusing to +sit in the drawing-room to see callers, and insisting on remaining all +day long in a dull little room at the back of the house. He grew tired +of reading. His head ached with the unusual confinement; just because +he was unable to move he felt an overpowering desire for half a dozen +things just out of reach, and the day stretched to an interminable +length. On the fourth morning depression had taken the place of ill- +temper, and he was prepared to allow himself to be petted and waited +upon, when, to his dismay, Victor came to his bedroom with the news that +the girls had gone up to town, accompanied by Mrs Thornton. + +"They said, as you preferred to be alone it would be best to keep to +their plans," said Victor cruelly. "I am off for a ride, and shall +probably make a day of it, and lunch _en route_. I was thinking of +going to Barnsley. It is quite a decent-sized place. Would you like me +to try if I could find a masseuse for your foot?" + +Jack looked up sharply; but Victor looked as he usually did. His face +was set and expressionless, as it always was when his eyes were hidden. +It was natural enough that he should make such a suggestion, seeing that +he had heard many lamentations on the subject, natural and kindly into +the bargain, yet Jack felt an instinctive unwillingness to accept the +offer. + +"He wants me out of the way," came the leaping thought, while he bit his +lip, and appeared to ponder the question. + +A few days before he himself had heartily echoed the sentiment; but now +that Fate--or was it something else?--had interfered to keep him at the +Court, Jack's views had slowly altered. It might be that there was a +duty waiting for him here, some duty which was even more important than +his work in town; and, if he shirked it, the consequences might fall +upon others besides himself. The two girls' faces rose before him,-- +Ruth's shy and anxious, Mollie audaciously reckless,--children both of +them in the ways of the world, though innocently confident of their own +wisdom. If by staying on at the Court he could safeguard their +interests, it would be well-spent time which he should never regret. + +To Victor's astonishment his offer was quietly but firmly refused, and +he set out on his ride marvelling what had happened to bring about such +a sudden change of front. + +Meantime, Ruth and Mollie were enjoying their first experience of that +most delightful feminine amusement--shopping in London. They drove to +the doors of world-famed establishments, entered with smiling self- +confidence, and gave their orders, unperturbed even by the immaculate +visions in black satin who hastened forward to receive them; so +marvellous and inspiring are the effects of a purse and a cheque-book +behind it! + +Mrs Thornton was purse-bearer, and, to do her justice, enjoyed the +occasion as much as the girls themselves. She had been personally +interviewed by Mr Farrell and coached for her part, which was to +chaperon the girls, take them to the best places in which to procure +their various requirements, but on no account whatever to direct the +purchases, or limit their extent. + +"It is a good test; I wish to study it," said the old man, which speech +being repeated, Ruth looked grave, and Mollie laughed, and cried-- + +"There is only one question I shall ask you, `Do I look nice?' and one +piece of advice, `Which suits me best?' and you are free to answer them +both. In the present instance these hats are all so fascinating that it +would be a sin to choose between them. I shall take them all!" + +"Mollie, don't be absurd. You shall do nothing of the kind. Four hats, +and you have two already! It would be wicked extravagance!" protested +Ruth vigorously. + +But Mollie persisted, and the attendant volubly declared that indeed +"madam" was wrong. Six hats was a very moderate allowance. Madam would +need different hats for different occasions,--for morning and afternoon, +for fine and wet weather, for ordinary and dress occasions. Would she +herself not be persuaded to try on this charming model, the latest +French fashion, "ridiculously cheap at three guineas?" + +"Thank you, I'll take the white hat, and the black chiffon. They will +answer all my purposes," declared Ruth frigidly. + +She was shocked at Mollie's wanton extravagance, and all the more +disapproving that she herself badly wanted to be extravagant too, and +wear dainty colours for a change, instead of the useful black and white, +if only her sensitive conscience could have submitted to the outlay. + +If hats had been a pitfall, dresses were even worse, for here the prices +were largely increased. It was a new experience to be ushered into what +looked more like a luxurious house than a shop, and to find oneself +confronted by a row of tall, willowy young women dressed in tightly +fitting black satin garments, so marvellously representing dress-stands +that they might have been mistaken for them had it not been for the +elaborately dressed heads. + +"This is a very expensive place--just for your very best dresses," Mrs +Thornton ventured to explain; and the order, "Summer gowns for these +young ladies," having been given, presto! the animated dress-stands +disappeared through a doorway, to return a few minutes later to +promenade slowly up and down the floor before the dazzled eyes of the +beholders, each one attired in a different costume. Blue, green, white, +lavender, and yellow--perfect of cut, distracting of make--it was, +indeed, a problem to choose between them! And while they hesitated, lo! +another disappearance, and another triumphal entrance even more gorgeous +than the first. + +"If I thought I should look as nice as they do, I'd have four at least, +but I shan't; my waist is twice as big, and I never learnt to glide," +sighed Mollie humbly. "How much is the blue, please? I think that +would suit me best." + +The price of that simple--looking frock gave Ruth an electric shock. It +was actually more than the whole of her yearly allowance. She looked it +over, making a rapid estimate of the cost of material and trimming, and +felt convinced she could have bought them all out of a five-pound note. +And then it could be made at home. Ah, no, that was just the +difficulty! The material was a detail, in the making-up thereof lay all +the charm and effect. She came out of her calculations to hear Mollie +say calmly-- + +"And I shall want them both home by the end of a week! Now my sister +will choose, and after that we will see some evening gowns." + +Ruth took her courage in both hands, ordered one dress, and took +advantage of the first moment of solitude to rebuke Mollie in irritable +undertones. + +"Do think what you are about! I'm the eldest, and it's most unsuitable +for you to be better dressed. You ought to let me decide, and follow my +example." + +"But I promised Uncle Bernard that that was just what I would not do." + +"Even if you did, he never intended you to order a whole trousseau. How +will he feel when he sees the bills?" + +"I don't know; I think he will feel nice when he sees my clothes. Oh, +Ruth, do enjoy yourself when you have the chance! He gave you carte +blanche--why on earth can't you take it?" + +But that was just exactly what Ruth could not do. The fear of the +bill--the fear of Uncle Bernard's displeasure, loomed so largely before +her eyes, that she dared not indulge her longing for needless fineries. +In every shop the same story was repeated, Mollie giving a lavish order +with beams of satisfaction, Ruth reducing hers by half, and feeling sore +and aggrieved. Each appealed in turn to Mrs Thornton for support and +approval, until that good lady became quite dazed and bewildered, and +was thankful to find herself once more in her quiet home. + +Arrived at the Court, Mollie danced up to Mr Farrell, who sat reading +by the library fire. + +"I'm back again, Uncle Bernard," she cried; "I've had a beautiful time! +I don't think I ever enjoyed myself so much! I'm bubbling over with +gratitude. I've spent heaps of money! You said I might, and I've taken +you at your word; and oh, I have got such lovely things in exchange!" + +Mr Farrell looked at her grimly, but made no reply. His eyes turned +towards his other niece, who stood silently in the background. + +"And you," he queried, "have you been equally fortunate?" + +Ruth's face clouded. + +"I got what I needed," she said; "I have a headache. I'm going upstairs +to rest." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +MOLLIE'S REVENGE. + +Three weeks had passed by. May had begun--an old-fashioned, well- +conducted May--which was really like a foretaste of summer, instead of +the shivery disappointment which so often condemns us to fire and furs. +Jack's ankle was still troublesome, and though he could limp a few steps +with the aid of a stick, his outdoor exercises were for the most part +restricted to peregrinations in the old bath-chair. According to his +account the period had been one of much tribulation, when patience and +forbearance had been tried to their limits by the unnatural conduct of +Miss Mollie Farrell. Instead of behaving like the proverbial +ministering angel, Mollie proved uncertain, coy, and hard to please, and +so full of mischievous pranks that Jack declared that his hair was +turning white, though, if the truth be told, he looked remarkably bright +and happy. + +One morning it happened that a chance remark of Jack's offended Miss +Mollie's dignity, and she vowed that she would be revenged. It seemed, +however, that she had forgotten her displeasure for when Ruth and Victor +went off to the village after lunch, she offered herself for the post of +chairman, and wheeled the invalid to his favourite position beneath a +flowering chestnut in front of the house. + +The ankle was comfortable, and Jack, having lunched well, felt at peace +with mankind and womankind into the bargain, and quite inclined to enjoy +a pleasant talk. No sooner was he settled, however, than Miss Mollie +drew a book from her pocket, and sitting down on the grass at a few +yards' distance, deliberately turned her back upon him and began to +read. + +Jack watched these proceedings in silence, recognising both that he was +being punished for having annoyed his companion in the morning, and also +that he could not better frustrate her intentions than by preserving an +appearance of undisturbed complacency. Accordingly, he sat quietly, +studying the pretty figure in the blue linen dress, and noticing with +satisfaction that the pages were flicked over more rapidly than was +consistent with careful reading. + +The book was evidently dull--so much the better! Miss Mollie might find +her own punishment even heavier than his. He himself had nothing to +read, but that did not distress him. A man is not to be pitied if he +cannot make himself happy for an hour or so, even with a sprained ankle, +when there is a charming landscape to gaze upon, of which a pretty girl +makes the foreground. + +Jack smiled lazily to himself as he thrust his hand into the tail-pocket +of his coat, but his expression changed tragically as his fingers groped +in vain for the bulky pouch which he had refilled just before leaving +the house. Now, what in the world had happened to that pouch? Could it +have fallen out of his pocket? Impossible! It was too securely +weighted down by its own size. It could not have fallen, but it could +easily have been stolen by the hands of his mischievous charioteer as +she wheeled him across the grass. Jack had no doubt that that was +exactly what had happened, and he congratulated himself on having +smothered an exclamation of dismay, as he saw Mollie's head lifted +cautiously from the pages as if to listen for the expected explosion. + +Jack smiled to himself, knowing full well that her patience would soon +be exhausted, and with it the limit of his punishment. It would be a +joke to pretend to be asleep when, at last, it pleased her ladyship to +turn round! The little witch no doubt was fully aware how pretty she +looked, and fondly imagined that he was wrapt in admiration. It would +be a useful snub to find that he had forgotten all about her. So Jack +rested his head against the cushions of his chair, folded his arms, and +kept his eyes rigorously shut for the next few minutes. He felt +delightfully at ease, and the rays of the sun shining through the +branches were at once so subdued, and so comforting, that it came to +pass that what he had plotted in fun came about in earnest, and at the +end of a few minutes his lids were tightly closed, and his breath came +through his lips in long, regular respirations. + +Mollie heard the sound, and smiled derisively. + +"As if I should believe for one moment that he had gone to sleep!" said +she to herself, with a tilt of the saucy head; but as the moments passed +by, the perfection of the imitation began to disturb her equanimity; the +last breath, for example, approaching perilously near a snore! She +turned cautiously, inch by inch, until a glimpse of the bath-chair could +be obtained, with a fair head drooping upon the cushions. Jack was +asleep! Actually, and in very truth he had calmly slumbered off in +defiance of her displeasure. + +Mollie arose in her wrath, and stood over the unconscious figure, +meditating upon the next step. If Jack Melland imagined for one moment +that she was going to mount guard over his slumbers, he would find +himself vastly mistaken; yet she dared not leave him unprotected, for +the ground sloped away from the tree, and a violent movement on the part +of its occupant would be enough to send the chair racing down the +incline. She stood and pondered, then, drawing a handkerchief from her +pocket, crept on tip-toe to the back of the chair and tied the handle to +a convenient bough. It would be almost impossible for Jack, crippled as +he was, to raise himself and turn round sufficiently to undo the knots; +so, after testing their firmness a second time, Mollie took a circuitous +path to the house, there to amuse herself for an hour or more, until Mr +Jack had time to awake and repent himself of his audacity. + +The awaking came unexpectedly quickly. Perhaps Jack's slumbers had been +disturbed by Mollie's movements, quiet though they had been; certain it +is that she was hardly out of sight before he stirred uneasily, blinked +once or twice, and finally sat erect in a spasm of remembrance. He had +fallen asleep, not in pretence but in actual fact; for how long he had +slept he had no idea, but meantime the bird had flown, no doubt with +feathers much ruffled by wounded pride. + +Jack did not believe that Mollie had gone out of sight; he pictured her +standing a few feet away, squeezed up against the branches of a tree, +with blue skirts held tightly together lest a fold should betray her +presence. Anxiety for his safety would soon bring her rushing to his +side; so he threw himself back in the chair to set it a-going; failed to +make it move, jolted forward, and again found it immovable. Then he +grew suspicious, and craning over his shoulder beheld the tell-tale +handkerchief with the tight little knots twisted purposely well out of +reach. + +So this was Mollie's revenge, to leave him stranded in the middle of the +park until such time as it might please her to set him at liberty! Jack +hardly knew whether to be more amused or indignant at the sense of his +helplessness. It seemed so preposterous that a chit of a girl should be +able to keep him prisoner, that for a moment he seriously contemplated +getting out of the chair and limping back to the house. How contrite +she would be when she returned to find the chair empty; how full of +contrition, and anxiety about his welfare! + +The prospect was not unpleasant; but after nearly a fortnight's +invalidism, he dreaded doing anything to retard convalescence, and the +more he measured with his eye the distance to the house the more +convinced he became that it was beyond his power to accomplish. It +would be ignominious, indeed, to have to give in half-way, and be +discovered by his tormentor sitting prone upon the ground waiting her +arrival. + +Jack determined to be wise in his generation and remain where he was; +but it was dull work sitting alone, without paper or book to while away +the time, and as his chair was turned away from the drive he had not +even the distraction of watching for the return of Ruth and Victor. He +took out his pocket-book, searched through its contents for anything of +interest, made a few calculations on an empty page, and thrust it +impatiently into his pocket. Then he studied his strong white hands, +trying to imagine that they looked thin and delicate, carried out a +systematic search through every one of his pockets, lest, perchance, +anything at all interesting might have wandered into one of them by +mistake; looked at his watch and groaned to find that it was still a +full half-hour to tea-time. At last when patience was well-nigh +exhausted, the crunch of footsteps on the path delighted his ears, and +he called out a vociferous greeting-- + +"Hallo! are you back? Thank goodness for that. I was just looking out +for you." + +No answer. The footsteps came to a momentary pause, then crunched on +again quicker than before. Jack cleared his throat and roared still +louder-- + +"I say, I'm here! Don't go without me; I'm alone; I want to go up to +the house." + +Silence still; another pause and then a deliberate walk onwards, which +roused Jack to veritable anger. This was evidently not Ruth but Mollie, +and Mollie must be taught that there was a point when a joke ceased to +be a joke, and that, bound or free, Jack Melland must be obeyed. When +he spoke again his voice was not loud any longer, but cuttingly cold and +severe. + +"Will you kindly come here and unloose my chair; I refuse to be kept a +prisoner any longer." + +The footsteps paused abruptly; the swish of a silken skirt came across +the grass, and a woman's clear, high-bred voice cried abruptly-- + +"A prisoner! Oh, what is the matter? Please tell me what I can do. I +would have stopped at once, but I did not think you could possibly be +talking to me." + +Jack looked up in amaze, and beheld a tall girl clad in grey, a little +head beautifully poised on an unusually long neck, and a pale, oval +face, out of which looked a pair of deep, violet eyes. The stranger was +not beautiful, not even pretty, but in the way she spoke, in the way she +moved, in the way she stood looking at him, with the folds of her dress +held together in one slender hand, there was an air of distinction which +marked her out from the ordinary run of womankind. + +Jack felt overcome with embarrassment as he remembered his imperious +summons, and so much at a loss to explain his predicament that for a few +moments he could not find words, but just lay back in his chair staring +at her with horrified eyes. + +The stranger evidently perceived his embarrassment, for she came a step +forwards and said tactfully-- + +"I think you must be Mr Melland. May I introduce myself? My name is +Margot Blount I have been lunching at the vicarage, and took the +opportunity of calling upon Miss Farrell before the carriage comes back +for me at five o'clock. I shall be so glad if I can be of any service +to you _en route_." + +"Thank you; you are very kind. I am awfully sorry that I should have +shouted at you in that threatening way," said Jack, smiling in his most +fascinating manner, and he could be remarkably fascinating upon +occasion. "The truth is I am a cripple at present with a sprained +ankle, and my--er--attendant has chosen to run away, and leave me tied +up to this tree. I was getting tired and impatient, hence the summons." + +"Ah," exclaimed Lady Margot, smiling, "I can guess who the attendant +was! Miss Mollie Farrell, was it not? I have heard so much of her from +Mrs Thornton that I am quite longing to see her. Is she at home this +afternoon--and her sister?" + +"I am not sure about Miss Farrell; she went out for a walk after lunch; +but in any case she is sure to return very soon. Miss Mollie is-- +somewhere! It is impossible to be more explicit. Probably some of the +servants will be able to find her for you." + +"I hope so, but first what can I do for you? Shall I untie this noose +and set you free?" + +"Thank you; I should be much obliged. Then, perhaps, you would kindly +ask the butler to send someone to bring me in. I shall hope to see you +later on." + +Lady Margot rustled to the back of the chair, and bent over the knotted +handkerchief. It was tied as if the knots were never intended to be +undone, and presently she paused to take off her gloves before attacking +it again, while Jack expostulated and apologised for the trouble he was +giving. Finally, regardless of her light draperies, Lady Margot knelt +down on the ground so as to work more conveniently, and in the midst of +her efforts a saucy face peered suddenly round the corner of a tree a +few yards distant, and Mollie hove into sight, with head thrown back and +arms a-kimbo in would-be threatening attitude. From her position Jack's +broad shoulders hid from view the grey figure behind the chair, and he +guessed as much, and took a wicked delight in the thought. + +"Well, Mr Melland, I hope you feel refreshed by your slumbers, and have +awakened in a better frame of mind," cried Mollie loftily. "Will you +say you are sorry, and be taken to have tea on the terrace, or be +obstinate and stay here by your lonesome little self?" + +"Neither, thank you; I have been fortunate enough to find a friend in +need, so am no longer dependent on your good offices. Allow me to +introduce you--Miss Mary Farrell--Lady Margot Blount!" said Jack +dramatically. + +Tableau! + +Mollie's arms dropped to her sides and her face grew scarlet under the +garden-hat. So far from rising to her position as hostess, it was the +visitor who came forward to shake hands and speak the conventional words +of greeting. It was, indeed, a cruel Fate which sent just this visitor +at just this very time! Half a dozen times over during the last +fortnight had Mollie donned one of her grand London dresses and sat +primly in the drawing-room, with intent to receive Lady Margot in style, +and impress her with a sense of her own dignity and importance! And +then to be discovered behaving like a mischievous school-girl, and be +taken at such a disadvantage that she could not even find her voice! It +was too annoying! + +"Good-afternoon, Miss Farrell! I was coming up to the house to call +upon you and your sister. I am so happy to have found you at home; and, +do you know, I believe Mr Melland will have to fall back upon your +help, after all. My efforts have not been at all successful. You tie +such good knots!" cried Lady Margot, in a tone of enthusiasm which +seemed to imply that the tying of knots was one of the rarest and most +valuable of accomplishments. Looking into her face, Mollie's +embarrassment died a sudden death, and she found herself smiling back +with a delicious sense of comradeship and understanding. + +"Oh, I know the trick. I can undo them in a moment, and then won't you +come and have tea with us on the terrace? It is all ready, and it seems +a sin to be indoors on this lovely day. My sister will be there waiting +for us; she was just coming up the path by the lake as I turned the +corner." + +"Oh, that is nice!" said Lady Margot. She looked as if she were about +to ask another question, but checked herself, and strolled along beside +the bath-chair, chatting alternately to Jack and Mollie with an ease and +grace which might have come from long years' acquaintanceship. As they +turned the corner of the terrace she was a step in advance, and Mollie +saw her stop short for the fraction of a moment while the colour rushed +into her pale cheeks. She had surprised a pretty little tableau--a +tableau to which the inhabitants of the Court had grown accustomed +during the last few days--Ruth seated on her chair, her lovely head +drooped shyly forward, Victor leaning impressively towards her, his dark +eyes bent on her face. They were too much engrossed to hear the +approaching footsteps, but the sound of the chair crunching over the +gravel at last aroused their attention, when Victor turned round, and +leapt to his feet, white and breathless. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +"THE OGRE." + +It was not a successful tea-party; for the fact of Victor's previous +acquaintance with Lady Margot, so far from acting as a bond of union, +seemed to cast a constraint over all. The meeting between the two had +been cool and unnatural. They persistently avoided speaking to or +looking at each other, and it seemed to Mollie's critical ear as if even +Lady Margot's voice had altered in tone since she had turned the corner +of the terrace. She chatted away as easily as before, but the friendly +manner was replaced by something colder and more formal. As she sat +with veil turned back, the full rays of the sun shining upon her face, +it became more obvious than ever that, in spite of chestnut hair and +violet eyes, Lady Margot fell far short of beauty; but, none the less, +the eye dwelt upon her in fascinated attention, so graceful was the pose +of the small, stag-like head, so finely cut the curve of chin and cheek; +while the smallest action, as of lifting a cup to her lips, became a +veritable joy to behold. + +She was the incarnation of grace, and, looking at her, Mollie became +uncomfortably aware of roughened hair, sunburnt hands, and a dozen +little deficiencies of toilette. Even Ruth suffered from the +comparison, and, despite an obvious effort to sustain her role as +hostess, there was a strained, unhappy expression upon her face which +went to Mollie's heart. + +It was a relief to all when Lady Margot rose to take leave; but when she +offered her hand to Victor in his turn, he said eagerly-- + +"Mayn't I walk down with you to the vicarage? It is so long since we +met! Please let me take you so far!" + +"Oh, certainly, if you can spare the time!" replied Lady Margot with a +careless indifference of manner which made her consent almost more +blighting than a refusal. + +Victor winced beneath it, but made no comment, and the two tall figures +walked slowly down the terrace. Immediately they had disappeared, Jack +summoned a servant to wheel him into the house, and the girls were left +alone. + +They sat silently for a long time, as true friends can do without +offence, Ruth gazing ahead with grey eyes which saw nothing of the +beauty of the scene; Mollie glancing from time to time at her troubled +face, then turning quickly aside, lest her scrutiny might be observed +and resented. + +At length Ruth spoke, letting her figure drop back in her chair with a +gesture of weariness-- + +"I wonder how it is that nothing is ever as nice as one expects? If we +could have looked forward two months ago, and seen ourselves as we are +now, we should have imagined ourselves the happiest creatures on earth; +but I am not. Sometimes it seems quite perfect for a few moments, but +something always happens to rub off the bloom. Uncle Bernard is cross, +or Mrs Wolff stupid, or--or something else! I believe we are not meant +to be happy in this world!" + +Mollie looked up with a quick flush of dissent. + +"Oh, I think that is such a grudging idea! I hate to hear people say +it, and I can't think how they can, when they look round, and see how +bright and beautiful everything has been made! If God had meant us to +be dull and sad, would He have made all the flowers different colours, +and every season different from the last, and the sunsets and the dawn, +and the wonderful changing clouds? It is just a gorgeous feast to +delight our eyes of colour; and all the animals are so cheerful, while +they are young, at least--they skip and dance by instinct, so surely we +must be meant to be happy too!" + +"I don't know," Ruth objected slowly. "Animals have not souls and +responsibilities, but we have, and that keeps us serious. The average +man and woman is not happy, if you can judge by appearances. I remember +reading about a man who walked about the streets of London all day long +to see how many people he should meet with a smile on their faces. I +forget how many there were--half a dozen, perhaps--terribly few!" + +"Well, there would have been thousands, if people were half as grateful +as they should be. Do you know, I sometimes think that what must grieve +God more than almost anything else is that so many people refuse to be +happy, in spite of all He can do, and go on forgetting their blessings, +and making themselves miserable about little bits of silly worries and +bothers day after day. Imagine if you had a child who was always +grizzling, in spite of all your love and care! How would you feel?" + +"But a child is a child. We may be meant to be serious." + +"You can be serious without being glum. You can be happy without being +thoughtless." + +"Ah, Mollie dear," cried Ruth, turning to her sister and holding out her +hand with a rush of tenderness--"ah, Mollie dear, happiness is a gift, +which you possess and I do not! I am sad even on this lovely day, in +this lovely place. It may be wrong, but I can't help it, yet I don't +think I am ungrateful." + +"You are happy enough as a rule; but you do `sup sorrow with a spoon' +when you get the chance, old dear! An hour ago, for instance, the sky +seemed remarkably bright, and I could make a shrewd guess at the reason +of this cloud; but, if I did, I expect you would snap off my head for my +pains!" + +"Yes, I should--I certainly should; so be careful what you say!" cried +Ruth hastily. Then, as if eager to change the subject--"Here is James +coming out with the afternoon letters. I hope there is one from home. +It seems ages since we heard!" + +"Trix! For me. How lovely! I'll read it aloud!" cried Mollie, tearing +open the envelope, and unfolding several odd sheets torn out of an +exercise-book and covered with large, untidy handwriting. Trix's +characteristic epistles were always welcome, and this afternoon's +specimen had arrived in the very nick of time to stop an embarrassing +discussion, and cheer Ruth's drooping spirits. + +Mollie lay back in her chair, and began reading in her clear fresh +tones-- + + "Darling Moll,--While you are basking in the lap of luxury, this poor + critter is snatching a few precious moments from `prep' to answer your + last epistle, and give what news there is. First and foremost, mother + is as well as possible, and goes about with an `open your mouth and + shut your eyes, and in your mouth you'll find a prize' expression, + which puzzles her friends into fits. Poor mum simply dies to tell + them that one of her daughters will shortly become a millionaire! But + she shuts her lips up tight, and looks more mysterious than ever, + because, of course, there is a chance that it may not come off. Don't + let me ever see your faces again if it doesn't, that's all! + + "Fancy you having all those fine clothes! I can't imagine how you + would look respectably attired. Kindly remember Beatrice Olivia for + any cast-off fineries. Hair-ribbons especially desired. I've nothing + left but an old Navy-blue, twisted up like a tape. + + "We had a general intelligence examination at school this week. + Stupid old things! One question was, `What is the complementary + colour to red?' I had never heard of a complementary colour in my + life, and I was just racking my brains to think what to say, when my + eyes happened to light on Miss Smith's carrots. `Ah, ha,' thinks I, + `I have it!' So I put down `auburn,' and was jolly well pleased with + myself until lunch-time came, when I was telling Gladys my answers, + and Miss Bateson heard me, and went into perfect fits! It seems + complementary means something idiotic about two colours making a white + light--as if they ever could! Anyway, I think my answer was very + pretty and tactful--don't you? and I hope it will soften Smithy's hard + heart. + + "Another silly question was, `Order a dinner for a class of twelve + Board-school children, and state what quantities of each article are + required.' One girl ordered a pound of roast beef and a pound of + potatoes for each child, and ten and a half yards of Swiss-roll for + the whole class! I ordered the `scrag-end of the neck.' Haven't the + least idea what it means, but I thought it sounded cheap. I likewise + gave them suet dumplings for pudding. Hope they liked them! + + "Is Mr Melland's ankle getting better? Have you had any more + callers, invitations, rides, excursions, or excitements generally? + Please answer my questions next time, and don't ignore them, as you + generally do. Drummond had a fine adventure yesterday. Another small + boy dared him to stick his head between our railings, and he did, but + it wouldn't come out! He pushed, and the small boy pulled, and a + crowd collected right across the pavement, making kind suggestions, + and commenting on the size of his ears. Whenever he tried to get + back, the railings caught them, and they stuck out like sails. + Finally his pride gave way, and he howled, and a friendly policeman + coming along, poked the rails apart with a stick, or did something or + other, and out he came with a rush. He looked very crushed in every + sense all the evening, so we hope it may be a lesson to him. + + "The next-door girls have new hats--mustard straw, draped with green, + and roses under the brim. It seems so sad to reflect that the poor + dears probably imagine they look quite nice! + + "How is the Ogre? Does he still live in his den, and growl when you + appear? I should be very glad he did shut himself up, when he is so + cross and disagreeable! + + "Well, ta-ta, my darlings! I miss you at home, but I can't say I pine + for your return, for it's quite pleasant to be Number One for a + change, and boss Attica and the Muz. Take care of yourselves, behave + prettily, and don't forget the hair-ribbons.--Your loving Trix." + +"Wild child!" said Ruth, smiling. "She does write the most absurd +letters! Better tear that up at once, Mollie, or burn it when you get +into the house. You have such a trick of leaving things about, and it +isn't safe. Uncle Bernard might--" + +She started violently, and Mollie jumped to her feet as a harsh voice +interrupted the sentence-- + +"Uncle Bernard has already had the pleasure of hearing the way in which +a member of your family writes of him to a visitor in his own house. +Ideas of loyalty seem to have altered since my young days, when it was +considered a breach of decent feeling to eat a man's salt and speak +slightingly of him behind his back!" + +Ruth sat silent, crimson to the roots of her hair; Mollie shuffled +miserably from one foot to another, but did not shrink from the old +man's angry gaze. + +"But how did you hear, Uncle Bernard? Have you been sitting behind this +open window, listening to us all the while we have been talking? I +don't think it is quite fair to do that." + +"Don't you, indeed! I happened to be reading in my armchair, when you +came and planted your chairs immediately outside. I was the first- +comer, you observe, not yourselves, and I cannot say I was interested +enough to listen to your conversation until my attention was attracted +by the description of myself. I presume the very descriptive title was +originally your invention?" + +He planted his stick on the ground, and stared fixedly in Mollie's face. +The grey eyes fell before his, and she answered hesitatingly-- + +"I'm--I'm afraid it was." + +"And do you think it was good manners to write in such a way of your +host?" + +"No, I don't; I think it was hateful. But--" + +"But?" + +Mollie took a step forward, and laid a timid hand on his arm. + +"But, in a sort of way, it is true. You shut yourself up, and you do +growl, and even when you are kind, you pretend to be cross. We have +tried and tried to be friends with you, but you won't let us. We have +said over and over again that we felt as if we were living in an hotel, +and it has been a trouble to us all. I don't wonder you feel angry; but +don't you think you are a wee bit in the wrong yourself?" + +Mr Farrell stared down at the eager face, the wide grey eyes, the +little hand upon his arm, then deliberately drew himself away, saying +coldly-- + +"You would make a good lawyer, my dear. You have a clever trick of +evading an awkward question, and shifting the blame from your own +shoulders. You will excuse me if I say that I can scarcely consent to +discuss my own conduct with a girl of your years. The point I mentioned +was your own conduct in writing disrespectfully of your host." + +"I know, and I've said already that it was horrid; but it was not so +horrid as you think. Trix is my sister, and we all have a habit of +exaggerating and using stronger terms than we really mean. We have a +habit of giving nicknames, too. They are not complimentary as a rule, +but we don't mean to be unkind. If you read some of Trix's other +letters, you would see that we have not been altogether ungrateful. +Will you read them? I have them all upstairs, and could bring them down +in a moment." + +"You are very good. Judging from the specimen I have heard, I think I +would rather decline the honour." + +"Yes; but you ought not to decline! It isn't a question of enjoyment; +it's a question of justice to Ruth and to me. You accuse us of being +disloyal and ungrateful, so it's only fair you should hear our defence. +I will bring down the letters, and you can read them at your leisure. +They may bore you a little, but you will see that we are not so bad as +you think, and that we have not always been uncomplimentary." + +She walked hastily towards the house, leaving Ruth and the old man +alone. He stood leaning on his stick, staring fixedly at her with his +sunken eyes; but her head remained persistently drooped, the dark lashes +lying on the flushed cheeks. + +In the tension of that silence she could hear the beating of her own +heart, and her ears strained nervously for the sound of returning +footsteps. She had not long to wait. With a clatter, Mollie came +scrambling out of the library window, the letters in her hand. + +"There's our defence! Please read them before you scold us any more." + +Mr Farrell took the letters, thrust them into his pocket, then stood +silently, as if waiting for something more. + +Mollie stared at him curiously, but he paid no attention to her; his +gaze was fixed on Ruth's bent figure and downcast face. At length, +surprised at the prolonged silence, she lifted her eyes with a +frightened glance, and immediately Uncle Bernard broke into speech. + +"Yes, I was waiting for you! Have you nothing to say on your own +account?" he demanded sternly. "You seem content to sit silently and +let your sister fight your battles. Is it because you are innocent of +having offended in the same way yourself?" + +Ruth's cheeks flushed to an even deeper rose. + +"I," she stammered--"I--I'm sorry! I didn't mean--" + +Mr Farrell turned to re-enter the house. + +"Ah," he said coldly," so it was cowardice, after all! I understand. +It is an interesting discovery!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +RECEIVING AND PAYING CALLS. + +Two days later Mr Farrell returned Trix's letters with a brief "Thank +you!" which Mollie had enough tact to receive without remark. She was +not conscious of having gained in the old man's graces, though Ruth was +sadly conscious of having fallen from favour. Victor was evidently for +the time being the _persona grata_, his remarks being received with +attention, and his wishes carefully carried out. + +Mollie confessed to herself that Victor's manners were perfect where his +host was concerned, and wondered why it was that she found herself +constantly suspecting his motives. What if he were playing a part to +win the old man's favour? Was it not the unhappy feature of the +situation that they were all, more or less, doing the same thing? + +Meantime, callers arrived daily. Stout, middle-aged matrons, with +pompous manners; thin matrons, precise and formal of speech; tall +elegants, with flowing robes and Parisian millinery; sporting-looking +women, with short skirts and motor-caps. One after another they drove +up to the door and sat for a few moments in the drawing-room, going +through the same stereotyped conversation: "How pleasant to have the +Court opened once more! How do you like Raby? How delightful to have +such delightful summer-like weather!" Then they drank a cup of tea, +nibbled a piece of cake, and said: "_Good_-afternoon! _So_ pleased to +have met you! We shall hope to see you again _very_ soon!" + +Occasionally the matron brought a daughter in her train, and still more +occasionally a shy, depressed-looking husband; but at the best of times +the calls were not cheerful occasions, and Ruth and Mollie looked +forward with little pleasure to paying their return visits. + +"Though it must at least be more interesting than receiving at home, for +we shall see other people's houses, and the way they arrange their +drawing-rooms. I do love studying strange drawing-rooms!" said Ruth +meditatively. "In country houses they ought to be charming--all chintzy +and smelling of pot-pourri! All the same, Mollie, I'm disappointed in +the neighbours. They aren't a bit thrilling, as we expected." + +"People generally seem uninteresting at first. They may turn out to be +perfect darlings, when we know them better. I dare say they drove away +saying the same thing of us, for we behaved like a couple of +marionettes, sitting dressed up in our best, saying, `Yes, indeed!' +`No, indeed!' `Very much, indeed!' `Thank you so much!' as if we were +wound up by machinery. We must really launch out, and say something a +trifle more original!" + +It was quite an exciting occasion when the girls set out on their first +calling expedition. It was an ideal May afternoon, and the prospect of +driving over the countryside in an open carriage, behind two prancing +horses, was in itself a delight. + +Victor was to make one of the party, but Jack refused contemptuously to +accompany them if only for the drive, declaring that even a sprained +ankle had its silver lining if it let him off so boring a function. He +was sitting in the hall, waiting to cheer--or more strictly speaking, to +jeer--the departure, when Ruth came downstairs buttoning her gloves, +and, to her surprise, Mr Farrell was also present. + +Both men looked up critically as she appeared, but neither glance was +altogether approving. Her new dress looked too old and staid for so +young a girl; moreover, her expression was fretful and worried. As she +reached the spot where the two men were seated, Victor came into the +hall from the doorway and looked round impatiently. + +"Are you ready, Miss Ruth? The carriage has been waiting for some time +now." + +"Oh, I have been ready for ages! It's Mollie who is the laggard. She +has been dressing ever since lunch, and is dressing still. I don't know +when she will be finished." + +Mr Farrell turned imperiously to the butler. + +"Be kind enough to send a message to Miss Mary that I object to having +the horses kept waiting. Three o'clock was the hour arranged, and it is +already a quarter past. Ask how soon she will be ready!" + +The man departed, and there was an uncomfortable silence for several +minutes, broken at last by the banging of a door and the sound of racing +footsteps. A white-and-blue vision came flying down the staircase, with +filmy skirts floating behind, white feathers drooping over the golden +hair, a cobweb parasol unfurled, and held triumphantly aloft. + +"I'm sorry! It took such ages to fasten, and I had to take my hair down +and do it up again to get the hat at the right angle. I wanted to +fasten my gloves, to give you the whole effect, parasol and all. +There!" Mollie strutted to and fro, turning her head from side to side +like a sleek, self-satisfied pigeon. "How do you like it? Don't you +think I look rather--nice?" + +The two young men laughed aloud, and Mr Farrell said drily-- + +"Fine feathers make fine birds! I am glad to see that you have honoured +my friends by wearing your fineries for their benefit. Ruth, I presume, +prefers to keep hers for another occasion?" + +Ruth dropped her eyelids and vouchsafed no reply. There was a little +lump in her throat at that moment which would have made it difficult to +speak in her usual voice. It was hard to have denied herself for +naught, and less than naught, for Mollie's extravagance seemed more to +the old man's taste than her own prudence. It was not the first time +that the difference in their attire had been the subject of little edged +remarks, which had made her bitterly regret the lost opportunity. + +Seated in the carriage opposite Victor, she was still further depressed +by the fear that he was also comparing her with Mollie, to her own +disadvantage; but there was no hint of such a thought in his look or +manner. The dark eyes met hers with sympathetic understanding. At +every point he deferred to her opinion with a subtle flattery which was +inexpressibly soothing to her wounded feelings. + +The occupants of the first house on the list were not at home, so a +sheaf of cards were left, and the carriage sped on another mile to +Number 2, where the family were discovered superintending the +arrangements of bedding-out plants round the front lawn. They greeted +the visitors with easy cordiality, consulted them on the knotty question +of geraniums _versus_ begonias, escorted them round the gardens, and +were vociferously reproachful when they refused to stay another half- +hour to partake of tea. + +As the carriage drove up the drive leading to the third house, a +masculine figure was seen rushing to conceal itself behind the bushes, +and the visitors had hard work to conceal their smiles when their +hostess sent an urgent message to summon her husband from the grounds, +and, on hearing that he could not be found, expressed her conviction +that he would be woefully disappointed to have missed the pleasure of +making their acquaintance. + +"A fellow-feeling makes us wondrous kind! I don't feel a bit of a +grudge against that fellow," Victor said laughingly, as they drove off +once more. "With your permission, I am going to follow his example and +make a bolt of it when we get back to the high-road. I shall enjoy the +walk home, after being cramped up all afternoon. You will excuse me, +won't you?" + +"But we are going to the Moat. That's the next house on the list. +Don't you want to see Lady Margot?" cried Mollie, outspoken as usual. + +Both girls stared at him in amazement, but there was no sign of +embarrassment on the handsome, smiling face. + +"Very much, of course, but not enough to face another drawing-room +catechism, accompanied by draughts of strong tea. There will be no +escape this time, so you must be generous, and let me run for it, like +poor Mr Granger! I have been very good and docile, but if you only +knew how I am longing for freedom!" + +There was no gainsaying such a request, nor, indeed, did either of the +girls particularly wish to do so. + +They made no objections, therefore, but, putting Victor down at the +cross-roads, drove on their way in great good-humour. + +The Moat was a picturesque old house, though by no means so imposing as +the Court. The man-servant reported that Mrs Blount was not well +enough to receive visitors, but that Lady Margot was at home and +disengaged; and the visitors were shown into a pleasant, sunny +apartment, where Margot herself was seated reading. She looked up +apprehensively at the sound of the opening door; but at the sight of the +two girls her expression changed, and she came forward to greet them +with an eagerness which could not be mistaken. + +"This is good of you to come so soon! And I am alone, so we can have a +delightful chat all to ourselves. Bring tea, Wilson, please. Do come +and sit down, and let me make you comfortable! My aunt is not +downstairs to-day, and I was getting so bored with my own society that I +am doubly pleased to see you! There are so few girls of my own age in +this neighbourhood that I find it rather dull after the rush and bustle +of town. It is so good of you to be here at the same time as me!" + +"It is very nice for us," responded Mollie brightly; while truthful Ruth +hesitated to find some reply which would be at once polite and non- +committal. "But isn't it a strange time for you to come to this quiet +place, when London is at its brightest and gayest?" + +"Ah, thereby hang many tales!" cried Lady Margot, laughing. "The most +important is, perhaps, that I am not strong enough to go through a +season just now; but I have no intention of being dull even in Raby. We +must amuse each other and do all kinds of nice things together. The +great lack on my visits, so far, has been to find any other girls with +whom I could be intimate; but now that you are here it will be quite +different." + +"But we are only country-cousins, Lady Margot. You will find that we +are very ignorant of the things that have made up your life. We are +very poor at home, and have had to do most of our gaieties in +imagination," said Ruth; while Mollie gave a little gurgle of laughter, +and cried-- + +"Let's tell her about Berengaria and Lucille!" + +Lady Margot looked her curiosity, and, when the nature of the game was +explained in detail in Mollie's breezy language, went into peals of +delighted laughter, and rocked to and fro in her chair. + +"How lovely--oh, how lovely! I do think it is too funny! I must call +you Berengaria and Lucille. Do you mind? Such wonderful names! How +did you manage to hit on them? I used to imagine, too; and what do you +think was my dream? Instead of being a lonely only girl, I was a large +family of grown-up sisters, and schoolboys coming home for the holidays, +and little dots in the nursery--all in my own little self. You can't +imagine how dull it is to be an only girl!" + +"No," asserted Ruth doubtfully. "But rather nice to get all the petting +and consideration! When you are the eldest of seven children, you are +always expected to set an example, and it is very wearing at times. How +delightful that you amused yourself `pretending,' just as we did! That +makes quite a bond of union between us!" + +"Yes, indeed! But lucky creatures, your dream seems about to come true, +while I am as lonely as ever. Your position at the Court is so +romantic! You don't mind my speaking about it, do you, because everyone +knows, and is so interested in the result? Of course, one of you must +be the lucky heir; and then we shall be neighbours, and see each other +constantly. Which is it to be--Berengaria, or Lucille?" + +"Mollie!" said Ruth. + +"Ruth!" said Mollie. "Don't believe her, Lady Margot. She is a wee bit +out of favour the last few days, but I haven't a chance beside her. She +has the Farrell eyebrows, you see, and the Farrell frown, and poise of +the head. When she is sitting in the dining-room, you could tell at +once that she was a descendant of the oil-paintings. I often see Uncle +Bernard looking from her to them, and he is far more amiable to her than +to any of us, as a rule. We all agree that she is far and away the +chief favourite." + +"Really! You discuss it among yourselves, and come to the same +conclusions. How interesting!" said Lady Margot. "And the two men-- +your cousins--do they have no chance at all, poor things?" she asked +lightly. + +"They are not our cousins. They belong to different sides of the house, +and we had never met till we came down here. Mr Melland refuses to be +considered as a `candidate,' and is staying only till his ankle is +better. Mr Druce,"--Ruth hesitated uncertainly--"he is very nice to +Uncle Bernard. They talk together a good deal. Sometimes I think his +chance is very good." + +"He is certainly second favourite, so far; but we have more than two +months still before us. I intend to cut them both out long before then. +May I have one of those dear little scones? I am quite hungry after my +drive!" Mollie said, as she in turn was presented with a dainty +Worcester cup. + +She watched Lady Margot with intent eyes, as she flitted about the room, +placing little tables beside her guests for their greater convenience. + +"Such a plain dress, and almost no jewellery, and her hair so simply +done; but she looks a Lucille through and through, as I should never do, +however fine I might be!" she said admiringly to herself. + +"We must think what we shall do to amuse ourselves, mustn't we? You +have begun your round of dinners already, I hear; but in Raby they are +apt to be a trifle too agricultural. All the men talk about their crops +at this time of the year, and, as the prospects are generally bad, they +get gloomier and gloomier as each course comes on. Mr Druce told me +that Mr Early has paid you a visitation, so, if you take his +conversation as a sample, you can judge of the combined effect. I don't +ask what he talked about, because I know!" + +"Yes," murmured Ruth vaguely, while her eye met Mollie's in an +involuntary appeal. "Mr Druce told me!"--But Mr Early's call had +taken place only three days before, nearly a week after Lady Margot's +visit to the Court. "Mr Druce told me!" That meant that Margot had +met Victor yesterday or the day before, and had talked with him some +time, for the prosy Mr Early would not be an early subject of +conversation. Victor often went out riding alone, and there was no +reason in the world why he should not call on an old acquaintance. But +why make a mystery of it, and avoid the call to-day by an obvious +subterfuge? Ruth was very quiet for the rest of the visit, and Lady +Margot glanced at her more than once as she chatted with Mollie. When +tea was over she came out to the porch to watch their departure. + +"_Au revoir_, Berengaria--_au revoir_, Lucille!" she cried gaily, as the +carriage drove away; but as she turned from the door, the smile faded +from her face, and was replaced by a very thoughtful expression. + +"I see--I see it all! Poor pretty thing!" she said tenderly to herself. +"I am sorry for her and for poor Margot, too! Which of us, I wonder, +is the more to be pitied?" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +PREPARING FOR THE GARDEN-PARTY. + +Mrs Thornton took counsel with her husband as to the best form of +hospitality she could show to the squire's visitors. + +"I want to be one of the first to entertain them formally. It is a duty +in our position," she explained. "The girls have been to tea several +times, and that dear Mollie runs up to the nursery as naturally as if +she were at home; but I think we ought to do more. The squire will +expect it; and then the question is, dear--what can we do?" + +"Just so." The vicar smiled, half amused, half quizzical. "The means +at our disposal are distinctly limited. We can't ask them to dinner, +because the staff is incapable of cooking and serving an extensive +meal." + +"And there are only three sherry-glasses left, and Mary broke the round +glass dish last week--the one I always used for the trifle. And the +dinner-service... We really must buy a new dinner-service, Stanford!" + +"We really must, Agnes--some time! I think all the objections taken +together put the dinner-party out of the question. Would not a somewhat +more formal tea--" + +"No." Mrs Thornton shook her head decidedly. "A formal tea is the +most depressing function imaginable. If it was a little later on, I +would suggest a hay-party. As it is, I am afraid it must be a garden- +party, pure and simple." + +The vicar laughed. + +"Simple, it certainly would be. Our poor little lawn, one tennis-court, +and the flower-garden a mass of weeds! We can't afford a band of +minstrels, or even the ordinary ices and hothouse fruits. I am afraid +it might be rather a failure, Agnes." + +But Mrs Thornton refused to be discouraged. + +"Nonsense, dear! People don't expect extravagant entertainments at a +vicarage! The children and I can undertake the weeding, and when that +is done the dear old herbaceous borders will look charming! The lawn is +not big, but there is delightful shade beneath the beech-trees, and we +can draw the piano up to the drawing-room window, and get a few people +to sing for us--Maud Bailey and Mrs Reed; and I believe Mr Druce has a +fine voice. I'll ask him to be very kind, and give us a song. As for +refreshments, I can give good tea and coffee, and the best cream for +miles around, and people can exist without ices for once in a way. +Given a bright, fine day, I could manage beautifully!" + +"I have no doubt you could. But why go through the ceremony of asking +my advice, Mistress Thornton, when your mind has been made up from the +beginning? Go your ways--go your ways! I wash my hands of all +responsibility!" cried the vicar, laughing, as he walked back to his +study, leaving his wife to sit down to her desk and make out a lengthy +list of guests, which included everyone of note for miles round. + +During the days to come Mr Thornton often sympathised with his wife on +the amount of work she had undertaken in order to entertain the squire's +guests; but, even to his unobservant eyes, it was apparent that, so far +from being exhausted, she throve beneath it, and appeared brighter and +younger than for years past. All work and no play has an even more +depressing effect upon Jill than on Jack, and Mrs Thornton was by +instinct a hospitable creature, who would have loved nothing better than +a houseful of guests and a constant succession of entertainments. With +small means, a large family, and a straggling parish, her time and +energy were for the most part engrossed in sheer hard work, so that the +prospect of a little "jollification," as she laughingly expressed it, +came as a welcome variety. + +The invitations to the Court were sent out first, to make sure of the +most important guests, and down came the girls with notes of acceptance, +and a hundred curious questions. + +"Who is coming? What are you going to do? What dresses shall we wear? +Can we help?" they asked eagerly; whereupon Mrs Thornton laughed, and +replied hesitatingly-- + +"It is most incorrect; you ought to know nothing of the make-shifts, but +just drive down to enjoy the completed effect; but, yes,--I cannot +resist the pleasure of your company. Come, if you like, and I'll +promise you some real hard work." + +"That's right; and you'll find us so useful! We have been born and +brought up on make-shifts, and can make anything out of nothing, and a +box of tacks--can't we, Ruth?" cried Mollie, in the brutally outspoken +manner which always brought a flush into her sister's face. + +It was not so much foolish shame at the fact of poverty, but the stab of +painful repugnance which came with the remembrance of the bareness and +lack of beauty which characterised the old life. After a month's +sojourn at the Court the day of small things seemed far away, and she +shrank at the possibility of returning to it as a permanency. + +When Mrs Thornton began to enumerate her difficulties, and escorted the +girls from one room to another to ask their advice upon various knotty +points, it was like the probing of a wound to Ruth's sensitive nerves. +The house itself was roomy and well built, but in a hopeless state of +disrepair. The paint was worn and dingy; the wallpapers so old- +fashioned and discoloured that all Mrs Thornton's painstaking efforts +after cheerfulness and beauty were foiled by the inartistic background. + +"I shed tears over the drawing-room paper when I was first married," +said Mrs Thornton, with a laugh and a shrug. "But, as one gets older, +there are so many more serious things to cry over that one learns to be +philosophical. I thought I might put some big, spreading branches in +these old pots to cover the walls as much as possible, for we must have +some rooms available in case of a shower. A wet day is too terrible a +catastrophe to contemplate, so we won't even imagine it. Given sunshine +and unlimited borrowing, we can struggle through. Think of it, my +dears--I have invited over a hundred people, and we possess twelve +teaspoons!" + +Mollie gurgled with laughter in her hearty, infectious manner. + +"I'd give up sugar for the day, and do without. That's one off the +list. Shall we ask the butler to send down a supply? I'm sure he has +hundreds stowed away in those great plate-chests." + +"My dear, no! I should not think of it!" cried Mrs Thornton, aghast. +"I can manage quite well without troubling the squire. Pray don't +repeat any of my thoughtless remarks to him. My husband says that my +tongue runs away with me far too often." + +Ruth protested politely, but Mollie preserved an unusual silence for the +rest of the visit. She was evidently thinking hard, and the result of +her cogitations was, that when she returned to the Court she paid a +surprise visit to Mr Farrell in his sanctum. + +The old man was sitting reading in his favourite chair, and as he looked +up it struck Mollie that he looked more alert than she had seen him +since her arrival. The voice in which he answered her greeting was +certainly less wearied and fretful than usual. He looked, if such a +miracle could be believed, almost pleased to see her. + +"Well,--so you have returned from your wanderings!" + +"Yes, here I am, come to bother you again. There's a whole half-hour +before you need begin to dress, and I've something very important to +talk to you about." + +"What does that mean, pray? More new dresses? I should have thought +you could hardly have come to the end of the last supply by this time." + +"Goodness, no! They will last for years. It is something far more +important." + +Mollie seated herself on a low chair directly opposite the old man, +leant her elbows on her knees, her chin on her hands, and said +hesitatingly-- + +"Uncle Bernard!" + +"Mary!" + +"Do you remember the first evening we were here, when you spoke to us +about our visit? You said that you might possibly allow each of us in +turn to act as master or mistress of the ceremonies for a short time?" + +"I believe I did say something of the kind. It occurred to me that it +might be an interesting experiment." + +"And did you mean that we could really do what we liked, about money and +everything else, just as if we were really and truly the real owner in +your place?" + +Mr Farrell smiled somewhat grimly. + +"If your sister asked me that question, I should say `Yes.' Knowing as +I do your capacity for extravagance, I am a little more cautious. +Within reasonable limits that is, however, what I meant to imply." + +"Ah!" sighed Mollie deeply. "But it all depends on what you call +reasonable. At any rate, you can only refuse, and things can be no +worse than they are at present. Please, Uncle Bernard, may I begin my +reign from to-day?" + +"Your reign! You put it forcibly, my dear--more so than is perhaps +quite pleasant in my ears. And you are the youngest of the four; your +turn should come last, not first. When the others have had their +trial--" + +"But they have never asked for it; they don't want it, and I do; and you +said nothing about taking turns when you made the suggestion. If you +let me begin, they could take warning from my mistakes. I don't think +you would find they disliked the arrangement. Do, please, be kind and +say `Yes.'" + +Mr Farrell reflected for a moment, bringing the tips of his fingers +together. + +"As you say, you are the first to express any desire to take me at my +word. If it pleases you to assume the reins of government for a short +time, I have no objection." + +"You mean it really? I can begin at once, and give what orders I like?" + +"Subject, as I have said, to some possible restrictions if your +enthusiasm carries you too far. There is evidently some big scheme +looming behind this request. You had better let me know the worst at +once. What is to be your first extravagance?" + +Mollie's head still rested in the cup of her hands. She looked at him +steadily, with a little flame of determination in her grey eyes. + +"I am going to have the vicarage painted and papered from top to bottom. +It's disgracefully shabby! The paper is hanging off the walls in some +places, and where it isn't, it would be almost better if it were, it is +so ugly and worn. It is too bad to expect Mr and Mrs Thornton to do +all the hard, depressing work of the parish and keep bright and cheerful +themselves, when their home is enough to give the blues to a clown! It +looks as if it hadn't been touched for a century!" + +Mr Farrell lowered his eyelids and sat in a grim silence, while the +clock ticked a full two minutes. Mollie, watching his face, saw the +thin lips grow thinner and thinner, as they were pressed the more firmly +together; the horizontal lines in his forehead deepened into furrows. +There was no mistaking the fact that he was displeased, and deeply +displeased, even before the cold eyes met hers once more. + +"I had no intention now, or at any other time, of allowing you to assume +control over the whole parish! My proposition referred simply to this +house and your own entertainment. I am still capable of looking after +my own property." + +"But--" began Mollie, and stopped short. + +Even her courage failed before the obvious retort that the property was +not looked after, but allowed to fall into dilapidation; but Mr Farrell +understood without the need of words, and his eyes flashed with anger. + +"You must permit me to judge for myself! When my day is over, whoever +comes into possession can squander my money as he or she sees fit, but I +cannot hurry the time forward, however much you may desire it. You must +be patient and wait. It may come sooner than you think." + +Mollie sprang to her feet with an exclamation of mingled pain and anger. + +"Oh, Uncle Bernard, how cruel! How can you say anything so horrid and +unjust! It isn't true, and you know it isn't true, and I don't deserve +it! I only asked for what you yourself suggested." + +"I never suggested that you should interfere with my property, and +criticise what I had chosen to do or left undone. As for not deserving +reproach, you must have made very sure of stepping into my shoes since +you wish to wear them while I am still here. No doubt I appear to you a +mere cumberer of the ground; but it is my ground, I would have you +remember. You cannot take liberties with it yet awhile." + +"I don't want it! I never want it! I'll go home to-morrow! You have +no right to taunt me like this!" cried Mollie, trembling with such a +storm of indignation and wounded feeling as she had rarely known in her +bright, easy-going existence. + +A rush of ugly words came to her lips, and struggled for utterance, +while Mr Farrell sank back in his chair, and lay crouched against the +cushions, one thin hand pressed heavily over his heart. The look, the +action, brought Mollie to herself with a stab of recollection. + +Whatever he had said to wound her pride, she had no right to forget his +weakness, his danger, his lonely, piteous age. Anger died a rapid +death, and gave place to an even keener sympathy. When Mr Farrell +looked up again, it was to find the grey eyes wet with tears, and the +lips trembling with emotion. + +"Oh, you poor old man--you poor old man! Why will you make it so +difficult? Why won't you let us love you and be a comfort, instead of a +trouble? We would, if you would allow us. We want to, but you keep us +at arm's length, and scold and sneer. I am not thinking of myself. I +am young and strong, and I have my home and my dear little mother. I +shall be happy, whatever happens. It's _you_ I am sorry for! I hate to +see you ill and lonely. You have given a great deal to me; can't you be +generous enough to take something in return? There are only two months +left. The time is nearly half over. Can't we be friends--real +friends--until the end?" + +She drew nearer as she spoke, and saw no rebuff in the watching face, +until at last she sank on her knees before him, and timidly touched his +hand. + +"Uncle Bernard, speak! Say something to me!" + +Still the old man hesitated; but his hand lay quietly in hers, and did +not try to escape. + +"What can I say?" he asked slowly at last. "I believe you are a good +child; I believe you are honest; but my days are past for making +friendships. I have felt deeply in my time, but the power of loving +died away with everything else which made life worth living. I cannot +promise what is impossible." + +"But you can at least give me a chance of loving you. I won't ask any +more favours if you will just talk to me a little sometimes, without +sneering at me, and let me walk with you about the grounds and be a +little bit of a companion. Will you? You might get to like me a little +bit in time, and it would not be quite so lonely." + +"I can imagine things less impossible. You are a good child; but +remember, Mollie, my liking or not liking has nothing to do with my +choice of an heir. The condition to which I referred might easily apply +to one who appealed to me in no other way. It is only right to warn +you." + +But the listener took no heed of the warning. Her face was one radiant +beam of delight. + +"You called me `Mollie'!" she cried. "It was the very first time! That +really does sound as if we were going to be friends?" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +MR. FARRELL MAKES HIS WILL. + +It was not in human nature--not in Mollie's nature, at least--to resist +"showing off" a little after that momentous interview, and her sudden +familiarity with their host filled her companions with amazed curiosity. +Ruth had naturally heard all that had passed, and loyally stifled the +dawning of envy, but the young men were at a loss to account for what +seemed to them a mysterious change of favourites. + +"Miss Mollie is outstripping us all! She has stepped into the position +of first favourite this last fortnight," Victor Druce said, as the four +young people sat on the terrace steps waiting for tea, a few days after +the visit to the vicarage. + +He laughed as he spoke, but in a half-hearted manner, and tugged heavily +at the ends of his moustache, while he scrutinised Mollie's face through +half-closed lids. She beamed at him gaily in response, scorning mock- +modest protestations. + +"Oh yes; we understand each other ever so much better! I have been +impressing upon him ever since our first meeting that I am really very +nice, and at last he is beginning to realise it for himself. He likes +me very much. He told me so with his very own lips; but he told me +something else, too." + +"Yes! May we inquire--" + +"Oh, certainly! It is quite as interesting to you as to me. Liking has +nothing whatever to do with the mysterious condition; he may quite +probably choose the one of us he cares for least, as his heir. +`Curiouser and curiouser,' as Alice said; isn't it?" + +"Humph! There may be a chance for me, after all," said Jack lightly. + +Victor knitted his brows, and tugged once more at his moustache. + +"He said so definitely--you are sure you are not mistaken? Then how can +one possibly judge? That upsets all our theories at a blow." + +"That's what I thought myself. I felt sure that it would be Ruth, but +now I am all at sea; but, for my own part, I'm glad. It is easier to be +good friends when there is nothing mercenary involved." + +Mollie smiled her sunny, candid smile, and lay back in her deck-chair, +her hands clasped easily behind her head. It was delightful to laze in +the sunshine, to feel at peace with all the world. The present was so +all-absorbing that she had no time to worry her head about the future; +but Ruth sat by her side, with unseeing eyes bent upon her book, while +the swift thoughts surged through her brain. + +She also had felt inwardly convinced that Uncle Bernard's choice would +fall upon herself, who was so truly a daughter of his race, and it had +been a shock to learn that there was nothing to be deduced from his +signs of preference; but of late days there was another problem which +was becoming of even more vital interest than the heirship of the Court. + +Even as she sat there, with averted head, she was acutely conscious of +Victor's presence. She seemed to know, without looking in his +direction, the absorbed, contented expression of the dark face. She +knew it so well by this time--knew it in an aspect which no one saw but +herself; for when they were alone together, it was as if a mask fell +away, and revealed the true man. Then he looked at her with open +admiration, spoke unreservedly of himself, and drew her out to tell of +her own life, and hopes, and ambitions. And there were even more +thrilling moments, when the talk ceased, and they sat side by side, +silent, yet absorbed, acutely conscious of each other's presence; +delightfully, inexplicably confused. + +At such moments Ruth confessed to herself that this man, whose very +existence she had been unaware of a few weeks before, was fast becoming +to her the most important person in the world, and it seemed as certain +that he reciprocated her feelings. At such moments, yes! but certainty +died away into uneasy doubt, as upon the approach of a third person-- +even the insignificant Mrs Wolff herself--Victor fell back into his +carefully conventional manner. + +It was not that she expected or desired any demonstration in public. +Ruth was by nature far too reserved to welcome such an exhibition; but +the two attitudes were so widely divided, Victor's care in keeping them +apart so sedulous, that she could not but be perturbed. Ruth's heart +had never before been touched; but love needs no apprenticeship, and she +felt by instinct that such self-control was unnatural. Surely, surely, +if he really "cared," there would be moments when his eyes would +involuntarily meet hers, when his voice would soften in tone. + +Then there was Lady Margot Blount! What was the real history of that +acquaintanceship? Why did Victor affect to avoid her, while really +meeting her in secret? + +While Ruth sat dreaming, tea was brought out, and Mr Farrell came +limping down the terrace to join the party. It was not often that he +favoured them with his presence at the afternoon meal, but the day was +so fine and sunny that it was really warmer out of doors than in the +house, and as he sat he spread out his wrinkled hands, evidently +enjoying the newly-found heat. + +Ruth waited upon him with a pretty deference, while Mollie chattered on +in her usual unabashed fashion. The old man appeared to pay no +attention, but he evidently listened more closely than he cared to +admit, for a casual mention of Margot Blount's name evoked a quick +glance and question-- + +"You all seem to speak of Lady Margot in a very familiar fashion; I have +not the pleasure of her acquaintance, but from all I have heard I should +not imagine she was inclined to make friendships lightly. You have met +her--how often? Once or twice?" + +He looked at Mollie as he spoke, but Mollie deliberately avoided his +eyes, turning towards Victor in a marked manner, which left him no +choice but to reply. It was a mischievous impulse to avenge herself and +Ruth for his desertion of a few days before, and to discover the truth +about that secret meeting of which Margot herself had spoken. Her face +seemed solemnity itself to the casual observer, but as he looked at her +Jack choked suddenly over his tea, and hitched his chair in an opposite +direction. He would have laughed outright if he had looked one moment +longer. As for Victor, his dark eyes shot out a spark of annoyance, +just one; then he answered with smiling unconcern-- + +"Lady Margot and I are not quite strangers, sir; I met her in town a +good deal last year. We have some friends in common. It was only +renewing an acquaintance when we met again the other day." + +"Indeed--indeed!" Mr Farrell looked unusually interested and alert. +"I am glad to hear that. The Blounts are some of the most important +people in the neighbourhood. In the old days there was a strong +friendship between the two families, which I should be pleased to see +renewed. You were introduced to the old people when you called at the +Moat, I presume?" + +Here was a direct question which could not be avoided. Jack and Mollie +turned towards Victor with glances of elaborately veiled curiosity. +Ruth clattered the tea-cups together, carefully averting her eyes. +Anxious as she was to hear the reply, she hated the knowledge that +Victor was being placed in an awkward position,--hated the consciousness +that the others were enjoying the embarrassment. + +The pause lasted but a moment; then Victor spoke in his most casual +tones-- + +"No; I have not seen them yet. I have run across Lady Margot once or +twice in my morning rides, and had the opportunity of a talk with her, +so I thought it better to defer a more formal call. Miss Farrell was +kind enough to leave my card, but I did not wish to put myself too much +_en evidence_!" + +Mr Farrell frowned. + +"You had better go soon, then--the sooner the better. As you know the +niece, there is all the more reason for paying due respect to the uncle +and aunt. You will no doubt receive an invitation after this exchange +of visits, and it must be returned as soon as possible. I knew the +girl's father in his youth. He was a fine fellow. If she is like him, +she must be worth knowing. She cannot be very young,--nearer thirty +than twenty, I should say. It is a wonder that she is not married, or +engaged. Is she engaged, do you happen to know?" + +Again the others waited, leaving Victor to reply, and for the first time +a faint flush showed itself on his cheek. + +"I believe not. There was no talk of it last autumn. I have heard no +rumours--" + +"I am surprised at that. It is a poor family, and she will have little +or no money; but the name and position ought to count for something. +They would be almost more valuable than money to a young man beginning +life." + +"I am thankful that I have no name or position! I should like my +husband to value me for myself, not for what I possessed!" cried Mollie +quickly. + +It gave her an uncomfortable feeling, amounting almost to an augury of +ill, to hear Uncle Bernard talking of Margot Blount with such unusual +interest. The first definite wish which he had expressed was in +connection with her name; his last remarks virtually sanctioned with his +approval any aspirations which Victor might secretly treasure. Lady +Margot Blount could hardly be expected to marry a struggling barrister; +but if that barrister were the possible heir of the Court, his +importance became at once largely increased. + +Victor was unfailing in his efforts to please his host, and the result +of this conversation would inevitably be a closer intimacy with the +Blount family, which, even if it led to nothing more serious, would of a +certainty cloud Ruth's happiness. Mollie was by no means sure that she +approved of Victor as a suitor for her beloved sister, but, with +delightful inconsistency, she hated the idea of his daring to care for +anyone else, and the thought lent an unwonted edge to her voice-- + +"It's horrid to talk about marriage in that mercenary fashion, as if it +were a pure business arrangement. When I hear such remarks, I'm +thankful that I haven't a penny piece in the world!" + +"If that is your feeling, you would be in a most unfortunate position as +the owner of the Court. It would be a pity to disturb your equanimity, +my dear." + +Mr Farrell stretched out his thin hands on his knees, looking at her +with quizzical eyes, whereupon Mollie forgot her anger, and gave one of +her gay, infectious laughs, nodding her head towards him in mischievous, +new-found familiarity. + +"Ah, you had me there! But I might be like Queen Bess, you know, and +prize my kingdom above any man; or, if one came along whom I really +wanted to marry, I'd send him to slay dragons and carry off golden +apples, to prove his devotion and disinterestedness. Don't cut me off +through any mistaken scruples, Uncle Bernard. I'd really make a +delightful chatelaine, and I should enjoy it so! No one appreciates the +real object of money more than I do!" + +"And what is your idea of the `real value,' if one may ask?" + +"To spend, of course!" she answered audaciously. "It is the only thing +to do, for if you keep it, it's just a dull collection of coins. I love +spending! Now, if I became a big heiress to-morrow, would you like to +know what I should do?" + +"Extremely; it would be most interesting!" said Mr Farrell. + +"Yes, Miss Mollie, do tell us!" urged Victor. + +Jack looked up with a puckered brow, half amused, half anxious, and Ruth +murmured a gentle "Mollie dear!" Mollie was not to be deterred by +encouragement or warning. She lay back in her chair, tapping off each +item on her fingers as she spoke, her face one beam of mischievous +enjoyment. + +"I'd settle annuities on all my relations and friends. I'd buy the most +exquisite presents, and send them round to everyone who had been kind to +me in my poor estate. I'd give huge donations to governess's Homes, and +funds for poor gentlewomen, and send them flowers, and fruit, and game. +I'd go to Liberty's, and buy artistic furniture, and hire experts to +superintend decorations, and, while the house was being put in order, +I'd go a voyage round the world, and buy stacks of lovely things at +every port, and see all the sights, and come home laden with spoils! +Then I'd settle down, and,"--she chuckled complacently--"I _would_ have +a good time! I'd have every single thing I wanted, and never think of +what it cost!" + +"Until the bailiffs arrived; which would be surprisingly soon, I should +imagine!" said Uncle Bernard drily. "You have not much idea of the +responsibility of wealth, my dear. I prefer not to discuss the point, +however. My own views, which are peculiar, are set forth in the Will +which is lying in the desk in my room." + +The four young people looked up sharply. The same question was on the +lips of each; but it was Victor's eagerness which first found words-- + +"The Will?--Now! But surely--?" + +Mr Farrell's lips twisted into a grim smile, as if he had of deliberate +purpose provoked their curiosity. + +"You are surprised that I have already come to a conclusion. It is by +no means unchangeable; but, in the extremely precarious condition of my +health, I do not think it safe to delay matters indefinitely. This Will +was drawn up last week, and is based upon my impressions up to the +present time. If I live it is extremely likely that I may alter my mind +once and again; but it should be a comfort to you all to feel that, at +the worst, I am not unprepared." + +He looked from one to the other with the same faint, mocking smile, his +gaze lingering on Ruth's troubled face. Her eyes expressed a +questioning so intense as to be almost wild; then slowly they fell +before his, and a crimson tide rushed over her cheeks. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +HARD AT WORK. + +Preparations for Mrs Thornton's garden-party went on uninterruptedly +during the next week, and grew in fervour as the great day approached. +Everybody had accepted, as the hostess announced with a groan and a +laugh; and the vicar threatened to be called abroad on urgent business, +so alarmed was he at the prospect of the fashionable throng which was to +invade his shabby precincts. When, however, Mrs Thornton made up her +mind to carry out a plan, she was not easily damped; and aided by Mollie +and the younger members of her brood, she weeded, and forked, and +clipped at the over-grown garden, until it really began to assume quite +a presentable appearance. + +"I daren't weed," Mollie explained, "for I'm a poor town thing, who +would probably pull up your most cherished seedlings; but my arms are so +strong that I can mow with the best, so I'll take the grass in hand, if +someone else will trim the borders." + +"But your face, my dear--your face!" cried Mrs Thornton, staring with +dismay at the crimsoned countenance beneath the straw hat. "I'm ashamed +to let you work so hard! What would your uncle say if he saw you now?" + +"Something uncomplimentary, no doubt. I know I am magenta, but +fortunately it isn't lasting. I asked Mr Druce if he would help me +this morning, and do a little rolling into the bargain, but he would not +give up his ride." + +Mrs Thornton pursed up her lips, stared first at the ground, then at +the sky, then across into Mollie's face. + +"He is very fond of riding!" she said mysteriously. "I see him pass +every morning, going in the same direction, and always alone. How is it +that none of you ever go with him?" + +"Jack Melland is still lame, and Ruth and I are only beginners. We have +little canters together in the afternoons sometimes, but in the mornings +he prefers to be free to go longer distances. He goes ever so far-- +miles and miles. One morning last week he met Lady Margot Blount +somewhere near the Moat." + +"And one morning this week also, for my husband saw them together, and +if I were inclined to gossip, I should say it was oftener than once. My +dear Mollie, how charming! Are we going to have a love-story to enliven +the summer? Nobody ever gets engaged or married in this sleepy place, +and this would be truly exciting! But I thought at one time--excuse my +saying so, won't you, dear?--I quite thought he admired your sister, and +that there might be a match there!" + +"Of course, he admired her--no one could help it; but please never hint +at anything of the sort to Ruth. She is very reserved, and would hate +to be talked about!" cried Mollie hastily. + +Across the lawn Ruth's graceful figure could be seen kneeling in front +of a bed of flowers which she was fastening to supporting sticks in her +usual neat, methodical fashion. No one could have recognised that bed +as the same confused broken-down mass of blossom which it had been an +hour earlier. + +"There! now they do look as if someone loved them," said Ruth to +herself, straightening her weary back, and brushing the soil off her +fingers. + +After the Thorntons' more casual work was over, she had made a careful +round of the beds, giving those dainty finishing touches which add so +largely to the effect. Now her work was finished, and, seeing Mrs +Thornton and Mollie standing together, she rose stiffly, and walked +across the lawn to meet them. + +"Have you finished? I think I have really come to the end of the beds, +and everything looks delightfully `cared for'! I shall bring my camera +down on Thursday, Mrs Thornton, and take some snapshots of your guests +in pretty corners of the garden. Did you know I had taken the +photographic fever? I bought myself a really, really nice camera, and I +want to take mother a collection of views of the Court when we go home. +She will value it more than anything else, for I shall snap all her +favourite bits in the grounds, and take the interiors with time- +exposures. They will be nice to look at when we are away, and someone +else reigns in our stead!" + +She shrugged her shoulders as she spoke, and Mrs Thornton patted her +arm with kindly encouragement. + +"Nonsense--nonsense! You are tired, dear, and that makes you look at +things through blue spectacles. Come into the house, and we will have +tea, and discuss the great question of where my guests are to sit, if +anything so dreadful as a shower should happen! Two armchairs, you see, +half a dozen small ones, more or less unstable (if anyone over seven +stone attempts the green plush there'll be a catastrophe!), and one +sofa. Now, put your inventive brains together, and tell me what I can +do. There is plenty of room for more furniture, but no money to buy it, +alas!" + +"Let them sit on the floor in rows; it would be ever so sociable!" said +naughty Mollie. + +Ruth knitted her brows thoughtfully. + +"Have you any chair-beds? We could make quite elegant lounges of them, +pushed up against the wall, covered with rugs and banked up with +cushions; or even out of two boards propped up at the sides, if the +worst came to the worst!" + +"Oh-oh! Chair-beds! What an inspiration! I have two stored away in +the attic. They are old and decrepit, but that doesn't matter a bit. +They will look quite luxurious when the mattresses are covered with +sofa-blankets; but I don't know where the cushions are to come from. I +only possess these three, and they must stay where they are to hide the +patches in the chintz. I might perhaps borrow--" + +"No, don't do anything of the kind. Use your pillows, and Ruth and I +will make frilled covers out of art-muslin, at threepence a yard. They +will look charming, and lighten up the dark corners. We are used to +that sort of work at home. We made a cosy corner for the drawing-room +out of old packing-cases and a Liberty curtain, and it is easier and +more comfortable than any professional one I ever saw. The silly +upholsterers always make the seats too high and narrow. We made a music +ottoman of the inside, and broke our backs lining it, and our nails +hammering in the tacks; but, dear me, how we did enjoy it, and how proud +we were when it was accomplished for seventeen-and-six! + +"I'm beginning to doubt," repeated Mollie solemnly, "whether it is half +so amusing to be rich as it is to be poor. When you can get everything +you want the moment you want it, you don't appreciate it half so much as +when you have pined for it, and saved up your pennies for it, for months +beforehand. When we get a new thing at home, the whole family pay +visits to it like a shrine, and we open the door and go into the room +where it is, one after the other, to study the effect, and gloat over +it. It _is_ fun; isn't it, now? Confess that it is!" + +"Ye-es," agreed Mrs Thornton doubtfully. "But where you have to wait +too long, the sense of humour gets a little bit blunted, especially as +one grows older, Mollie dear!" + +She sighed as she spoke, and her eyes roved pensively round the +discoloured walls, those same walls whose condition had fired Mollie to +make her unsuccessful appeal. The girl's thoughts went back to that +embarrassing interview, not altogether regretfully, since it had ended +in bringing about a better understanding between her uncle and herself. +Perhaps, though he had refused her request, it would linger in his mind, +and lead to good results. Nothing but the unexpected was certain about +Uncle Bernard. + +The next afternoon the vicarage drawing-room presented a rather chaotic +appearance, as Mrs Thornton and her assistants prepared the important +couches. Ruth sat in the middle of the floor running up lengths of +brightly coloured muslins on a sewing-machine, while the other two +wrestled with the difficulties which attend all make-shifts. With the +greatest regard for ease and luxury, the beds were pronounced decidedly +too low to look genuine, and the rickety legs had to be propped up with +foundations manufactured out of old bound volumes of magazines, bricks +from the garden, and an odd weight or two from the kitchen scales. The +sofa-blankets also turned out to be too narrow, and persisted in +disclosing the iron legs, until, in desperation, one end was sewn to the +mattress, allowing the full width to hang down in front. + +At last the work was finished, and the hot and dishevelled workers +retired to the hall, and, re-entering the room to study the effect, in +true Farrell manner, pronounced the "divans" to look professional beyond +all fear of detection. + +The next achievement was to place a tapering bank of plants against a +discoloured patch of wallpaper, and many and varied were the struggles +before the necessary stand was arranged. Eventually an old desk formed +the bottom tier, a stool the second, and the baby's high chair the third +and last. Draped with an old piece of green baize, with small pots of +trailing _Tradescantia_ fitted into the crossbars of the chair, and the +good old family _Aspidistras_ ("as old as Mabel!" explained Mrs +Thornton, stroking one of the long green leaves affectionately) taking +the place of honour, the effect was so superior and luxurious that the +vicar had to be dragged from his study to exclaim and admire. + +"There, just look at our divans! Did you ever see anything look more +luxurious? Who could ever suspect they were only a make-up? Sit down +and see how comfortable this is!" cried Mrs Thornton volubly; whereupon +the vicar sat down heavily in the centre of the seat, and promptly +descended to the floor amidst a heaped-up pile of bedding, pillows, +_Sunday at Homes_, and broken bricks. + +He gasped and groped wildly with his hands, and the sight of him sitting +prone among the ruins was so comical that both girls went off into peals +of laughter. The humorous side of the accident was not, however, quite +so apparent to the mistress of the ceremonies. + +"That tiresome, tiresome bed! I might have known as much! It used to +collapse with me regularly when I was nursing Mabel with scarlet-fever!" +she cried impatiently. "Now we shall have to begin from the beginning, +and make it up again. How tiresome of you, Arthur, to be so heavy!" + +"I will spare you the obvious retort, dear. Let us be thankful that I +was the victim, and not Lady Elstree, whom you would certainly have +escorted to the seat of honour to-morrow. If you will allow me to help, +I think I could manage to make things fast." + +At this critical moment a loud rat-tat sounded at the door, and Mrs +Thornton rushed to peep out of the window. + +"Horrors, a visitor! Mary will show her into the room, I know she will! +That girl has no more sense than a doll! Ruth--Mollie--Wallace! pick +up the things on the floor; throw them behind the sofa! Pull the +sewing-machine to the wall! There's no room for anyone to tread! Of +all the tiresome, aggravating--" + +"Nonsense, dear--nonsense!" cried the vicar, laughing. "Leave things as +they are. You have quite sufficient excuse in the fact of expecting a +hundred people to-morrow. There will be no room to tread then, if you +like!" + +He turned towards the door as he spoke, and Mrs Thornton hastily +smoothed her hair as it opened wide, and Mary's eager voice announced-- + +"If you please, mum, a 'amper!" + +"A _what_?" + +The vicar and his wife pressed forward eagerly, and, lo! on the well- +worn oilcloth of the passage lay a large wicker hamper, addressed to +"Mrs Thornton, The Vicarage, Raby," and bearing on the label the name +of a well-known London fruiterer. To cut the string and tear it open +was the work of a moment, when inside was revealed such treasures of +hothouse fruits as left the beholders dumb and gasping with admiration. + +There in profusion were grapes, peaches, giant strawberries of the +deepest red, pineapples,--each one more perfect and tempting than the +last, in their dainty, padded cases. + +The vicar stood looking on, stroking his chin, and smiling with +enjoyment at his wife's delight, as she bent over her treasures, +exclaiming and rapturising like a girl in her teens. + +"How lovely! How charming! How delightful! My fruit-table will be a +triumph! This is exactly what I needed to give the finishing touch to +my preparations! I've never seen finer fruit--never! Wallace, Wallace, +won't we be grand?" + +"So grand that I am afraid the churchwardens will have serious doubts as +to the school funds," said the vicar, laughing. "I have twenty pounds +in hand at the present moment, and really--" + +"Oh, don't be a goose! Of course, everyone will guess that it is a +present. I shall say so myself on every opportunity. But who from? +Who can have thought of such a thing?" Her eyes turned with sudden +questioning to the two girls. "Ruth, Mollie--did you?" + +"Indeed, no! I didn't think of it, I am sorry to say!" said Ruth; and +added honestly, "I am too hard up to pay for all those lovely things!" + +"And you know nothing about it, really?" + +"Really and truly, not a thing!" + +"You don't think that perhaps the squire--" + +Mollie recalled the snubbing which she had received on suggesting the +improvements to the vicarage, coupled with the various cynical remarks +to which Mr Farrell had given utterance on the subject of this very +garden-party, and felt convinced that he was not the anonymous donor; +but these things were not to be repeated, so she remained silent, while +Ruth and Mrs Thornton wondered and speculated. + +No one could be thought of more likely than the squire, for the +parishioners, as a rule, were not overburdened with money, nor the few +who were, with generosity. + +"I have never had such a thing done for me all the years I have been +here--never once!" cried Mrs Thornton, waxing almost tearful in her +excess of gratitude. "And to send it anonymously, too--so modest and +unassuming! The dear, kind, thoughtful creature. I shall never rest +until I know who it is?" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +THE DAY OF THE PARTY. + +The morning of the garden-party was bright, almost perilously bright +even for June; but there was exhilaration in the sight of the blue sky, +dappled with fleecy white clouds, which formed such an exquisite +contrast to the velvety green of the landscape, and a delicious sense of +luxury in strolling about in the sun, and feeling rid at last of the +treacherous wind. + +The squire's guests breakfasted upon the terrace, to the mild +disapproval of Mrs Wolff, who could not understand why people could not +be content to remain comfortably indoors, instead of picknicking in +gipsy-like fashion on every possible occasion. Her small, pinched face +expressed the annoyance which she had not the courage to put into words, +and as soon as her duties were over she hurried back to the shelter of +the house. Immediately she had disappeared Jack boldly demanded another +cup of coffee, and set to work on toast and marmalade with a fresh +access of appetite. + +The opportunity was too good to be resisted. Ruth flew indoors for her +camera, and stood a few yards off focusing the table and its occupants, +and waiting for a picturesque moment in which to snap. It came at last, +just as Jack was forgetfully indulging in an enormous bite, a bachelor +habit which had become a standing joke among his companions. Mollie had +stolen a half-eaten piece of toast from his plate one morning, and +measured the gap with an inch tape, to his everlasting embarrassment, so +that the pictured memorial was hailed with delight. + +Needless to say, Jack wished to have his revenge, and immortalise Mollie +scraping the sugar out of the bottom of the cup in school-girl fashion, +and finally Bates was pressed into the service and instructed how to +snap, so that a complete group might be taken. + +By this time it was ten o'clock, and Mollie announced her intention of +going down to the vicarage to help in the final preparations for the +afternoon's entertainment. She took for granted that Ruth would +accompany her; but Miss Ruth had her own ideas as to the employment of +the next few hours, and they had nothing to do with Mrs Thornton's +garden-party. + +On her way downstairs to breakfast she had overheard Victor telling a +servant that he had no orders for the stables this morning. The +inference was, therefore, that he intended to stop at home, and the +thought had instantly darted into her mind that if Mollie went off to +the vicarage there would be an hour or two before lunch, when--when-- + +Ruth blushed guiltily to herself when she got so far in her +calculations; but it was such a delight to enjoy a quiet _tete-a-tete_ +talk sometimes, instead of the general impersonal conversation. So it +came to pass that when Mollie announced her intention of going down to +the vicarage to help in the final preparations, Ruth absolutely refused +to accompany her. + +"I've done my share," she said. "To-day I am going to be a visitor pure +and simple, and drive down when everything is ready for my reception." + +Mollie shrugged her shoulders resignedly. + +"Well, somebody has got to do it, and, thank goodness, I'm not poor- +spirited enough to leave a friend in the lurch at the last moment! I +shan't be satisfied until I see the last chair in order; but I don't see +any reason why I should walk. There is a pony-carriage in the stables, +and if anyone had any nice feeling they would drive me there and back!" + +Jack laughed, and limped across the terrace. + +"Anyone, singular; they, plural! Your grammar is deficient, Miss +Mollie; but I suppose your modesty forbade you to be more explicit. I +have lots of good-feeling, and nothing to do, so I shall be charmed to +escort you, if you will give the order. It would take me too long to +get down to the stables." + +It was evident that Jack's offer was pleasing to Mollie, for she thanked +him with a smile as bright as her words, and a quarter of an hour later +on they were driving together across the park behind the sleek little +pony, Mollie chatting gaily as usual, Jack listening with an air half +amused, half bored. Despite his accident, he was looking strong and +well, his skin bronzed by the outdoor life of the last few weeks; but +the old haughty, intolerant expression, which had seemed his chief +characteristic at first meeting, was still noticeable in curving lip and +nostril. Not an easy man to convince against his will, nor one to be +easily affected by the presence of a pretty girl. + +"How cross Uncle Bernard was when I told him about the mysterious +hamper! One would think he grudged poor Mrs Thornton having anything +nice!" said Mollie severely. "He nearly snapped my head off when I +asked if he had sent it. I should not have thought much of that, if he +had not denied it in so many words, for he might have been trying to put +me off; but after what he said there can be no more doubt on the +subject. I wonder who could have sent it? Mrs Thornton says she will +never rest till she finds out." + +Jack flicked the pony impatiently. + +"Why can't she be content to take it quietly, and not worry any more? +That's the worst of women--they must make a fuss! If the man who sent +it wanted to be thanked, he would have put in a card. If he didn't, it +shows that he prefers to be anonymous, and it's bad taste to go +ferreting round trying to find out what she is not intended to know. I +should tell her so straight, if I were you." + +"No, you wouldn't, because, being a woman, you would be consumed with +curiosity, as I am. Now, I wonder why you said the `man'?" queried +Mollie, tilting her head on one side, and staring at him with +mischievous eyes. "What makes you think it was a man? Couldn't it as +easily have been a woman?" + +"Oh, quite; but I prefer to use one pronoun and stick to it, instead of +muddling them up as you do. Why are you always in such a hurry to snap +a fellow up?" cried Jack irritably. + +Mollie made a naughty little _moue_. + +"I thought it was the other way about! I was most mild and lamb-like, +when you snubbed me for my grammar, abused my sex, and accused me of bad +temper. It shows how little you know of my beautiful disposition!" + +Jack flicked the pony again, his face darkened by a frown. + +"No, I don't know you--how should I? You never give me a chance. You +show me only the frivolous side of your character. You are always +laughing, joking, frivolling. In all these weeks I have only once had a +glimpse of your real self. You evidently do not wish me to know you in +any real or intimate sense; but that is your own fault, not mine." + +"If you have seen it only once, it cannot be my real self," said Mollie +quietly. She had grown, not red but white, as she listened to Jack's +words, and her heart had begun to beat in an agitating fashion hitherto +unknown. She felt as if somebody had suddenly dealt her an unexpected +blow, for until this moment she had fondly imagined herself to be good +friends with Jack Melland. "You do not know me, because, perhaps, there +is nothing to know, beyond the frivolous, silly creature you dislike so +much!" + +"There you go again, exaggerating and catching up my words! Who said I +disliked you? We were not talking of likes or dislikes. We were +talking of knowing each other properly. I wouldn't trouble my head if +you were an ordinary, empty-headed girl, but I know you are not. There +is another side to your character, and I want to see and know you in it, +but you evade me, and refuse to show yourself. I suppose I am not worth +the trouble of talking to seriously?" + +Mollie shook her head dejectedly. + +"I am not evading, I am not hiding anything. I'm nineteen, and out for +a holiday. It's the first taste of luxury I've ever known. I enjoyed +it so much,"--unconsciously to herself she used the past, not the +present, tense--"that surely it was natural for me to be light-hearted. +I am not highly educated, and I've lived a very quiet life. It's only +natural that I seem stupid in comparison with other girls you have met. +I suppose they are very clever and well read?" + +Jack kept his eyes on the road, mentally classifying the girls with whom +he had been most closely brought in contact in his town life. Yes! they +were for the most part accomplished and clever; but were they not also +apt to be discontented with their lot, given to grumbling at the +restrictions of home life, and to imagine themselves ill-used and +unappreciated? Mollie's radiant good-humour and unconsciousness of self +were qualities unknown among them. What poor, anaemic images they +appeared beside her! Yet he was continually provoked by the very +cheerfulness which he mentally approved. Jack frowned, puzzled and +disquieted. As a rule, he was at no loss to account for his prejudices, +but for once he found himself completely mystified. What exactly was it +that he wanted of Mollie Farrell, the lack of which rankled in his +veins? He could not tell, and annoyance with self gave an added touch +of irritation to his tone. + +"Oh, if you cannot distinguish between becoming a bookworm and talking +seriously once in a way, there is no more to be said! I'm sorry I +spoke. Now I suppose you will be offended with me, and the day will be +spoiled?" + +It was not a gracious speech, but Jack did not feel gracious, and he had +not much control over his temper. An inner voice informed him that he +was behaving like a cad, and he acknowledged the truth of the +indictment, while in the same moment he was prepared to reply more +irritably than before. + +He had not the chance, however, for Mollie's eyes met his without the +faintest shadow of reproach. There was a subtle change in her +expression, but it spoke neither of offence nor anger. + +"No, I am not vexed; that would be stupid, for it would only make things +worse. It is my nature to look on the bright side of things. I know I +am thoughtless, but it won't last. I shall be serious enough some day-- +perhaps sooner than we think. Don't grudge me my little hour!" + +The face raised to his looked so young and wistful that Jack felt a pang +of the same remorse which one feels who has wounded a little child. He +averted his eyes and drove on in silence, thinking, thinking.--The +clever town girl would have been mortally insulted if he had dared to +criticise her manners or attainments, and would have justified herself +by a dozen plausible arguments. Mollie was ready to admit everything +against herself, and only anxious to save him from any feeling of +embarrassment. + +She talked on impersonal topics all the rest of the way to the vicarage, +and her smile when she bade him good-bye was resolutely cheerful, but he +hated himself as he realised that for the first time there was an effort +involved. As he turned the pony round the corner of the little lane +which bordered the lawn he heard Mrs Thornton's surprised exclamation, +"Why, Mollie!" and the half-laughing exclamation, "It's nothing! The +sun is so strong, it made my eyes--smart!" + +Jack Melland set his teeth and drove on in a tumult of feeling such as +he had never known before in the course of his self-satisfied existence. +Blundering, presumptuous wretch that he was! If any trouble came to +Mollie Farrell, he would feel as guilty as if he himself had +deliberately brought it to pass! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +CONFIDENCES. + +While Mollie was busy at the vicarage, Ruth took her book to her +favourite seat, and prepared to spend a quiet morning; but to her +delight, Victor joined her, and took his place by her side, before she +had been seated more than a few minutes. + +"He will see Lady Margot this afternoon. He need not ride ahead in the +hope of meeting her," came the involuntary bitter thought; but it was +impossible to harbour jealousy for more than a minute when alone in +Victor's company. Every word, every look, every tone, was filled with a +subtle flattery which was not only soothing but inspiring into the +bargain, for we are always at our best in the society of those who +appreciate us. + +Ruth gazed, with the old delightful sense of well-being, across the +beautiful grounds, in which the long slopes of green and wide-spreading +trees had already grown dear and familiar as old friends. Surely every +day it became more certain that this would be her home of the future, +since Jack was still determined to return to town the moment he was +sufficiently recovered from his accident, and Mollie's extravagance was +plainly distasteful to Uncle Bernard. As for Victor, if he really-- +really meant... Ruth did not finish the sentence even to herself, but +at the bottom of her mind lurked the inevitable reflection that she +stood a double chance. + +Evidently Victor's thoughts had, to a certain extent, followed her own, +for he broke the silence by saying suddenly-- + +"That was an extraordinary statement of Mr Farrell's the other day,-- +that he had already made a will. I suppose it is a wise precaution +under the circumstances, but it gave one rather a shock to know that +things were already settled." + +"Yes, poor old man! one hates to realise how ill he must be. He does +not seem to have grown any worse since we came, so far as an outsider +can judge, but he must feel his weakness increasing." + +Ruth puckered her brows in a distressed fashion, too much occupied with +her own thoughts to notice Victor's quick glance of inquiry. + +His concern had not been for Mr Farrell or his sufferings, but he was +quick to change his tone in response to hers. + +"I expect he does," said Victor, "though he is too well-plucked to +complain. The doctor told me the other day that these fluctuations are +part of the disease, and mean no real improvement. He does not give him +long, though he thinks it will probably be six months or more. It must +be more or less of an effort to him having us here, and if his mind is +already made up, I wonder he does not prefer to go back to his +solitude." + +"He said he might still change, you remember. The will is only made in +case of accidents. It does seem strange to think of it lying there all +the time, and that one peep at it would end all our wonderings. I +_should_ like to see it!" cried Ruth with an outspoken honesty which +apparently shocked her companion. + +"Be careful what you say, Miss Ruth! Farrell is just the sort of cross- +grained old fellow to take all sorts of ideas into his head if he heard +you. And, besides, you can surely guess for yourself what name you +would find!" + +Ruth lifted her face to his in quick inquiry. The brown eyes were for +once fully open and looking down at her with an expression half smiling, +half melancholy. "You know it would be your own!" he said softly, and +she flushed in quick denial. + +"No, no; it's impossible to be certain. I hope, of course, but-- At +first I thought Uncle Bernard liked me best, but lately Mollie seems to +have cut me out." + +"But we are told that liking has nothing to do with the great decision." + +"I know, and that does away at once with so many qualities with one fell +swoop, that one can hardly tell what is left. It puts amiability out of +the question, and unselfishness and cheerfulness, and--and tact, and +everything which makes us care for a person or not. When they are gone, +what is left?" + +"A great many things, just as Mr Farrell's knowledge of our characters +and actions is far more extensive than you suspect. We meet at meals, +and in the evening, and for the rest of the day one would imagine that +we are beyond his ken, but I have discovered that to be a mistake. In +some mysterious fashion he knows all that we do, and guesses fairly +accurately what we think! ... Would you imagine, for instance, that he +knew that this seat was our favourite resort, and that we have enjoyed +some very pleasant _tete-a-tetes_ here during the last few weeks? Would +you imagine that he knew who gave me that white rosebud which I wore as +a button-hole last night?" + +Ruth's face was a rose itself at that moment, a red, red rose, as the +colour flew from her cheeks up to the roots of her hair. Her eyes +wavered, and fell. + +"How can he know? How do you know he knows?" she queried confusedly; +and Victor shrugged his shoulders. + +"How, I can't tell you, but I suspect his man James is a useful source +of information. I know that he knows, because of several caustic +remarks which he has let fall from time to time, to which my legal +experience easily gives me the clue. I have come to the conclusion that +he knows pretty well what we are about every hour of the day!" + +"Even when you go out riding by yourself, and meet Lady Margot in the +lanes?" questioned Ruth, stung by a sudden rising of jealousy, which she +was unable to control. The words were no sooner spoken than regretted, +and regret deepened into shame as Victor turned his calmly surprised +eyes upon her. + +"Certainly! as I told him myself in the first instance. Since then I +have been fortunate enough to meet her again once or twice. The good +vicar saw us together on one occasion; I presume he hurried home +forthwith to spread the news over the parish. In these dead-alive +places the most casual acquaintance is magnified into a scandal, but +fortunately Lady Margot is a woman of the world who is unaffected by +silly chatter. She has a dull time at the Moat, and is glad to meet a +fellow-creature with whom she can have a few minutes' conversation. +Personally, I don't care what the whole parish pleases to say. There is +only one person whose opinion matters. ... Ruth! what are you trying to +imply?" He moved nearer to her as he spoke, until the arm which rested +on the back of the seat almost touched her shoulder. "Lady Margot is +pleased to be friendly and gracious, but she does not belong to my +world. She is a star far above the head of a poor struggling barrister, +even if he were fool enough to aspire to her, which he certainly would +not do so long as there are inhabitants of his own sphere a hundred +times more beautiful and more attractive." + +Ruth shook her head, her eyes fixed shyly on the ground. + +"If the barrister were the heir to the Court, it would make all the +difference in the world. Uncle Bernard spoke very warmly of the Blount +family. It might increase your chance," she urged, compelled by some +impulse which she could not understand to argue against her own wishes. +"Perhaps the condition has something to do with ambition, and pride of +race." + +"In that case, again you score the advantage, for you are his direct +descendant. I think myself, however, that it refers entirely to money. +He has warned us that he has peculiar ideas on the subject. Probably he +is on the look-out for a similar peculiarity. He has consulted me, and +Melland also, I believe, on several matters in connection with the +estate; but my ideas are purely businesslike, and Melland is hopelessly +happy-go-lucky, so there was nothing original in either his advice or +mine. No! from whichever point of view I consider the question, I +always come to the same conclusion. You are the nearest heir; you are a +Farrell in name as well as appearance. You are not extravagant nor +thoughtless like your sister. To Melland, as well as to myself, the +result is a foregone conclusion. I would congratulate you on the spot +if I could do so honestly.--I wonder if you will in the least understand +what I mean, when I say that I wish it had been any one of the four +rather than yourself?" + +The face that was raised to his was for a moment simply shocked and +surprised, but under his steady gaze comprehension dawned, and Ruth +turned hastily aside, saying, in a tremulous voice which vainly +struggled to be defiant-- + +"I shall remind you of that unkind speech when you are living in state, +and I am toiling for my daily bread. I could not have believed you +would be so unkind." + +"I am not afraid, for that day will never dawn. Remember it, rather, +when you are reigning here, and a poor fellow stifling up in town +refuses the invitations because he longs to accept, and dare not, +remembering the difference between us!" + +It was pretty plain speaking, and Ruth did not pretend to misunderstand +its meaning. At that moment all doubts died away. She believed herself +to be loved, and as her lover considered himself in an inferior position +to her own, she was generous enough to show him her own feelings in +return. The dark lashes rested upon her cheeks, her lips quivered like +a child's, as she said softly-- + +"If I did own the Court, if Uncle Bernard left me everything he +possessed, it would be worthless to me if--if I were separated from the +friends I cared for most." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +A SHATTERED IDEAL. + +By four o'clock that afternoon the vicarage grounds presented a festive +appearance, as the hundred guests strolled to and fro, arrayed in light, +summer-like garments. The tennis-lawn was occupied by a succession of +players, a ping-pong table stood in a quiet corner and attracted a +certain number of devotees, and the grass-plot in front of the study +window had been marked out for golf croquet. For those less actively +disposed there were seats in the prettiest corners, and an endless +supply of refreshments served on little tables under the trees. + +Ruth was looking lovely and radiant, blissfully conscious of Victor's +presence, even if he were at the further end of the garden; of a dress +and hat which suited her to perfection, and of her own importance in the +eyes of the assembly--Miss Farrell, the squire's nearest living +relation, his image in appearance, and reputed to be his favourite. +Surely this must be the future mistress of the Court! The intoxicating +whisper followed her wherever she went, and heightened the flush in her +cheek. + +"Berengaria!" cried a laughing voice; and she turned to see Lady Margot +Blount standing by her side, holding out a slim, gloved hand. While +most of the girls present were arrayed in chiffons and laces, she wore a +perfectly simple lawn dress, with a coarse straw hat shading her face; +but the accessories of shoes, gloves, belt, parasol, and dainty jewelled +fastenings were all of an immaculate perfection, and with her tall, +graceful carriage she was by far the most striking figure present. + +The two girls had met several times at different houses in the +neighbourhood since the formal exchange of calls, and it was not +Margot's fault that the friendship had not progressed still further. +She was always cordial, almost demonstrative in manner, eager to plan +fresh meetings and mutual occupations. It was Ruth who persistently put +obstacles in the way. In spite of Victor's protestations, she +instinctively recognised in Lady Margot a formidable rival, and the +knowledge gave her courage to disregard her uncle's expressed wishes, +and neither give nor accept informal invitations. + +To-day, however, in the flush of her success she was full of good-will +to the whole world, and the former jealousy was replaced by +commiseration. Poor Lady Margot, poor everybody whom Victor did not +love as he loved herself! + +"Oh, Lady Margot, I am so glad to see you," she cried frankly. "Do come +for a stroll with me! I am so tired of being asked how I like Raby, and +talking commonplaces to curious strangers. Doesn't it all look bright +and pretty? If only it will keep fine to the end." + +"Oh, we may have a shower, but I don't think it will be anything more +serious Yes; Mrs Thornton has done wonders. Shall we take this path? +It is the narrowest and quietest, so there is the less fear of +interruption." + +Ruth turned in the direction indicated with a somewhat doubtful look. A +narrow path, bordered on one side by prickly gooseberry-bushes, was +hardly the promenade for her perishable fineries; but while she +hesitated Margot led the way forward, and she followed, drawing her +skirts tightly together. Even so, disaster awaited her, for in the +interest of an animated discussion some of the filmy folds slipped from +the hand which held the parasol, dragged along the ground, and finally +caught with a rip and a jerk, leaving a long jagged tear at the hem. + +Of the two exclamations, Margot's was far the most distressed. + +"Oh, my poor Berengaria! How thoughtless of me to bring you here! It's +all my fault. I am such a plain-hemmed creature myself that I forgot +your frills. You must fasten it up at once or you may trip. I can give +you some pins, and there is a little summer-house at the end of the +path, where you can sit down and fasten it properly. I'll stand before +the door and screen you from the public gaze." + +"Oh, thanks, it will be all right; I am thankful it was not further up. +The hem can always be shortened," said Ruth practically. She sat down +in a corner of the summer-house, the windows of which were screened by +thickly growing tendrils of hop, and, spreading out the tear, began to +pin it daintily together, while Lady Margot mounted guard outside. + +A minute passed--two minutes--then came the sound of a man's quick +tread, and a voice spoke, a voice broken by a quiver of emotion which +could tell only one tale. + +"Lady Margot! You here? I have been looking for you all afternoon. +Why did you hide yourself in this out-of-the-way place? You knew I +should be waiting." + +The pin fell from Ruth's hand, she sat motionless as a statue behind the +leafy screen. It could not, could not be Victor's voice! + +"I have not been here many minutes," Lady Margot replied quietly. "I +knew we should meet sooner or later; but you are a public character to- +day, and I must not monopolise your attention." + +"Monopolise!" cried the voice again, the familiar voice with the +strange, unfamiliar thrill. Ruth's head dropped forward and her hands +clasped the seat on either side. "You talk of monopolising, while I +starve all week with just a chance five minutes now and then to keep me +alive! I rode for about three hours yesterday morning without even a +glimpse of you in the distance. I have been counting the hours until +this afternoon." + +"Count them just a little bit longer, then; I have not spoken to half my +friends, and we would certainly be interrupted. Do me a favour and go +back to the lawn now, and later on--say in half an hour--come to me +again, and you shall have your reward." + +"I'd wait a hundred years if I could have what I wanted at the end!" +said the voice passionately. + +Footsteps crunched down the path, then came silence, and the falling of +a shadow across the doorway. Ruth lifted an ashen face, and saw Lady +Margot looking down upon her with tender, liquid eyes. + +"Dear," she said gently, "you heard! I _meant_ you to hear. Don't +think me cruel; it was the truest kindness. You and I have something to +say to each other. I know a quiet nook where we can be alone. Come, +Ruth--come with me!" + +Ruth rose mechanically and followed her guide through a door in the +wall, which led to a square piece of ground, bare and ugly,--a cabbage- +patch in name and in deed. There against the unromantic background the +two girls stood looking at each other, face to face with the great +question of their lives. + +"Ruth," said Margot gently, "let us be honest with each other. It is +the only way. This man--Victor Druce--has come into both our lives; let +us find out where we stand! Shall I tell you my story first? I met him +last summer, when we were thrown constantly together for six weeks, and +he attracted me. I came nearer loving him than any man whom I had met. +Why, I don't know. I saw he admired me; but others had done that, and +when I was alone and could think about him quietly there were many +things about him I did not like. Still, he fascinated me. I thought of +him a great deal during the winter. I looked forward to seeing him +again. He was not of my world, and it seemed impossible that anything +serious could come of it; but I dreamt dreams... Then I came here, and +found, to my amazement, that he was staying at the Court. He met me one +morning going out for my ride, and since then it has often happened. +From the first his manner was different; more assured. He told me of +Mr Farrell's proposition, and insisted that the chances were in his +favour. He wished me to look upon him as the future owner of the Court; +a man who would be in my own position. He has been making love to me +all these weeks, Ruth, but he has not definitely asked me to marry him. +That's my story! Will you tell me yours in exchange?" + +Ruth looked drearily round the bare, ugly patch. A moment before she +had been living mentally and physically in a land of roses; now, in an +instant, the scene had changed and the beauty had disappeared. + +"I think," she said slowly, "that he has been making love to me too... +He has insisted from the first that I am Uncle Bernard's favourite, the +others think so too, and he has made me believe--only this morning he +made me believe--that he was afraid to speak plainly because of the +difference in our position. He said I should be a great lady, and he +would be working for his bread far away, and thinking of me." Ruth's +voice broke pitifully, but the red flamed in Margot's cheek, and she +reared her proud head with a disdainful gesture. + +"So! It is as I thought; he has been playing a waiting game, making +love to us both, but keeping himself free until he saw how the land lay. +If he inherited, Lady Margot Blount would be useful in society; if he +were cut off, he would reserve the chance of marrying the heiress. And +we have both been deceived, and have imagined that he was in earnest! I +have seen him on the stage, and congratulated him on his success, but I +was not prepared for such finished acting in real life." + +"No!" said Ruth drearily, "you have not been deceived; he was not acting +with you. I heard him speak just now, and I felt the difference. Oh, +Margot, he is playing with me, but he is in earnest with you; he does +really love you!" + +Margot's lip curled scornfully. + +"It is hardly my idea of love. If I am ever married, it shall be to a +man who will risk something for my sake, not to a mercenary who thinks +first of himself. I suspected something of this from the first +afternoon I called at the Court. You were sitting together on the +terrace, and something in his attitude... Oh, well, why dwell on it any +more?--it is none too pleasant. Ruth dear, you have avoided me, and I +have seemed to force myself upon you, but I was determined to find out +the truth, for both our sakes. It is better so, is it not?" + +Ruth's dull glance of misery was pathetic to behold. + +"I suppose it is," she said slowly, "but just now I cannot feel glad. +Everything seems over. I was so happy, and it will be so difficult to +go on living in the same house, meeting at every hour of the day. It is +easier for you, for you need not see him unless you wish, and you do not +care as I did." + +"Don't I?" queried Margot gently. "He has been first in my thoughts for +nearly a year, Ruth, and you have known him for a few weeks. It is not +easy for me, either; but we must both realise that the Victor Druce of +our imagination never existed, but was a creation of our own brains. +This man--this adventurer--who has used us as his tool, must never +suspect that he has caused us pain; we must play our parts without +flinching, and let him see more and more clearly that we desire nothing +from him. It will be difficult, but there is nothing else for it, if we +are to keep our dignity. Ruth, you have plenty of will-power;--one can +see it in your face; you will not let this man deceive you again with +his plausible words?" + +Ruth shook her head. The grey eyes shone hard and bright, then suddenly +brimmed with tears. + +"Perhaps, after all, he is not worse than I am myself. Perhaps I +deserve this lesson. Another man asked me to marry him before we left +home. I did not love him, but he was well-off and had a nice house, and +for a few minutes I was tempted. I told him so, and he said he did not +want me if I could not care for himself alone... Perhaps if he had +begged very hard I might have said `yes.'" + +Margot smiled--a very kindly smile. + +"The cases are not precisely similar, are they? Instead of playing a +double game you were absolutely honest; much more honest than is usual +on such occasions. And he was a wise man. I think I should have liked +that man! Compare him with Victor Druce sometimes, Ruth; it may help +you to be brave... Now I am going back to the garden to act my part. +We will meet and talk again, but we can't stay away any longer just now +without attracting attention... Just tell me one thing before I go--Can +you forgive me for shattering your dream?" She held out her hand, and +Ruth took it in both hers. + +"I have nothing to forgive. It is only wakening a little sooner; that's +all!" she said tremulously. + +Margot bent down lightly, and touched her forehead with her lips, then +turned swiftly away, and Ruth was left alone. Poor, disenchanted Ruth, +wideawake at last, in the midst of the deserted cabbage-patch! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +JACK MELLAND'S SECRET. + +When Mr Farrell's guests assembled for dinner, on their return from the +garden-party, it was at once evident that the old gentleman was in one +of his difficult moods. From the beginning he had affected to +disapprove of Mrs Thornton's extravagance in attempting to entertain on +so large a scale, while sedulously keeping himself informed as to every +detail of the preparations. The anonymous present of fruit had +furnished him with a subject for much satirical comment, as had also the +girls' endeavours to beautify the house and grounds. + +Now he found a fresh grievance in the fact that dinner was delayed a few +minutes past its usual hour, and that the young people appeared +depressed, rather than elated by their experiences. Ruth's plea of a +headache was justified by her wan looks; Jack was moody, and even Victor +was for once silent and distrait. It was left to Mollie to stem the +tide, and she raised herself nobly to the effort, albeit her own heart +was none too light. + +"It went off beautifully, Uncle Bernard! Shall I tell you all about it +from the beginning?" she cried, smiling at his grim visage across the +dinner-table; and when he declared his lack of interest in the whole +concern, she smiled again, and refused to be convinced. "Oh, but you +must hear, because in a kind of way it was your party, as you are the +patron, and give them all that they have... There were such crowds of +people, and they looked so gay. Old Lady Everett wore a magenta satin, +quite the most awful garment I ever beheld, and she got hot, poor dear, +and it matched her face. And such an awkward thing happened; she +brought a little basket with a few under-sized grapes, about a pound, +perhaps, and presented them to Mrs Thornton with such an air of +munificence, and then turned round and saw the table spread with all +that exquisite fruit! She was quite angry even when Mrs Thornton +explained that it also was a gift." + +"Why need she have explained at all? No other woman would have thought +of doing so. Why should a clergyman's wife be expected to explain her +private affairs to any inquisitive stranger? Surely it is her own +business what she puts on her own table?" This from Jack, in a burst of +querulous impatience which brought his host's eyes upon him with an +answering flash. + +"If a woman in a public position provides what is obviously unsuited to +her means, the least she can do is to offer an explanation. A +clergyman's means do not run to expensive entertainments." + +"Exactly; yet he is expected to entertain, and to humble his pride to do +it in an inferior style to his neighbours. And his wife is expected to +accept paltry gifts from her neighbours which another woman in her +position would look upon as an insult, and to be thankful for the +chance. I suppose she often is thankful, poor creature, as she has not +the means of providing properly for herself." + +Mr Farrell put down his knife and fork, and, leaning back in his seat, +stared fixedly in Jack's face. His thin lips worked, and his eyes +gleamed ominously. + +"May I ask if you are speaking in general terms, or individually of the +clergyman's wife in my own parish?" + +Jack shrugged his shoulders. + +"Oh, I suppose she would be included, since her husband's income is +insufficient for her needs." + +"You are aware, of course, that I am responsible for that income?" + +"I suppose so--in a way, since the living is in your gift." + +"And what grounds may you have for considering it insufficient?" + +Jack burst into a short laugh, undeterred by the appealing glances cast +upon him by three frightened feminine listeners. + +"What grounds? Why, the house is an advertisement of shabbiness; the +vicar's coat is green with age, and the poor little kiddies look as if +they had come out of the ark! Mrs Thornton has pluck enough for a +dozen, or she would never keep things going as she does; but she looks +an old woman before her time." + +"Then it is your deliberate conclusion that I ought to increase the +Vicar's stipend?" + +Under cover of the tablecloth a little hand stole along and laid a +gentle pressure on Jack's arm. He turned and met Mollie's eyes, grave +and appealing, with no trace of the frivolity of which he had complained +earlier in the day, and, at the sight, his irritation died a sudden +death. Mollie must indeed have forgiven him when she condescended to so +sweet an intimacy. The rush of joy which accompanied the thought put +him at once at peace with all men. + +"The labourer is worthy of his hire, sir," he answered quietly. "I call +Thornton a rattling good fellow, and I should like to see him relieved +of monetary troubles. It's hard lines to expect a man to be an example +of all the virtues when he is constantly wondering how to make both ends +meet. I don't set much store on money, as you know, but I should enjoy +being in the position to do a good turn to a man like that." + +Mr Farrell's sunken eyes gave forth a malicious gleam. + +"You speak with feeling. Perhaps you have been enjoying a foretaste of +the experience. Surely you must be the generous Unknown who contributed +the hamper of fruit of which we have heard so much during the last few +days!" + +There was a simultaneous gasp of surprise round the table, and everyone +turned to stare with curious eyes at Jack's scarlet face. Scarlet, with +an embarrassment which plainly proved the truth of the accusation; with +anger, too, and thwarted self-will. His nostrils inflated in the old +haughty manner, as he replied coldly-- + +"I thought we were discussing Mr Thornton's income! I fail to see what +the hamper has to do with the case." + +Mr Farrell gave the short, staccato sound which did service for a +laugh. + +"Your pardon! It is to me a very interesting sidelight. I am indebted +to you for stepping in to make up for my deficiencies." + +"It was very kind of you, Mr Melland--very, very kind! You don't know +how much pleasure it gave. I envy you for having had such a nice +thought," said Ruth earnestly. For a wonder Mollie was silent, while +Victor shrugged his shoulders, and cried, between a sneer and a laugh-- + +"You are a sly dog, Melland. I had no idea that you were such a devoted +admirer of the redoubtable Mrs Thornton." + +The sneer brought Jack to his bearings in a moment. Every trace of +embarrassment disappeared as he faced Victor across the table, wide-eyed +and defiant. + +"It is the truth, none the less. I admire Mrs Thornton immensely. She +is a capital little woman, and fights the odds like a Spartan. This +garden-party business was a great event in her life, and she prepared +for it by a series of make-shifts. I got sick of hearing about them. +Poor little soul, why shouldn't she be able to do the thing decently +once in a while? She's been very kind to us; it was little enough to do +in return." + +"Oh, well, everything is comparative. You must be pretty flush to send +about hampers of that description. I have never tasted finer fruit. I +am sorry that such generosity is beyond my means," said Victor, whereat +Jack scowled all the more. + +"You would have spent as much on your lunches and teas if you had been +in town these last weeks. What is the use of money if you can't be +reckless once in a way? I am sorry that this subject has come up; but, +as it has, I must ask you all to be good enough not to speak of it to +Mrs Thornton. She would gush, and I loathe gush. The secret is my +own, not yours, so you must please respect my wishes." + +Once more Ruth came to the rescue. + +"Of course, we will keep your secret. We have no right to tell without +your consent," she said decisively. + +Her grey eyes smiled at him across the table with a wistful sweetness. +This man, at least, was true and honest. Quick-tempered he might be, +self-willed and impatient, but one could never imagine Jack Melland +playing a double part, nor selling his soul for greed. And yet--and +yet, one glance from Victor's eyes had power to affect her as Jack +Melland's most earnest effort could never do; and Uncle Bernard, sharp- +sighted as he was, treated Jack with far less confidence and favour. + +"But I was never sure of him all the time, except for those few hours +yesterday," she thought. "I _felt_ there was something behind. When +Dr Maclure spoke to me that afternoon I knew that he meant all, and +more than all, that he said; but it is not easy to make the imitation +like the real thing. The moment I heard him speak to Margot I knew the +difference--oh, such a difference! I shall never be deceived again." + +She sat trifling with her fruit, unheeding the conversation around her, +yet dimly conscious that a passage-at-arms was still being carried on +between Mr Farrell and Jack; the former indulging in caustic remarks at +the young man's expense, Jack replying with more or less irritation. + +A sudden gleam of excitement on Victor's face recalled her wandering +thoughts, in time to hear Jack reply quickly-- + +"You are quite right, I am an invalid no longer. I walked about most of +the afternoon and feel none the worse. I can manage even the stairs +with a little help. In another few days I shall be ready for work. +There will then be no need for me any longer to trespass--" + +Suddenly he stopped; and though Mr Farrell sat waiting in silence for +several moments, he did not attempt to finish the sentence; for another +gentle pressure on the elbow had reminded him of the wisdom of self- +control. He sat with downcast eyes and firmly shut lips until Mr +Farrell's mocking voice broke the silence. + +"Since Mr Melland has nothing more to say, it would perhaps be as well +if we made a move. I will ask you to excuse me for the rest of the +evening, as I am feeling fatigued." + +He rose as he spoke and turned towards the door, but even as he did so +he staggered, and uttered an exclamation of pain. Mrs Wolff echoed the +cry and sank back in her chair helpless and unnerved; but in an instant +Victor was at his side, supporting him with a strong, steady arm. + +"Send for James," he said, addressing the butler in the quiet tones of +one who knows how to keep his head in an emergency. "Let me help you +into the hall, sir; you will have more air there. Lean upon me!" + +They moved slowly forward together, the bowed figure seeming momentarily +to shrink in stature, while the glimpse of cheek, as he turned towards +the door, was so ashen in colour that the girls clasped each other's +hands in dismay. Then James appeared, alert, composed, capable, a +carrying-chair was brought forward from some secret hiding-place, and +the invalid was borne upstairs to his room. + +"It's one of his `turns,' miss," the butler explained to Ruth. "He used +to have them constantly, but it's the first since you came. We'll send +down for the doctor, and he'll probably stay all night. You can never +tell how things may go!" + +Jack Melland limped off towards the deserted smoking-room. Five minutes +before, as he sat resolutely silent, he had determined to go to Mr +Farrell as he sat in the library that evening, and, in the quiet of a +_tete-a-tete_, announce his determination to leave the Court before the +week was out; but now, once again, circumstances conspired against him. +There was a greater question at stake than his own miserable comings or +goings, for the shadow of death hovered over the Court, and none could +tell what the morning might bring forth. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +MRS. WOLFF. + +The next morning Mr Farrell was reported better, though unable to leave +his bed. His old friend, the doctor, had stayed with him for the +greater part of the night, and had now taken his departure, pronouncing +all immediate danger to be over. A few days' rest would no doubt make +the patient much as he had been before, to outward seeming, though to +the professional eye, a little weaker, a little nearer the end. + +At breakfast Mrs Wolff fussed in a feeble, self-injured manner because +she was not admitted to the sick-room. + +"It is so dreadful for him to be left without a woman! I can't think +how he will be nursed without a woman!" she repeated monotonously, while +her hearers breathed an earnest wish that, when their turn came to be +nursed, it might not be by a woman of her calibre. Mr Farrell was a +hundred times better off with his quiet, capable James. + +A shadow of depression rested upon all the young people, though Ruth +could not help feeling thankful for a reasonable excuse for a sadness +which had nothing to do with Uncle Bernard or his health. Now, no one +would wonder if she were sad or silent, and she would escape the +questioning she had so much dreaded. Immediately breakfast was over she +announced her intention of devoting the morning to photography, and +disappeared indoors, while Victor took his accustomed path to the +stables. + +Mollie would have followed her sister, but Jack detained her with an +appeal which could not be denied. + +"Stay and talk to me a little while; do! or I shall think you are +offended by my stupidity yesterday. I have to thank you for your +reminder last night. If you had not stopped me I should have spoken +even more strongly than I did, and have been filled with remorse. As it +is, I don't think anything I said could have been responsible for this +attack. Considering all things I kept pretty cool, didn't I now?" + +"I think you did," conceded Mollie, smiling. "No; I expect it has been +coming on for some days, and that was why he was so cross. You +generally find people are ill if they are more than usually snappy. +Poor Uncle Bernard! I wish one could help; but I am glad he has not +Mrs Wolff to fidget him. Do you know," said Mollie, fixing her candid +eyes upon Jack's face, and inwardly rejoicing at having hit on an +impersonal topic of conversation,--"do you know Mrs Wolff is an +unending problem to one! I think about her for hours at a time, and try +to puzzle her out, but I never get one step further." + +"Really!" Jack searched in his pockets for materials, and began rolling +up one of the everlasting cigarettes. "I'm surprised to hear that. I +should not have thought she could have occupied more than two minutes. +For my own part I find it impossible to think of her at all. She was +born; she exists; she will probably die! Having said so much, you have +exhausted the subject." + +"Not at all," contradicted Mollie frankly. "There's lots more to +consider. What is she really, and what is the real life that she lives +inside that funny little shell? And was she ever a child who laughed +and danced, and raced about, and was good and naughty, and played with +toys, and lived among giants and fairies? We _lived_ fairy tales, Ruth +and I, and had giants to tea in a nursery four yards square. And we +hunted ferocious lions and tigers, who either turned out kind and +harmless, or were slain by imaginary swords. Did Mrs Wolff always know +exactly that two and two make four, and never by any chance made a +delicious pretence that it was five? And when she went to school had +she a chum whom she adored, and wrote letters to every other day filled +with `dears' and `darlings,' and did she ever shirk `prep,' or play +tricks on the teachers, or sit up to a dormitory supper?" + +"Certainly not! She was a good little girl who never soiled her +pinafore, nor dreamt of anything she could not see, and she worked hard +at school and remained persistently in the middle of the class, and +gained high marks for neatness and decorum. She never had a chum +because she is incapable of caring for one person more than another." + +"But what about `poor Mr Wolff'? Surely she must have had, at least, a +preference for him! That's another problem--how did anyone come to fall +in love with her, and what did he fall in love with, and why, and when, +and where? I long to know all about it, for it seems so +incomprehensible." + +Jack laughed with masculine amusement at her curiosity. + +"Not incomprehensible at all. I can give a very good guess how it +happened. She was a timid, shrinking, little thing, rather pretty--her +features are not at all bad--and `poor Mr Wolff' was a big burly fellow +who took a fancy to her because she was a contrast to himself. She +didn't say much, so he credited her with thinking the more. She agreed +with everything he said, so he considered her the cleverest woman he +knew. He discovered his error, no doubt, in sackcloth and ashes, poor +fellow; but mercifully he had not to endure many years of +disenchantment. I can't imagine a worse fate than being tied for life +to an automaton!" + +"Humph!" Mollie pondered, pinching her soft chin between thumb and +finger. "He might not be so particular as you... Did you ever... Have +you ever,--I mean, did you ever meet..." + +Jack blew a cloud of smoke from between his lips with a half-embarrassed +smile. + +"Did I ever meet a girl whom I imagined might be my Mrs Wolff! Is that +what you want to ask? Yes--once!--for a passing moment. We met, and I +caught a glimpse of her face, and recognised it as the fulfilment of a +dream. Then she disappeared. Romantic, isn't it, and disappointing +into the bargain? I am not a sentimental fellow, I suppose, for I have +never even imagined myself in love, though I have known scores of +charming girls; but at that moment I realised possibilities!" + +"But, oh, how disappointing! Did she really disappear? Couldn't you +find her? Is there no chance that you may meet again?" + +"Sometimes I think there is; at other times it seems impossible. In any +case, I am powerless to help, or to hinder." + +"I should not say that if I were a man! I would search the world over +till I found her!" Mollie sat silently, with bent head and thoughtful +air, then suddenly lifted her eyes to his with a sweet, grave glance. +"I hope you _will_ meet! I hope you will be very happy together some +day,--you, and your Lady of Dreams!" + +Jack looked at her, and his face changed strangely. He said nothing, +not even a word of thanks for her good wishes, and presently got up from +his seat, and limped into the house, leaving Mollie depressed and self- +reproachful. + +"I suppose I should not have said it. He thinks it `gush,' and won't +condescend to answer. I wonder what she was like? Dark, I suppose, and +stately, and serious; the very opposite from me. She will appear again +some day, and they will be married and look so handsome together. I'm +awfully, awfully glad; at least, I should be if Uncle Bernard were not +ill. That makes one feel so dull and wretched that one can't be glad +about anything," said poor Mollie to herself. + +Jack did not appear again; and she was not in the mood to take any +interest in Ruth's photographic efforts, so she strolled through the +grounds and gathered an armful of flowers to send home to the little +mother. This was always a pleasant undertaking, and just now there was +a special reason for choosing the freshest and most fragrant blossoms, +for the last few letters had hinted at a recurrence of the old money +troubles. + +"Something is up!" wrote Trix, in school-girl parlance. "Father and +mother are talking in his den all the evening, and she comes down to +breakfast with her eyes swollen with crying, and he looks like a sheet, +and doesn't eat a bite. Horrid old business again, of course. How I +hate it! We shall have to scrape a little more, I suppose; and where we +are to scrape from, I'm blest if I know! My blue serge is green, and +the boys' Etons shine like the rising sun. It was a fine day on Sunday, +and they fairly glittered going to church. I don't want to give you the +blues, but thought I'd better tell you, so that you could write to cheer +them up, and also be more assiduous in your attentions to the old man. +You must and shall get that fortune between you, or we shall be +bivouacking in the workhouse before you can say Jack Robinson! My heart +too truly knows the signs full well!" + +Mollie recalled these expressive sentences, and sighed in sympathy. + +"Poor old Trix! too bad that she should be left at home to bear the +brunt, while we are living in the lap of luxury. I expect it is just +one of the old crises, and we shall worry through as usual, but it is +depressing while it lasts. I can't endure to see mother with red eyes. +She will smile when she sees these roses, bless her! I defy anyone not +to enjoy opening a box of flowers; and when we go home we will cheer +them up again,--fortune or no fortune. Dear old Trix shall have some of +my fineries made down, as a change from the green serge." + +Mollie's spirits lightened perceptibly as she loitered about the garden, +for to a town-bred girl it was luxury indeed, not only to look upon a +wealth of roses, but to be able to gather them lavishly as she pleased. +When the basket was full of half-opened beauties, ranging in every +shade, from white to the bloomy crimson of "Prince Camille," she turned +to more shady corners for the sprays of ferns and foliage, which are +even more prized than flowers themselves by the unhappy dwellers in +cities, then returned to the house to find a box and pack it for the +post. The terrace was empty, but Mrs Wolff was sitting knitting just +inside the drawing-room window. + +"Your uncle is better," she announced, as Mollie approached. "He has +had a quiet sleep since breakfast, and James thinks he will be able to +sit up for an hour or two to-morrow. I haven't seen anything of Ruth or +Mr Melland. Mr Druce came back from the stables to say that he was +not going to ride to-day, but take a long walk, and he would be sure to +be home in time for lunch. He is always so kind and considerate!" + +The poor little woman looked wan and dispirited, and Mollie reflected +with a pang of remorse that she herself had shown little consideration +for her feelings. Even a nonentity, it appeared, could feel dull when +left by herself in a big, empty house, and also could appreciate a +little act of thoughtfulness. Victor disappeared so regularly for the +morning hours, that it seemed strange that he should have especially +explained his intentions this morning of all others; but perhaps he had +done so, just because to-day was distinguished by a special load of +anxiety which he was anxious not to increase. Mrs Wolff lived in a +constant state of fidget, and even so little a thing as the uncertainty +whether the household would assemble punctually to partake of the +luncheon which she had ordered, might easily add to her distress. + +"He is awfully considerate at times; much more than the rest of us," +Mollie admitted to herself. "He never forgets the least little thing +that Uncle Bernard says or does, or likes or dislikes, while I--silly, +blundering thing!--always try to help him out of his chair at the wrong +side, or stumble over his sticks." + +She stood looking down at Mrs Wolff with a new impulse of sympathy. +Hitherto, they had seemed divided by an impassable gulf, but this +morning the girl's usual radiant sense of well-being had died away, and +left a little rankling ache in its place. "Uncle Bernard's illness, and +this new bother at home," was Mollie's explanation even to her own +heart, but the result thereof was to fill her with pity for the life of +a woman whom nobody loved, and who was homeless in a land of homes. + +She sat down beside Mrs Wolff, determined to make the hour before +luncheon pass more cheerfully than its predecessor, and a few judicious +questions soon set the good lady's tongue prattling over past and +future. She said that as a girl she had always had a partiality for +blue merino, and had owned a Dunstable bonnet, trimmed with roses, which +was said to be particularly becoming. It was a pity that roses faded so +in the sun; ribbons were more economical wear. Did Mrs Connor buy her +fish wholesale from Whitby, or retail from a fishmonger? They did say +there was a great saving in the former way, only you got tired of cod, +if it were a very big fish... + +The worst of a large house was having to keep so many servants! A +friend of hers, who was "reduced," said she had never known what comfort +meant till she came down to two. That James really took too much upon +himself! Talking of black-currant jelly--how beautiful the peaches were +on the south wall! Her cousin's little boy--Eddie, not Tom--fell over a +garden barrow the other day, and it might have been most serious, for +the shears were only a few yards away. Children were more trouble than +pleasure. Poor Mr Wolff always regretted having none, and she used to +remind him of the school bills, and the breakages, and the dirt in the +house... + +Had Mollie ever knitted comforters for deep-sea fishermen? They said +their ears did get so cold. There was nothing like an onion boiled +really soft, and made into a poultice for ear-ache. Her cousin's little +boy--Tom, not Eddie--had it very badly. Dear, dear, to hear his +shrieks! They found onion much better than camphorated oil. When Mr +Farrell died, she supposed whoever came into possession would re-cover +the drawing-room furniture. It needed it, and you got lovely patterns +from London... + +On and on the stream flowed, until Mollie felt dazed and bewildered. +Mrs Wolff evidently felt it such a treat to have a listener that she +was capable of continuing for hours at a time, and it was only the +sounding of the gong for lunch which brought an end to the monologue. + +In its passing it had seemed a quiet, uneventful morning; no one guessed +what importance its coming and going would assume in the near future. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +AN UNPLEASANT INTERVIEW. + +Mr Farrell kept to his determination to see none of his visitors until +he was able to come downstairs, but he sent a message by James, to the +effect that he would be annoyed if his indisposition were allowed to +interfere in any way with social engagements. Therefore, dinner-parties +being the order of the day, the four young people feasted abroad every +evening, and spent the afternoons at various tennis and croquet parties +instituted in their honour. + +The rush of gaiety was in full swing, and the list of invitations which +ought to be accepted stretched so far ahead that it seemed as if there +would be little time left in which to entertain in return. In earlier +days the girls had delighted to discuss gorgeous and bizarre ideas, +smacking more of the Arabian Nights than of an English country house, by +the execution of which they hoped to electrify the county and prove +their own skill as hostesses; but of late these schemes had been +unmentioned. Ruth was too much crushed by her disappointment to have +spirit for frivolities, and the shadow of the universal depression at +home, as well as at the Court, cast its shadow over Mollie also. + +In a half-hearted way both girls were glad of the engagements which +prevented _tete-a-tetes_, which had grown difficult and embarrassing, +yet with the unreasonableness of her sex Ruth felt doubly hurt to +realise that Victor shared in her relief. She had expected to have +difficulty in avoiding him, and to hear reproaches for her coldness, but +neither expectation was fulfilled. + +"I suppose he thinks that he has made things safe with me by that last +conversation, and can afford to take a little holiday and enjoy himself. +He does not want to compromise himself too far!" Ruth told herself, +with a touch of bitterness which had developed during the last few days. + +She knew that Victor's long absences in the morning were spent in trying +to waylay Lady Margot in her walks and drives, and had the best +authority for knowing him to have been successful more than once, for +Margot had been present at one of the dinner-parties and had seized an +opportunity to have a quiet word. + +"I have met Mr Druce twice this week. I could have avoided him by +staying in the grounds, but I do not wish to rouse his suspicions. He +won't risk anything definite until matters are decided between you and +Mr Farrell, and then he shall learn his lesson. From which of us he +learns it, it does not matter. In the meantime, I shall make no change, +and he can come and go as he sees fit." + +"You must be very--very sure of yourself!" said Ruth wistfully; at which +Margot reared her little head with a haughty gesture. + +"Absolutely sure! If he had dared to ask me six months ago, I might +have given up everything to be the wife of the imaginary Victor, but now +I will not alter the slightest plan out of consideration for the real +Mr Druce. I can trust myself; but,"--she turned a grave, direct gaze +on the other's face--"can _you_ trust me, Ruth? I don't concern myself +about appearances, so it is possible you may hear rumours which may not +seem in keeping with our agreement. Can you trust me enough to believe +that, however strange things may seem, I am really considering your +interests even more than my own?" + +"I think I can--oh yes, I am sure I can!" replied Ruth hesitatingly. + +But even as she spoke a doubt crept up in her mind. If Victor did, +indeed, become the owner of the Court, and remained persistent in his +wooing, could Margot withstand him? She had loved him once. Would not +the old feeling revive, and prove too strong for argument? It was +Ruth's nature to distract herself with doubts and fears, and the little +conversation did not help to raise her spirits. + +On the fifth morning after Mr Farrell's seizure he came downstairs to +his study, and was reported by the doctor to be in fairly good health. +He did not appear at luncheon, however, and there was something darkly +mysterious about James's manner when he came into the dining-room when +the meal was nearly over to announce that his master wished to see the +young ladies, with Mr Druce and Mr Melland, in the library at five +o'clock. + +"And me--surely he wishes to see me also!" Mrs Wolff cried, in an +injured tone. + +But James only bowed, and repeated inflexibly-- + +"Only the young ladies and gentlemen, ma'am. I understand that he +wishes to see them on business." + +Business! That word was enough to keep five minds working busily during +the hours between luncheon and the time appointed for the interview. +Had Uncle Bernard come to some definite conclusion during those quiet +days upstairs? Was the period of probation over, or did the summons +simply imply some new and eccentric phase of the old routine? + +Conjecture ran riot; but at the first sight of the old man's face all +pleasant expectations died a sudden death, for it was fixed in a stern, +unbending anger, such as his guests had never seen before. Hardly +replying to their congratulations and inquiries, he motioned them +impatiently to the seats ranged in readiness facing his chair, exactly +as they had been on that first important interview five weeks before. +Only five weeks, thirty-five short days, yet each of the squire's guests +felt as if a lifetime of experience yawned between that day and this! + +"I have sent for you, as it is necessary to speak on an unpleasant +topic, which, however, cannot be avoided," Mr Farrell began. "It is +painful for me to open it, especially as I am urged to avoid excitement; +but I have no alternative. You may remember that shortly before I was +taken ill, I referred to the draft of my will which was lying in this +desk." He stretched out his hand, and laid it on the polished surface. +"It was kept here with other important papers, arranged in a special +manner, which I have adopted for years, partly for the sake of neatness, +partly to ensure them against interference, for it is impossible that +they should be touched without my knowledge. This morning, on coming +downstairs, my first task was to add some memoranda to one of these +papers. I opened the desk, and discovered at once that my will had been +opened and read--" + +He stared grimly across the room, and four flushed, bewildered faces +stared back at him. The silence lasted for several moments; then Jack +spoke in his haughtiest and most intolerant tone-- + +"You do not, of course, wish to imply, sir, that you suspect us of +having any hand in the matter? I presume you want our help in +unravelling the mystery? My own detective powers are not of a high +order; but if you will explain your system--" + +Mr Farrell interrupted him with a raised hand. + +"Thank you, I prefer to make my own inquiries. As I said before, it is +a disagreeable duty; but when a duty is forced upon one, the best course +is to perform it in the most strict and business--like manner possible. +You are the people most concerned in my will, the people who would +naturally feel most interest and curiosity in seeing it; therefore, +apart from sentimental considerations, on you the first suspicion must +fall, and it is right that I should question you before outsiders." + +Jack's eyes flashed. He rose from his chair and limped across the +floor, as if unable to keep still. + +"I am afraid it will be of little use. If a fellow is sweep enough to +pry into another man's secrets, he is equal to lying about it into the +bargain, and in that case you have no chance in finding out the truth. +You have been upstairs for five days. It is impossible to account for +all that may have happened during that time." + +"I have been upstairs five days, as you say, but it happens that I can +reduce the time to a much narrower limit. On the evening after I was +taken ill, it occurred to me that I had not locked my desk the night +before, as I expected to return to the library as usual after dinner. I +sent James downstairs to make sure. He found it open, locked it, and +brought me back the key. The lock is a patent one, and has not been +tampered with, therefore whoever examined the will must have done so on +Wednesday morning or afternoon." + +Victor looked up quickly. + +"You allowed your man to lock it, you trusted him with the key?" + +"Certainly. He has been twenty years in my service, and knows exactly +what provision I have made for his future. He will not need to work +after my death, and has no personal interest in my will. Moreover, I +trust him as I would myself." + +Mr Farrell spoke sharply, evidently annoyed that any doubt should be +cast upon his favourite. As he finished his eyes met Mollie's fixed +upon him with an angry challenge, to which he was not slow to respond-- + +"Well, what have you to say, young lady? Can you throw any light on +this mystery?" + +"I have not opened your desk and pried among your papers, if you really +mean to ask me such a question. I have lots of faults, but I've never +been suspected of anything so mean as that, and I don't care to stay in +a house where anyone can believe it possible! I don't want to see the +horrid old will! We should all have been content and happy if it had +not been for the thought of it; and I never want to hear it mentioned +again. I don't know how you dare insult us so, Uncle Bernard!" + +"That will do, Mollie; you have given me your answer. There is no need +to get excited. You had better go back to the drawing-room while I +speak to your companions." + +The squire leant back in his chair, waiting for her to go; and, willing +or unwilling, there was no defying that grim silence. Mollie marched +across the floor with defiant tread, opened the door, and closed it +behind her with a bang, so expressive of temper that Jack could not +resist a smile. It vanished quickly enough, however, as he listened to +Mr Farrell's next words-- + +"I must ask you to tell me in so many words whether you know anything of +this matter. If a sudden access of curiosity should have proved too +strong for resistance, a candid confession would be the best means of +obtaining forgiveness. I could overlook anything better than deceit." +He looked at the three young faces before him with a scrutiny that had +something pathetic in its earnestness; but, as it met with no response, +his expression hardened. "Perhaps you would be good enough to tell me, +in the first place, whether any of you were in the library on +Wednesday?" + +He looked at Victor as he spoke, and the dark eyes met his without a +moment's hesitation. + +"I went out for a long walk immediately after breakfast, and returned +when luncheon was on the table. Afterwards Melland and I smoked on the +terrace until it was time to drive over to a tennis-tea. I forget which +house it was held at, but I remember we heard that the carriage was at +the door, and had to rush for it. That was so, wasn't it, Melland? I +think I should have little difficulty in proving an alibi for the whole +day." + +Mr Farrell hesitated for a minute, then turned towards Jack. + +"And you, Melland?" + +"Oh, I was about the house! I don't remember going into the library, +but I might have done so half a dozen times, and forgotten all about it. +You gave me permission to borrow books as I chose, and I have been +constantly in and out. I could not undertake to say positively what I +did on any particular day." + +"Ruth?" + +Ruth lifted a miserable face, and shot a glance across the room. There +was none of Mollie's righteous indignation in that glance, only a +nervous shrinking which amounted almost to fear. + +"I--I was in the library, Uncle Bernard! I photographed it several +times that morning. It seemed a good opportunity, as you were upstairs, +and I wanted the room for my collection." + +"You were photographing. That means that you would be some little time +alone in the room?" + +"Yes--no; I came and went. Not so very long," stammered Ruth +hesitatingly. It was terrible to be cross-examined like this, with the +eyes of the three men fixed upon her, grave and questioning. She looked +wistfully at the door, and half rose from her seat. "I know nothing--I +did nothing! I can tell you nothing more! May I go now? There is no +use staying any longer." + +"One moment, please! You all deny having touched the will, and I shall, +of course, accept your word; but you must help to find the real culprit +by giving me every clue in your power. Was any reference made to the +will in your presence? Has anyone, for instance, expressed curiosity +respecting it and its contents?" + +Victor's eyes turned to Ruth with a glance which brought the colour +rushing into her cheek. He did not speak, but his expression was too +eloquent to be misread. The old man looked keenly from one to the +other, and his voice took an added sharpness as he spoke-- + +"Well, Druce, out with it--out with it! What is it that you have to +say?" + +"Nothing, sir--nothing worth repeating. Your question reminded me of a +chance remark; but I would rather say no more about it." + +"You have said too much already. Pray go on, since you have begun!" +cried Ruth, with a sudden blaze of anger. Her small head was thrown +back with a defiant gesture, and the Farrell eyebrows met in a straight +black line across her brow. "_I_ spoke of your will, Uncle Bernard--I +said I wished that I could see it. I _did_ want to see it! It was +impossible to know that it was lying there, and not feel curious." + +"Of course it was. We were all curious, but some of us had not the +honesty to confess it," Jack cried quickly. "Surely it is not necessary +to keep Miss Ruth any longer, sir? She has told you that she can give +you no more information. It is cruel to the girl--" He broke off as if +afraid of speaking too strongly; and Mr Farrell lay back in his chair +with a sudden weary slackening of muscle. + +"Yes, yes, she may go; you may all go! We can prove nothing at present; +but time will show--time will show!" And he raised his hand with a +gesture of dismissal. + +Ruth and Victor rose and hurriedly left the room only Jack stood his +ground, nervously tugging at his moustache. He had something to say, +and was determined to say it, but the sight of the old man's figure in +its physical and mental depression turned his anger into commiseration. +It was in almost an apologetic voice that he broke the silence. + +"I stayed because I wanted to have five minutes' quiet talk with you, +sir. My ankle is now practically well, and I am anxious to return to +town. Please don't think I am unappreciative of your kindness in +wishing me to stay, but as I said before I have no wish to be considered +as a candidate for your fortune. It is owing to my accident that I have +remained so long, and not to any change of mind. I hear from my partner +that the business is suffering from my absence, and we have had such a +struggle to work it up to its present condition, that you can understand +I am in a fever to get back." + +Contrary to his expectation Mr Farrell showed no sign either of +surprise or anger. Perhaps he had been expecting the announcement as a +result of convalescence, perhaps he was simply too weary to feel any +strong interest in passing events. In any case, his face scarcely +changed in expression, as he replied-- + +"After five weeks' visit to the Court you still keep to your original +opinion, that the chance of possessing it is not worth a little +inconvenience, or even monetary loss?" + +Jack pursed his lips with an impatient dissent. + +"Oh, the Court is beautiful--an ideal place in every respect. I would +go through a good deal to earn it--in a straightforward fashion. What I +object to is the mystery, and the idleness, and the feeling of +competition. You have every right to manage your own affairs in your +own way, sir, but you must allow me the same privilege. You must have +found out by this time that I have a large amount of obstinacy in my +composition. I have made up my mind that for every reason it is my duty +to return to town." + +"You have calculated, of course, that even if your business succeeds to +an extraordinary extent, you are never likely to make anything like as +much money as will come to my heir?" + +"I have always heard that you are enormously wealthy. You are probably +quite right; but,"--Jack paused in front of the lounge-chair and looked +down at the shrunken figure from the height of six-foot-one,--"looking +back on your own life, sir, has your greatest happiness come from the +amount of your possessions? Has it increased as they increased? Can +you honestly advise me as a young man to sacrifice everything for +money?" + +There was silence for several minutes, while Mr Farrell winced and +shrank within himself, as if the words had touched a hidden sore. He +never referred to his own domestic life; but it was well-known that for +years it had been one of ideal happiness, and that with the loss of wife +and son, his real life had closed for ever. He avoided a direct reply +to Jack's question by asking another in return. + +"There are other things which many men consider more important. I have +sometimes imagined that you would agree with them. Have you reflected +that in returning to town you may be leaving behind even more than land +or fortune, and thereby losing a dearer chance of happiness!" + +The blood rushed into Jack's face. He could not affect to misunderstand +the drift of the old man's words, but to acknowledge their truth was +impossible, and the orthodox protests seemed to come of their own +accord. + +"What do you mean? What am I leaving? I hardly understand..." + +Mr Farrell laughed shortly. + +"Young people seem to imagine that their elders cannot see what is +happening under their eyes. I have watched you and Mollie, and thought +that there might possibly be an interesting _denouement_ to your +friendship. She has faults, but she has a kind heart and would make a +good wife." + +Jack's face stiffened. + +"Hadn't we better keep her name out of the discussion, sir? I have the +greatest respect and admiration for both your nieces, but, as far as +anything further is concerned, I am not in a position to think of +marriage. It may be years before I can keep a house, and I would never +tie down a girl indefinitely." + +"In this instance it might happen that the girl had a house of her own! +Did it never strike you that you would be doubling your chances if you +linked them together?" + +"I am not a fool, sir! Of course I realised as much from the first, and +have wondered if it was part of your scheme. My idea of marriage, +however, is to be able to keep my wife, not to accept support. It may +be a weakness in my nature, which makes me wish to be head of my own +household; but weakness or not, there it is, and I can't get rid of it. +It would be detestable to me to marry an heiress, and if I were a girl I +should despise a man who was content to live on his wife's money." + +"Just so--just so! Very praiseworthy sentiments, no doubt; but I should +have been glad to know that the child had a protector. The stepfather +is a broken reed, and the mother is a child herself; however, you place +your pride and your prejudice first, and that's the end of the business. +You will go back to town, she to the North--a very effectual +separation!" + +He shrugged his shoulders expressively; but Jack's eyes gave out a +sudden flash, he straightened himself, and cried eagerly-- + +"There are trains, there are boats--if it comes to that, it is only two +hundred miles. If she were in trouble, one could _walk_! It would make +no difference if the woman one wanted were at the end of the world--one +would get to her _somehow_ when the hour arrived! Difficulty is an +inspiration, sir, when one is young!" + +"Yes, yes; when one is young--when one is young!" The smile which had +lightened the old man's face died away at the sound of those last words. +He raised his hand and pushed the thin locks from his brow. "Well, it +is your own life--you must live it in your own way! I cannot benefit +you against your will. If your mind is made up I have no strength to +argue the point. You had better arrange to leave to-morrow afternoon, +and give instructions to that effect to the servants." + +Jack's start of surprise was entirely disagreeable. He had not expected +to be dismissed in this summary fashion, and the thought of so speedy a +break with the new life came upon him with a positive shock. To-morrow! +To-morrow, then, at this very hour he would be back in the dingy +lodgings which did duty for home, preparing to sit down to a solitary +meal, to spend a solitary evening, to sleep and wake up to a day's work +in the stifling City, where the thought of green fields and rose- +gardens, and wide, stretching lawns would seem as unreal as a dream. A +weight of depression settled on him, as he exclaimed-- + +"To-morrow! But--unless you wish it, there is no hurry--I could wait +until the end of the week. If I left on Saturday, I could still begin +work on Monday." + +"For what object? Since you have decided not to remain, it is better +for all reasons that you should return at once. You have put your work +before everything else--then why delay in getting back to it? For my +own part, since you refuse to consent to my conditions, it would +simplify matters if you returned at once. The position is difficult, +and my strength is rapidly failing. I should have been glad if you had +consented to grant me these few weeks out of your life, but, since it is +not to be, I prefer to finish the matter once for all." He held out his +hand as he spoke. "Good-bye, Melland--my best wishes! I shall not see +you in the morning!" + +Jack took the proffered hand, and held it in silence, his face a study +of perplexity and remorse. An Englishman hates to express his emotions, +but to a generous nature the sting of ungratefulness is even more +abhorrent. At that moment it seemed a little thing to spare a few +months of strong, young life to gratify the whim of a dying man. Jack's +heart reproached him, and he spoke in eager accents. + +"If I could be a help to you, sir--if I felt that my presence gave you +pleasure or comfort, I would stay willingly as long as you wished; but +you have kept so much apart, that there has been no opportunity--" + +Mr Farrell disengaged his hand, and turned aside with a wearied air. + +"Good-bye, Melland!" he repeated. "I wish you a pleasant journey!" + +So far as any change of voice or manner was concerned, he might not have +heard the young man's protest. Jack turned away, miserable and abashed. +It was the last time he ever saw Bernard Farrell alive. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +FRESH TRIALS FOR RUTH AND MOLLIE. + +Meanwhile, Ruth and Mollie were crying in each other's arms in the +privacy of their bedroom--that is to say, Ruth was crying and Mollie was +storming and shedding an occasional tear more of anger than distress. + +"I've never been so insulted in my life, and I won't stand it from fifty +thousand Uncle Bernards! I'll tell him so, and make him beg my pardon +and yours too, darling! Don't cry! It makes your nose so red, and you +hate to look a fright!" + +"Oh, Mollie, we were far happier at home when we thought we were so +badly off! What was the use of coming here to have our hearts broken? +I loved that man, I thought he loved me, and now I can only despise him. +He deliberately tried to fasten suspicion upon me this afternoon, and I +can never prove my innocence, for I _was_ in the library, and alone for +quite a long time, on and off. What can I do, or say, if they won't +take my word?" + +"Everybody will, whose opinion is worth having Victor Druce thinks of +nothing but his own advantage; and I won't allow you to say you cared +for him." + +"It's easier said than done! Can you practise what you preach? You +don't say anything, but I know,--I can see! When Jack goes away, will +you find it easy to forget all about him?" + +Mollie's face changed. Excitement disappeared, to be replaced by a +sweet and serious dignity. + +"I shall never forget him," she said quietly; "but he is in love with +another girl--he told me about her the other day--so our lives must be +spent apart. I shall never be as happy as I might have been, but I'm +going to be as happy as I can. I _won't_ mope! We were happy enough +just to be together a few weeks ago; let's go back to where we were, and +forget all about the tiresome men!" + +"It's easier said than done," sighed Ruth once more. She sank down in a +chair by the window, and, leaning her head on her hand, gazed drearily +across the park, beautiful in the changing light of late afternoon. +With what joy and confidence had she regarded the same scene a few weeks +ago, her heart expanding in the happy certainty that some day it would +be her own, and with it unlimited powers of helping those she loved. +Now, between Victor's faithlessness and her own fall from favour, hope +had gradually died away, and the future seemed to hold nothing but +bitterness and regret. + +Ruth's heart turned homewards with yearning affection. The love of the +little mother was a certainty which could be depended upon through good +report and ill; nothing that could be said against her child would shake +her trust and faith, she would be even more tender in failure than +success. + +The dear old pater, too--how good he had been all these years, making no +distinction between his step-daughters and his own children, except +perhaps to show a more anxious care for their needs! He worked so hard, +and was so absolutely self-denying and uncomplaining; it was not his +fault if he did not possess the power of money-making. When she was at +home again she would be more thoughtful of his comfort, more +affectionate and sympathetic. She recalled all the step-brothers and +sisters whose very existence she had grudged at times, each name +bringing with it some kindly, humorous recollection. How truly lovable +they were, despite their faults! + +Then Ruth's thoughts roamed a little further afield to the few intimate +friends of the family, foremost among whom came Eleanor Maclure and her +brother. What would Eleanor say if the grand expedition ended in +ignominious failure? A good many words of sympathy, of cheer, and a few +simple heart-to-heart truths, pointing out the spiritual side of the +puzzle, spoken in that soft Scotch voice which was so good to hear. Ah +yes, it would be a help to meet Eleanor again. And the--the doctor! + +During the first weeks of her stay at the Court, Ruth had been so much +absorbed in the present that she had had no leisure to think of old +friends; but during the last few days the vision of Dr Maclure's face +had risen before her not once but many times--strong, earnest, resolute, +with steady glance and square-built chin, such a contrast from that +other face with the veiled eyes, which seemed to hide rather than reveal +the soul within. + +In the midst of soreness and humiliation it had been a comfort to +remember that such a man had loved her enough to wish to make her his +wife. She recalled the conversation in the brougham with new sympathy +and understanding. Had he suffered as she was suffering now? Did his +life also stretch ahead blank and grey because of that little word from +her lips? Her heart yearned over him, yet felt mysteriously lightened +at the thought. + +"There's the postman's collie!" cried Mollie's voice, interrupting her +reverie. "That means that the evening post is in. I'll run down and +see what there is for us." + +She disappeared for a few minutes, then reappeared carrying one letter +in her hand. + +"From mother, to you. Open it quickly, dear! It is an age since she +has written. I only hope and pray it is good news!" But, alas! that +aspiration was shattered at the sight of the first few sentences. + +"My darling girls,--I have delayed writing as I could not bear to cloud +your pleasure, but I can keep back the truth no longer. You must be +brave, dears, and help me to be brave, for it is no half and half +trouble this time. We are quite, quite ruined, and Heaven only knows +what is to become of us! + +"It is not the pater's fault in any one way. For the last two years he +has been doing a good deal of business for a man who appeared to be in +very good circumstances. At first he paid up his accounts most +regularly, but lately they have sometimes been allowed to run on from +month to month. I don't understand business, but it seems that this is +often allowed, and as he had been such a good client, and had met his +payments regularly before, the pater felt safe in trusting him, and paid +out all his own little capital to finance the business of the last few +months, which was unusually large. + +"He expected to make such a handsome commission as would set us on our +feet again; but it was all a deliberate fraud. Other poor men have been +taken in in the same way, and that scoundrel has disappeared, leaving us +to bear the brunt. I hope I may be able to forgive him some day; just +now, when I see the pater's broken heart and think of you, and all those +children, it's too difficult. + +"Everything that we have or can raise in any way will not pay what we +owe, and the pater cannot carry on his business without some capital. +The future is very dark; but God has helped me through many dark days, +and He will help us still. Trix is splendid! She went of her own +accord to the headmistress and offered to teach one of the junior +classes in exchange for Betty's education, and a few finishing classes +for herself. Miss Bean came to see me, and it is all arranged, for she +says Trix has a genius for managing children, and will be a valuable +help. She is a good woman, and is glad of the opportunity of helping +us, so that difficulty is overcome; but there are oh, so many others to +be faced! + +"What is to be done about the house--the boys--yourselves? Pater and I +have talked until we are too tired and puzzled to talk any more, but, so +far, no light has dawned. + +"Write to the pater as well as to me, for he has been good to you, and +will value your sympathy. Oh, my darlings, it is hard that this should +have happened just now to spoil your happy visit! My heart aches for +your trouble, for these things are so hard when one is young. I hope, I +trust, I pray that the future may be so bright for you as to make up for +all the anxieties you have had to bear. Tell Uncle Bernard our trouble; +you and he must decide what you had better do. + +"I long for your help and comfort, but leave the decision entirely in +your hands. Every one is good and sympathetic, and the pater has had +most kind letters from his friends in town. We have this great comfort +that his good name is untarnished, and that there is no shadow of +disgrace in our misfortune. God bless you, my darlings! If we are rich +in nothing else, we are rich in our love for one another.--Your devoted +Mother." + +The girls looked at each other in a long, breathless silence. Ruth laid +her hand across her heart with a little gasp of pain. + +"Oh, mother! Poor little mother! And we are away, we who should be her +best comforters! There is only one thing to do,--we must go home at +once!" + +"Yes," assented Mollie firmly, "we must go home to-morrow." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +A FATEFUL DECISION. + +It was all decided. The interview with Uncle Bernard was over, the last +farewells spoken, and the boxes packed in readiness to go to the +station. In less than an hour the Court and its inhabitants would be a +thing of the past. + +Out of consideration for Mr Farrell's health, the girls had decided not +to tell him of their bad news until the morning. + +"He has had enough excitement for one day," Mollie said; "let him be +quiet to-night. To-morrow morning we will send up mother's letter for +him to read, and ask to see him as soon as possible after breakfast. +That will give him time to think over the situation and decide what to +do. He must guess that we will want to return home, but if he wishes to +keep us he can easily do so. Oh, to think that with a few strokes of +the pen he could make us all happy again! I don't know how much money +the pater needs, but it would probably be the tiniest sum out of Uncle +Bernard's great fortune. Suppose he offered to send a cheque--suppose +he gave us a cheque to send, and all was peace and joy again! He +could--he might--oh, surely he _will_! What is the use of being rich if +one can't help people in trouble?" + +But Ruth sighed and shook her head. + +"Rich people have not much patience with failures, and the poor old +pater has not the gift of success. I am afraid Uncle Bernard will be +more inclined to blame than to help." And as events proved she was +right. + +Mr Farrell sent word that he would be at liberty at ten o'clock in the +sitting-room adjoining his bedroom, and the first few minutes of the +interview proved that his attitude towards the family trouble was one of +scornful impatience rather than sympathy. He was apparently quite +unprepared for the girls, determination, and would not at first believe +in its sincerity. + +"You are surely joking," he said scathingly. "If your parents are in +such straits as you describe, how do you propose to help them by giving +them two more people to keep and feed? It appears to me that your room +would be more valuable than your company." + +Ruth flushed painfully. + +"We hope to be able to help, not to hinder. When a child like Trix has +already found work, we ought not to lag behind. It would be impossible +to go on living in the lap of luxury, wearing fine clothes, eating fine +meals, being waited upon hand and foot, while our own people are in +actual need." + +"Unless--" interrupted Mollie, and then stopped short, while Mr Farrell +turned sharply towards her. + +"Unless what? Finish your sentence, if you please." + +"Unless you will help them for us!" gasped Mollie, crimson, but daring. +"It would be so easy for you to lend the pater what he needs, and he +would promise to pay you back--we would all promise! We would work +night and day until it was made up." + +Mr Farrell smiled sardonically. + +"At last! I knew it must come. It would not be Mollie if she had any +scruples about asking for what she wanted. No, my dear, I never lend. +It is against my principles to throw good money after bad. At the risk +of appearing a monster of cruelty, I must refuse to interfere in your +stepfather's affairs. There are still six weeks of your visit here to +run, and I shall be pleased to relieve him of your support for that +time; otherwise--" + +"We are much obliged, but we have decided to go home. You wished to be +able to judge our characters, and you have had enough time to do so, +with very unsatisfactory results, if we are to judge from yesterday's +conversation!" cried Ruth, with a sudden burst of indignation. "If you +can believe us capable of prying into your desk, you will surely not be +sorry to get rid of us altogether!" + +The old man looked at her long and thoughtfully. + +"Yes," he said quietly, "it's a pity--a very great pity--that the two +things should have happened together. It is as unsatisfactory to me as +to you that you should leave before the culprit has been discovered. +But it is useless now to argue the point if your minds are already made +up. Taking everything into consideration--the peculiar circumstances +with regard to my will, your original acceptance of my invitation--do I +still understand that you wish to leave me to-day?" + +"It is our duty to go home. Yes, we have quite decided," said Ruth. + +The old man's eyes turned towards the younger girl. + +"And you, Mollie?" + +"Yes, uncle; I'm sorry, but we can't leave mother alone just now." + +Mr Farrell sat silent, his eyebrows lowered, his head hanging forward +on his chest, so that it was difficult to see the expression of his +face; but the pose of the figure suggested weariness and disappointment. +Suddenly he stretched out his hand and touched an electric bell. A +servant appeared almost immediately, and was asked a hasty question-- + +"Is Mr Druce still in the house?" + +"I believe so, sir. He was in the morning-room a few minutes ago." + +"Go down and tell him that I should be obliged if he would come up here +at once." + +The girls exchanged puzzled glances as the servant departed on his +errand; but they did not dare to speak, and, as Mr Farrell relapsed +into his former downcast attitude, the silence was broken only by the +sound of Victor's approaching footsteps. He entered the room confident +and smiling, but drew up with a start of surprise at seeing the two +girls. He was evidently disappointed at their presence, and vaguely +uneasy; but after the first involuntary movement his features quickly +resumed their mask-like calm. + +"You sent for me, sir. Is there anything I can do?" + +Mr Farrell raised his head and looked at him thoughtfully. It was +seldom indeed that he allowed himself to show any sign of interest in +his young companions, so that this steady scrutiny was the more +remarkable. Even Victor's composure suffered beneath it, for a tinge of +colour crept into his pale cheeks, and he moved uneasily to and fro. + +"What is it, sir?" he repeated. "I hope nothing fresh has happened to +distress you." + +"Thank you, Druce. My plans have been still further upset this morning, +as, owing to news received from home, my nieces have decided to leave +the Court at once. That means that three out of the four whom I +selected for my experiment have, of their own accord, refused to carry +out the conditions. Under these circumstances, I think it is only right +to offer to release you from your promise, if you prefer to return home +at the same time. Everything will be changed, and you may not care to +stay on with only myself as a companion." + +Victor's eyelids dropped, and a quiver of emotion passed over his face. +Ruth saw it, and, with a sinking heart, realised that it resembled +exultation rather than grief. He was silent for a moment, but when he +spoke nothing could well have been more dignified and natural than words +and manner-- + +"If it will inconvenience you in any way to entertain me alone, I am, of +course, perfectly ready to leave; but if you give me the choice--if it +is left to me to decide, sir--I should prefer to keep my promise, and +stay for the remainder of the time. I might perhaps be of some help to +you when you are alone." + +The strained expression on Mr Farrell's face gave place to one of +unmistakable satisfaction. + +"That is good!" he replied heartily. "I am glad to find that you at +least have some appreciation of the nature of a bargain. It will be +lonely for you, but I am the more obliged for your decision. I won't +keep you any longer just now, as we shall have other opportunities of +conversation, and I have my adieux to make." + +The door closed behind Victor, and Mr Farrell turned immediately +towards his eldest grand-niece, as if anxious to get through an ordeal. + +"Well, Ruth, I must bid you good-bye. I trust you will have a pleasant +journey, and find matters at home less serious than you anticipate." + +"Thank you, Uncle Bernard." Ruth extended a cold little hand, and stood +hesitating by his side, while his sunken eyes dwelt upon the face which +in feature was so like his own. "I've enjoyed the time--part of the +time--more than anything else in my life! I'm sorry if I have done +wrong in any way; I wanted only to please you!" + +"For my own sake, or for what I could give?" + +The question came sharp and abrupt, and Ruth's cheeks flamed beneath it. +She hesitated painfully, gathering courage to speak the truth. + +"Oh, I know I have been mercenary! I'm sick of being poor, and I love +the Court and the easy, luxurious life. I wanted the money more than +anything in the world; but it's all over now, and it's partly your own +fault, for you _did_ tempt me! Please forgive me before I go!" + +"I forgive you, Ruth. It is quite true that I tempted you, and you are +not fitted to bear temptation. But there is no need to bear enmity. +Good-bye!" + +He held out his hand again--held it at a distance, and with a formality +which forbade a warmer farewell; and Ruth turned away, downcast and +miserable. Those words, "You are not fitted to bear temptation," seemed +to denote that in his mind there still dwelt a lingering suspicion lest +she might have yielded to her anxiety to look at the will, and had then +lacked the courage for confession. Well, it was all over, and it was +useless to protest. So perish earthly hopes! + +Mr Farrell turned towards his remaining niece. + +"Well, Mollie, and so you also are resolved to leave me?" + +"There was only one alternative, Uncle Bernard, and you refused it. If +you won't help mother, we must lose no time in getting to work. We are +breaking no promise, remember. We said we would stay if she could spare +us, and now the time has come when she needs to have us back." + +"You believe you can find work--work which will pay--a child like you, +with the plainest of educations?" + +"I am sure of it. I am not going to teach, but I shall be able to do +something. I should be ashamed of myself if I couldn't--a big, strong +creature like me! I am sorry to go--much more sorry than you will +believe! I've been very happy these few weeks." + +"I know you have. I have known more than you are aware of, perhaps. +But you will not regret your departure so much, as Jack Melland is +leaving at the same time. He has been your special companion, I think." + +The blood flew to Mollie's cheeks under the scrutiny of the sunken eyes, +and, to her consternation, spread even higher and higher, until she was +crimson to the roots of her hair. She tried in vain to answer with +composure, but could only stammer confusedly-- + +"He has been very nice. I like him the best--better than Mr Druce. +But he decided--we decided,--our reasons for leaving are absolutely +independent of each other, Uncle Bernard." + +"I know--I know!" + +He turned aside, and remained silent for a few minutes, as if to allow +her time to recover composure, then once more held out his hand in +farewell. + +"Well, good-bye, Mollie. We also must agree to forgive and forget!" + +Mollie bent over his chair, one hand resting on each arm, the +embarrassment of a moment before dying a sudden death in the face of a +parting which, in the nature of things, must be for ever. + +"Uncle Bernard," she said softly, "if your Ned were alive, and you were +in trouble, you would like him to hurry home to you, whatever it might +cost! And if She were alive, and poor and distraught, you would rather +he worked for her, than left her that he might fill the greatest post on +earth. Judge us by that thought when you feel inclined to be hard! I +know you don't like kissing people, so I am going to kiss you instead. +There! Good-bye; and God bless you!" + +She turned away with tears in her eyes, but half-way to the door the +sound of her own name made her pause. + +"Mollie!" he cried, in a sharp, resolute voice, which sent her heart +beating with sudden hope. + +But, even as her eyes met his, his expression changed once more. + +"No, no; it is better as it is! I have nothing to say!" + +Mollie turned away sadly and walked out of the room. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +LEAVING THE COURT. + +The news of the girls' sudden flight spread to the vicarage, and brought +Mrs Thornton rushing up to the Court, hot and panting, and almost +incoherent with curiosity and dismay. When she heard of the trouble +which was the cause of their departure, her best side came out, and she +helped the girls in both word and deed through the last difficult hours. +It was a comfort to find someone who agreed with their decision, and +was convinced that they were acting aright in returning home, even in +defiance of Uncle Bernard's wishes. + +"The maid cries, and Bates looks as if he would like to murder us, Mr +Druce keeps out of the way and says nothing, and Jack Melland, who is so +keen on taking his own way, has half a dozen compromises to suggest. +Actually he offered to go to Liverpool himself and find out if we could +be of any use if we returned! It was sweet of him, but we must be of +use. There is no option in the matter, and it is not reasonable to +expect mother to discuss private affairs with a stranger." + +"Of course not; but I love him for having suggested it. Of course, no +one wants you to go, dear Ruth. It is a terrible collapse to all our +bright schemes, but with such trouble at home you have no choice, and +there is nothing gained by staying on for a few odd days. Better hurry +back and bend all your energies to see what can be done to retrieve +matters, and look forward to the day when you will return for good." + +Ruth shook her head hopelessly, and for once Mollie followed her +example. + +"Ah, that will never be! There is no more hope. We are leaving against +Uncle Bernard's wishes, and at the very worst possible time, for he is +angry and upset because there is no way of finding out who opened the +desk and read the draft of the will. We are all indignant at being +suspected; yet it seems strange that an outsider should be so +interested. It is terribly unfortunate, especially for Uncle Bernard, +for he can't help feeling his confidence shaken; and yet, so far as we +can see, nothing will ever be found out." + +"Yes, it will all be explained some day," said Mrs Thornton solemnly. +"Don't ask me how, for I can't tell. I only know that evil deeds are +the most difficult things in the world to hide, and that in the most +wonderful and unexpected ways they are discovered long after hope of +detection has been abandoned. It will be so in this case also. Whoever +is mean and wicked enough to allow you, dear children, to bear an unjust +suspicion in addition to your own trouble, will be put to the shame he +deserves. As for your coming back again, I will not give up hope if you +do. I can't afford to lose all my castles in the air. It is decided +that one of you is to be Lady of the Manor, and put our societies out of +debt, and pay for a parish nurse, and take my dear girls about when they +come home, and make life a fairy tale for us all. You have raised my +expectations, and I intend to go on expecting! Seriously, dears, +whatever Mr Farrell may say to you just now, in the first heat of +disappointment, I cannot believe he will really think less of you for +giving up your own pleasure to hurry back to your mother. Mr Melland +has only himself to thank if his name is struck off the list; but you +were willing and anxious to stay, and are the victims of circumstances. +If I were in the squire's place I should think all the more highly of +you for your unselfish devotion, and I believe he will, though he will +never confess as much in words. But time will show! Meantime, my poor +dears, we will think of you every day, and pray for you that you may be +shown what to do, and have strength to do it. I have had my own share +of money troubles, and would never try to belittle them in my own case +or in the case of others. They are very hard and sordid, and far- +reaching. There was a time in my life when money seemed in the +background of every thought, and I could not get away from it; but I +have learnt to trust instead of worrying, and that's the great lesson of +life. It isn't mastered in a day; it took me years to learn, and many +bitter experiences, which I hope you may be spared; but try, dears, to +do your best, and leave the rest with God! Then comes the `quiet mind' +which will keep you calm and restful through all outward troubles." + +The two young, wistful faces gazed into hers, and her eyes filled with +tears of pity. + +"Now tell me honestly--shall I help you best by staying, or by going +away at once? I have arranged to do whichever suits you best. If you +need any help." + +"Oh, thank you! The best help of all would be to stay and drive down to +the station with us. The packing is all done--in a way! But I expect +that in our haste we have left lots of things behind, for we worked +together, and in such a hurry and confusion that we hardly knew what we +were about. Poor Elsie has packed our new garments in the new trunks, +and watered them with tears. I expect it will be months before they are +opened. We shall have no use for such fineries now." + +"You can never tell what may happen, but if you don't, there is no cause +to grieve. They have served their day, and have given you pleasure. +Never mind if you have left some oddments behind; Elsie can send them +on. I never have a visitor at the vicarage that I have not to expend my +substance posting toothbrushes or sponge-bags or stray garments after +their departure." + +Truth to tell, Mrs Thornton was much relieved at being allowed to +accompany the girls to the station. + +The Vicar's wife possessed even more than her share of feminine +curiosity, and was longing to discover in what fashion Victor Druce said +good-bye to Ruth. + +He was already waiting in the dining-room when she went down with the +girls a few minutes later to partake of some light refreshment before +starting on their long journey, and nothing could have been more +unobtrusively sympathetic or attentive than the manner in which he +waited upon them, anticipating every want, and ministering to it with +eager hands. The room itself was so spacious that unconsciously the +little party split into groups; and Mrs Thornton found herself _tete-a- +tete_ with Jack Melland, obviously in the worst of humours. + +"Can you do nothing? Is there nothing you can say to knock a little +common-sense into those girls' heads? It's the maddest trick, rushing +off like this in defiance of the old man's wishes. What can they do at +home--a couple of children like that? They are better out of the way. +At any rate, one of them might have stayed--Mollie, for instance--and +kept things going here till she saw how things worked out. They have no +right to rush off together at a moment's notice!" he cried irritably; +whereat Mrs Thornton smiled involuntarily. + +"Isn't it rather a case of people in glass houses, Mr Melland? You +have set a bad example without half the excuse of these dear girls. It +seems to me their plain duty to return to their parents when they are in +trouble, so I have not attempted to dissuade them in any way." + +"But--" Jack made a slight but eloquent gesture of the head in Victor's +direction. "It's such a walk over for somebody else! I can't bear the +thought of it. This place ought to belong to one of those girls--it is +theirs by rights. It maddens me to see them throwing away their chance, +for I'm afraid Mr Farrell will never forgive them for going against his +wishes." + +"Don't be too sure!" returned Mrs Thornton, nodding her head sagely. +"Mr Farrell is not half so obstinate as he pretends, and however +annoyed he may be to-day he can't help softening when he remembers that +they have put all their own pleasures and self-interests on one side to +return to work and worry for their mother's sake. If he wanted a test +of character, surely nothing could be better than this! I don't think +it will be by any means a `walk over' for Mr Druce. My firm belief is, +that Ruth and Mollie have as good or even a better chance than they had +before." + +"I say," cried Jack cordially, "you _are_ a brick!" He turned towards +her with a bright, boyish smile, which took years off his age. "You +don't know how you have cheered me by saying that! I hated to think of +them as being out of the running; but you will rub it in, won't you? +Don't let Druce have it all his own way! Impress upon the old fellow +what you said just now--unselfishness and hard work, and all that sort +of thing. You will know how to do it, so as to make him see that he +ought to admire the girls more for going than staying." + +Mrs Thornton smiled indulgently. + +"I can try, at least. I'm only sorry that I can't do the same for you. +You have not the excuse of home troubles, and I'm afraid Mr Farrell--" + +"Oh, never mind me; I don't count! I have been out of the running from +the first, and it is only through an accident that I have stayed so +long. I don't want anything from Mr Farrell but good-feeling and a +fair judgment. It cut me up to say good-bye when I saw how feeble he +looked. I don't want you to plead my cause, because I relinquished my +claim long ago; but if you get a chance, you might just let him know +that I was genuinely sorry to leave him for his own sake." + +Jack's manly, straightforward speech was just what Mrs Thornton +expected from him, and she gladly consented to convey his message to Mr +Farrell. + +"I will, with pleasure," she said, "and I shall have the chance before +many days are over. Wonders will never cease! When I said just now +that the squire was not so hard as he pretended, I spoke out of a full +heart. What do you think of his suggesting--actually suggesting to my +husband that the vicarage might need renovations, and asking him to send +me up to give him my ideas! I nearly fainted when my husband told me. +Now, do you think he thought of it himself, or did one of you kind +creatures suggest it to him?" + +"I didn't, I know. It would have been as much as my life was worth; but +I suspect Miss Mollie may have had something to do with it. She spoke +pretty strongly on the subject to me, and she has the courage of her +convictions." + +"Oh, that Mollie!" murmured Mrs Thornton under her breath. "I have +never met her equal. The dearest, the simplest, the most affectionate +of girls!" Her eyes moistened suddenly, and Jack's face softened in +sympathy as he looked across the room to where Mollie stood by her +sister's side. She met the two glances bent upon her, and walked +forward in response, leaving Ruth and Victor by themselves. + +Poor Ruth! Her heart beat fast with agitation and a last desperate hope +born of Victor's soft tones and regretful eyes. For the moment it +seemed that the last few days must have been a nightmare, and that he +really did "care"; in which case she was prepared to forgive +everything--nay, more, to believe that there was nothing to forgive. + +If, in this moment of trouble and humiliation, he would place himself by +her side, nothing that she could do in the future would be enough to +prove her gratitude and devotion. But, alas! even as Mollie turned +away, Victor's manner altered, and he became nervous and ill at ease. +The long, eloquent glances which had been safe enough in the presence of +a third person could not be risked in a _tete-a-tete_, and Ruth's hopes +died a final death. She sat trying to eat her sandwiches, and feeling +as if every bite would choke her, while Victor feebly struggled with +commonplaces. + +The sound of carriage-wheels could be heard drawing near to the door; +the last, the very last moment had arrived! Ruth raised her beautiful, +sad face and gazed steadily at Victor, and he stopped short in the +middle of a sentence, and turned guiltily aside. He could not meet her +eyes. + +After that all was bustle and confusion--servants crowding to say good- +bye, villagers bobbing farewell curtseys at their doors, elaborate +regrets and hopes for a speedy return from acquaintances at the little +station, tears from Mrs Thornton, and a last glimpse of Victor's tall +figure standing motionless on the platform; then they were off, and Jack +tactfully busied himself behind his newspaper until the first painful +moments were past. + +When he ventured to lower the screen, both girls were perfectly composed +and dry-eyed, gazing out of their respective windows. His eyes turned +from Ruth to dwell upon Mollie at the further end of the carriage. The +fashionable young woman had disappeared, and he saw again the simple +girl in shabby serge coat and close-fitting hat with whom he had +travelled weeks before, yet there was a difference which his fastidious +eyes were quick to note, a dainty precision in the way the clothes were +worn, a perfection of detail, a neatness of coiffure. + +Mollie was too clever and adaptive to have missed the lessons of the +last few weeks, and the change of expression was even more marked. The +audacious school-girl had disappeared, and in her place sat a woman, +with a grave, set face, and eyes that stared into space, seeing things +that were far away. + +Jack's heart contracted with a stab of pain. He dropped his paper, and +with one long step crossed the carriage and seated himself by her side. +Ruth turned in her seat to stare more persistently out of her window, +and the clattering of the train made it impossible to overhear a +conversation. + +"Mollie!" said Jack softly. + +She turned her head and looked at him, neither startled nor smiling, but +with a patient sadness, the sight of which brought with it yet another +stab. + +"For Heaven's sake, Mollie, don't look like that! Things will right +themselves again, or you may find that they are not so bad as you +expect. In any case, there's a pleasure in helping to pull them +straight. It may be a tug just at first, but that only means more +satisfaction in the end. Don't look so sad! I can't bear to leave you +looking like that." + +Mollie gave a flickering smile. She had not been thinking of business +troubles, but naturally Jack could not guess that. + +"Once on a time--do you remember?--you wished that I could be serious. +You should not complain because your wish is fulfilled," she said +slowly; and Jack put up a protesting hand. + +"Don't! don't! I was a fool! I didn't know what I was saying. You +were made to be happy; you should always be happy if I could arrange it +for you." + +Mollie smiled again, but with the same obvious effort. + +"I hope you will be happy," she said; "I hope some day we may hear good +news from you. I don't mean about money; you can guess what I mean." + +"Yes," said Jack gravely; and there was silence for another five +minutes, while the train approached nearer and nearer to the junction at +which he was to alight, to catch the express for town. + +"I hope I shall hear good news of you, too," he said at last. "You will +be busy at first, and there may not be much to tell, but later on--in a +few weeks' time, when you see how things are going--will you let me +know? I shall be so interested to hear; and at any time if I can do +anything, if you need anything done in town, or if I could help by +coming North, you would be doing me a good turn by letting me know. I +mean it, Mollie; it is not a polite form of speech." + +"I know; thank you; I will promise," said Mollie, with, for the first +time, a little break in her composure. Her lip trembled in a pathetic, +childlike fashion, and, as if afraid of herself, she bent forward and +addressed a pointed question to Ruth. + +Ten minutes later the junction was reached, and Jack stood outside the +carriage saying his last farewells. Ruth talked persistently in a high, +cheerful voice, and Jack bit his moustache and cast furtive glances at +Mollie's white face. She smiled at him bravely as the train steamed +away, and waved her hand, calling out, "Good luck! good luck!" Then +they turned, the two poor girls, and clasped each other tightly. + +"Oh, Lucille, my poor Lucille!" + +"Berengaria, Berengaria, how horribly it hurts!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +BACK TO POVERTY. + +Trix was at the station to meet them--a greatly developed Trix, as +became a young woman who not only provided for her own education but +also that of her sister. The door-knocker had disappeared, and her +lanky locks were screwed into a knot about as big as a good-sized +walnut; she wore a discarded black skirt of Ruth's, which reached down +to her ankles, a blue blouse, white sailor-hat, and brown shoes. Ruth's +heart contracted with pain when she saw her, and even Mollie felt a pang +of dismay. So shabby, so unkempt, so obviously poverty-stricken! Was +it really possible that Trix had looked like this six weeks before, and +that the sight had caused no consternation? + +Plainly Miss Trix was rather pleased than otherwise with her appearance, +and was decidedly patronising to her half-sisters, ordering them about, +and treating them with the lenient forbearance which a busy worker might +be expected to show to two elderly, incapable drones. She interviewed +the porter as to sending home the luggage, and only consented to the +hire of a cab when it was proved to her own satisfaction that the cost +would be about equal. She took Ruth's purse from her hand to tip the +porter, looking at him the while with such a severe and determined air +that his grumbles died upon his lips; finally, she gave the cabman +instructions to stop at a certain shop, where--as she informed her +sisters triumphantly--potatoes could be bought three-halfpence a peck +cheaper than in more fashionable neighbourhoods. + +"Good gracious, Trix, you don't mean to take home potatoes in the cab!" +gasped Ruth, fresh from the delightful luxury of the Court, where no one +thought what anything cost, and every luxury of the season appeared of +its own accord upon the table; but Trix smiled at her benignly, and +replied-- + +"Certainly; two pecks! And any other vegetables I can pick up cheap. +It will help to pay for the cab-fare. Not that you will get any of them +to-night, for we have knocked off late dinner and afternoon-tea, and +have one late tea instead. Cold tongue for you to-night, as you have +had a journey. Mother wanted to have a chicken. The idea! `No, +indeed,' I said; `let them begin as they must go on. Our chicken days +are over!'" + +"I think yours are, any way. You seem to have grown into a very old +hen," cried Mollie disconsolately. She looked across the cab at the +businesslike young woman, and wondered if a few weeks of home under the +new conditions would work a similar transformation in herself and Ruth. +It was a comfort to remember that Trix's vocation kept her out of the +house for the greater part of the day, for it would be distinctly trying +to be "bossed" as a permanent thing. + +Perhaps Trix's thoughts had wandered to the same subject, for her +welcome was the reverse of encouraging. + +"Can't think what you've come back for!" she declared candidly. "Mother +thought of sending for you last week, but I told her it was absurd. It +will make more work, and both the servants are going. We gave Mary +notice, and Kate said she couldn't abase herself to be a `general' after +her bringings up. Goodness knows who we shall get! I sat for two hours +in a registry-office yesterday afternoon, when we had a half-holiday, +and didn't see a single creature who could be bribed to come. `Nine in +family; one servant, cellar kitchens; washing done at home.' Sounds so +attractive, doesn't it? And yet I suppose we ought not to afford even +one. If we lived in the country we could do the work alone, but +cockroaches! No really refined mind can cope with cockroaches, and they +simply swarm in the back kitchen... Mother's terribly cut up that you +have left the Court. If I had been in your place I'd have stayed on, +and persuaded the old man to help father out of his difficulties." + +"Oh, Trix, as if we hadn't tried! You talk as if no one had any sense +but yourself! You are very clever and important, no doubt, but even +your earnings will not keep the family. There is a little work left for +Mollie and myself!" cried Ruth hotly. + +Whereupon Trix elevated the red marks which should have been her +eyebrows, and exclaimed coolly-- + +"Hallo, still snapping! I thought you would be quite good-tempered +after such a holiday!" + +It was indeed like being at home again to hear a squabble between Ruth +and Trix within the first ten minutes. + +When the house was reached, there was the little mother standing in the +doorway, smiling and waving her hands in welcome; but at the first sight +of her both girls felt a sudden choking sensation in the throat, so wan +did she appear, so bleached in colour, such a tiny, frail little +creature to be burdened with the care of an impecunious household! She +clung to her girls, and her girls clung to her, and presently they were +seated together round the dining-room table, on which, in spite of +Trix's dismal prophecy, appeared a tray of the ever-welcome afternoon- +tea. + +"After their journey, Trix dear! I thought just this once," murmured +Mrs Connor apologetically. "Dear Ruth, how sweet you look! Is that a +new coat? No, I see it is not; but it looks new, with that charming +collar and vest. And your hair, dear; and Mollie's, too! So +beautifully done! I suppose the maid taught you? Oh, darlings, I'm +thankful to have you back, but I should never have sent for you! You +were on the spot, and could judge best what to do. Did you--did you let +Uncle Bernard know of our trouble?" + +The strained eagerness of the small face, the involuntary tremor in the +voice, smote the girls to the heart. Ruth turned her head aside, +herself on the verge of tears, while Mollie said brokenly-- + +"We sent him your letter to read, and when he said nothing I asked him +point-blank if he would lend father enough money to put things right +just now, and promised that we would all work to pay him back." + +"Yes, dear--yes! And then?" + +"He wouldn't. He jeered at me, and said he made it a rule never to +throw good money after bad. He would keep us for the remaining six +weeks, if we agreed to stay, but more than that he must refuse to do. +So there seemed no alternative, mother dear, but to come straight away +and try to help you ourselves." + +"Yes, dear--yes. Bless you! You were quite right!" + +Mrs Connor tried to speak bravely; but it was as if the last gleam of +hope had died out of her tired eyes, and her hands trembled as she +clasped them in her lap. She herself had not realised until this moment +how much she had counted upon Uncle Bernard's intervention, and now the +last hope seemed gone. She shivered, and put her hand to her head; then +forced herself to smile, as she met the girls' anxious gaze. + +"It's always the darkest the hour before the dawn. You must talk things +over with pater, dears; my head is so confused. I shall be thankful for +your help in the house, and no doubt something will turn up for you, as +it has done for Trix." + +"Mother," cried Ruth, with an outburst of irritation, which was the +result of tired-out nerves and body, "Trix is insupportable! She +behaves as if she were the head of the house! How can you let her give +herself such airs and domineer over you so? I shan't stand it for one, +and the sooner she understands it the better. I am not going to be +ordered about by a bit of a chit of seventeen, and apologise to her if I +dare to have as much as a cup of tea!" + +"Hu-ush, dear!" Mrs Connor cast an apprehensive glance towards the +half-opened door, through which Trix's voice could be heard +superintending the carrying of the luggage. "She is such a child! +Young things are always inclined to go to extremes; and she has been so +good! I don't know what I should have done without her! We must not +let her feel slighted because you have returned!" + +That was true enough; Trix had borne the heat and burden of the day, +while her stepsisters were amusing themselves, in blissful ignorance of +the gathering troubles. Ruth's irritation was silenced by the reminder, +and she listened quietly while Mollie pressed her mother for details of +the present situation. Alas, it was even worse than had been expected! +It was so bad that it could not well be worse, and it seemed ridiculous +to talk of what they could afford, since, as a matter of fact, they +could afford nothing at all. It was a matter of speculation whence the +next twenty pounds was to come. + +"`Man's extremity is God's opportunity!' Some friend will be raised up +to help us through this strait. It is not often that we are brought to +a point when we realise our own helplessness so plainly. Let us look +upon it as an opportunity, and watch to see what He will do. `Be not +dismayed, neither be afraid, for the Lord thy God is with thee +whithersoever thou goest.'" + +Mrs Connor's voice sank to a rapt whisper, her face shone with that +wonderful grace and exaltation which the Christian knows in the midst of +his trial; but her daughters looked at her pinched cheeks and haggard +eyes, and felt their hearts sink within them. + +It was a dreary evening--how different from the triumphant home-coming +which fancy had painted so often during the weeks of absence! The house +felt unbearably cramped and airless. It was dreadful to have no garden, +after having practically lived out of doors; and oh, what a contrast the +evening meal presented from the repast served nightly in the old oak +dining-hall! + +When people are in the extremity of anxiety and poverty, they have no +heart to attend to the little superfluities which add so much to the +beauty of daily life; there was not a single flower on the table, nor in +the half-lit drawing-room, where Trix sternly forbade the lighting of a +second lamp. Mr Connor sat silent and haggard, and his wife poured out +tea and smiled a pathetic, patient little smile, as the children +catechised the travellers. + +Was the Court a jolly big house? Were there strawberries in the garden? +Did the footmen wear white stockings, like the Lord Mayor's Show? What +was the name of the horse that bolted? What did they have for dinner +every night? On and on went the endless catechism, which the sisters +tolerated only as an improvement on silence. They had no wish to visit +Attica, but retired upstairs to their bedroom at the earliest possible +moment to mingle tears of misery. + +"I--I feel as if I should burst!" cried Ruth expressively. "My heart is +so full that I can't bear another thing! Everything seems to have +happened at once, and I feel crushed!" + +"It's so bad that it must get better! it can't possibly get worse!" said +Mollie, persistently hopeful in the midst of her misery. + +But alas, her prophecy was not justified by events! Mrs Connor crawled +about the house for another week, looking every day smaller and more +fragile; and then a morning came when she could not rise from bed, and +all other anxieties seemed to dwindle in significance when the illness +took a serious turn, and her precious life itself seemed in danger. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +THE SILVER LINING. + +Ruth and Mollie constituted themselves nurses, Mollie, as the more +robust of the two, insisting upon taking as her share the arduous night +duties. Trix found time to attend to the housekeeping between school +hours, the younger children were housed by sympathetic friends, and on +the once noisy house settled down that painful silence which prevails +when a fight is being waged between life and death. + +At the beginning of the illness Ruth was dismayed to see a stranger in +Dr Maclure's place, but on the third day he appeared, bringing with him +an atmosphere of comfort and security. One felt now that all that was +possible from human skill and care would be done for the dear invalid, +and, busy man as he was, Dr Maclure found time for several visits a +day, until the first acute anxiety was passed. Until then his +intercourse with Ruth had been solely that of physician and nurse, but +one morning, when the invalid's temperature and pulse both showed a +satisfactory decline, he walked into the dining-room on the way to the +door, and motioned Ruth to a seat. + +"Sit down for a moment. I want to have a little talk with you. It is a +doctor's duty to see that a nurse does not overtax her strength, and you +are looking very ill these last few days. I am going to prescribe a +tonic which I want you to take regularly, and you must contrive to have +a walk each day, and, if possible, a rest in the afternoon. You might +lie down on the sofa while your mother is dozing." + +Ruth flushed, and shook her head in pretty disclaimer. + +"Oh, I am all right! Don't trouble about me. I have not half such a +hard time of it as Mollie. The nursing doesn't tire me a bit; it is +other things which make one feel rather ill at times." + +"Just so. And it is about those other things that I want to speak. +Eleanor and I have been abroad for a month, and have heard little or no +home news. I was ill--that is to say, feeling rather worn out," +corrected the doctor, with a sudden flush of colour to his thin cheeks, +"so we decided to treat ourselves to a holiday. I found on my return +that Mrs Connor was ill, and heard rumours which strengthened my own +conviction that her trouble was more mental than physical. It is not +giving a doctor a fair chance to keep back anything from him in a case +of this sort. I want you to tell me honestly, as a friend and +physician, if anything can be done to set her mind at rest." + +"We are ruined, that's the trouble! The pater has lost every penny--not +by his own fault, but through some wretched man who has deliberately +cheated him for months back. He can't even go on with what business is +left, for want of capital, so we have arrived at the point when we don't +know what to do next. We look pretty much as usual, I suppose, but we +are just as much paupers as if we lived in the big workhouse over in +Smithdown Lane!" + +Dr Maclure paced slowly up and down the room, stopping immediately in +front of Ruth's chair. + +"But, excuse me--your uncle? Surely he will help at a crisis of this +sort. Before I went abroad I heard great stories of your life at the +Court, and of the very marked preference which he showed to yourself. +It seemed a foregone conclusion that his choice had fallen upon you, +and, if so--" + +"Ah, that was a month ago! Many things have happened since then. Uncle +Bernard doesn't like me as much as he did. He discovered my weaknesses, +and accused me of being a coward. I am not a coward, as a rule, but I +wanted so badly to please him that I was afraid to be natural, as Mollie +was. Before we came away someone went to his desk and read the draft of +a will which he had mentioned a few days before. It was not altered or +tampered with in any way, but, of course, it was a mean thing to pry +into his private papers, when he had put us on our honour by speaking of +it. We all denied it, but just because I had been afraid before, I know +he suspects that I did it, and dare not confess.--Then we came away +against his wishes. Jack Melland left, too, so only one out of the four +remains, and he is certain to be the heir." + +"You mean Mr Victor Druce?" + +Ruth started, raising a flushed, bewildered face. + +"Yes; but how,--what do you know about him?" + +"Trix brought some of your letters to show us. His name was mentioned +very often, Ruth. I had a presentiment that you two would be more than +friends. You must forgive me, but one's perceptions grow keen when +one's interests are strong. I thought that very probably Mr Farrell +had some such hope in inviting you and Mollie to meet these two men." + +"Perhaps he had. I have thought so, too, but, in any case, it has come +to nothing. Jack Melland cares for nothing but his work, and Mr +Druce--" + +Ruth hesitated, possessed by a sudden impulse to confide her own +troubles to this man, who loved her, and would understand. Her lids +dropped till the dark lashes lay on her flushed cheek; she clasped her +hands nervously together. "He made love to me as long as I was in +favour, but it was only pretence. He really cares for another girl, but +he thought I should be a better bargain if I were Uncle Bernard's +heiress. He has taken no notice of me lately, but we found him out +before that,--I and the other girl. She is good and charming, and in +every way better than I am, and she had cared for him, too. I expect he +will try to marry her now that I am in disgrace, but she will never +accept him." + +"And you, Ruth? Has it gone very hardly with you, poor child?" + +There was silence for several moments before Ruth lifted a thoughtful +face. + +"I--don't--know!" she said slowly. "It was a shock to me at first, and +I felt as if I could never believe in a man again, but since I came home +I have hardly thought about him, and if I had cared as much as I +imagined that would have been the worst trouble of all. I think it was +just part of the experience. Can you understand? Summer-time, and the +lovely country, and the holiday feeling, and nothing to do but laze +about, and amuse ourselves together. It seemed--don't laugh!--so +natural to fall in love." + +Dr Maclure did not laugh, but a smile flashed over his face, full of +immeasurable relief and pleasure. + +"I do understand," he said heartily. "You have had so few chances of +enjoying yourself with young people of your own age. It was, as you +say, quite natural, but I hope you will have no more to do with the +fellow. He is a pretty contemptible specimen, by all accounts." + +"Oh no!" Ruth reared her little head with a haughty gesture. "I could +forgive a great deal to a man who really loved me, but nothing to an +adventurer who cares only for his own gains; I am sorry the dear old +Court will fall into such hands, for he cannot make a good master, and, +as far as we are concerned, it will cease to exist. That dream has come +to an end, Dr Maclure!" + +"Well, one must hope it will be replaced by something more lasting. +Don't trouble too much about Mr Connor's difficulties. I feel quite +convinced that some arrangement can be made to tide him over the present +crisis. You may not live at the Court, but it is equally certain that +you are not going to the workhouse." + +He held out his hand, and Ruth said good-bye with a little tremor of +relief and thankfulness in her voice. Dr Maclure was a man of few +words, but what he said he meant, and his quiet, assured manner made him +seem a veritable rock of refuge in the midst of the storm. + +Ruth felt happier and more hopeful than she had done for many a long +day, despite the uneasiness caused by the doctor's appearance. His skin +was bronzed by his tour abroad, otherwise he must have looked shockingly +ill, for he was thin and worn to a marked extent. Remembering the date +of his illness, it was impossible not to connect it with her own +refusal, and Ruth's heart softened at the thought. "He has suffered for +me, as I have suffered for Victor! He is a real man; true and strong +and honest. Everywhere people run after him and admire him, but he +cares only for me. How much he cares! His poor, thin face! All this +time while I have been forgetting, he has been thinking of me, and +grieving himself ill." + +Sad though the reflection might be, there was comfort mingled with it. +The sore, slighted feeling of the last few weeks could not survive while +a man of Donald Maclure's calibre placed her first among women. + +That very evening, after his second visit to the invalid, the doctor was +closeted with Mr Connor for an hour, and after his departure the latter +joined his step-daughters in the dining-room, where Mollie was eating +her deferred dinner in preparation for the night's watch, and the first +glance at his face proved that a light had arisen in the darkness. + +"The worst is over!" he said tremblingly. "Maclure has come to the +rescue. He is a good fellow--a noble fellow! God will reward him; I am +to draw upon him for necessary expenses for the next few months; and I +have no doubt the business will go well--so many men have come forward +and offered to support me if I could keep going. This will be the best +possible medicine for your mother, and for us all. It will give us +heart to work, and we shall have to work hard to pay off the loan." + +Ruth set her lips in a determined fashion, which gave a new expression +to her face. She was thankful beyond words for help in this time of +need, but the fact that it had come from Donald Maclure, of all people, +made the debt difficult to bear. He had already offered much, and had +been rejected. She felt oppressed by his very generosity. + +That night when she went to bed, Ruth unfolded the little bundle of +letters which she had received from Raby since her return home, and read +them over with lingering attention. No word from Uncle Bernard, though +both girls had written to him more than once, telling him of their +mother's illness and progress towards recovery. Not a line from Victor, +though he must have known of the added trouble. A short, manly letter +of sympathy from Jack Melland, who had heard of the bad news through +Mrs Thornton--a letter addressed to Ruth, with "kindest regards to her +sister"; three long, underlined epistles from that lady herself, and one +sheet covered with a beautiful, distinctive handwriting, and signed +"Margot Blount." Ruth opened this last letter first of all, and passed +hurriedly over expressions of condolence to the more practical part of +the message. + +"And now, Ruth, you must not think because Fate has separated us in this +hurried manner that you have seen the last of me. I want to be your +friend now and always, and hope to see a great deal of you in the +future. Mrs Thornton says that you wish to find some work. I am +neither rich nor clever, but I know a great many people, and I have some +little influence, so I can certainly help you there. Write, dear, and +tell me if you have any special vocation in view, or if you are willing +to take the best chance that offers. I have a rich and gouty relation +whose companion is shortly to be married. I could recommend you for the +post, when you would be well paid, and live in luxury; but I know you +would feel prisoned, and long to throw cushions at her occasionally. I +should! There are numerous societies and guilds also to which I belong, +and to one of which you might be appointed as secretary or treasurer. +Then you would be your own mistress, and free; but is freedom worth much +in London lodgings? I can't fancy you roughing it by yourself, and I +keep hoping against hope for some sudden turn of the tide which may +still make it unnecessary. Don't settle to anything before telling me +first. I know I can find something really good if you give me time. + +"Mr Druce is very much in evidence, acting host at the Court, and +visiting far and near. He tells me that Mr Farrell consults him on +every point, and gives him carte blanche to do as he likes; and I hear +as much from other sources, more reliable. As his position becomes more +assured, his attentions increase; but he will not make the fatal mistake +of burdening himself with a poor wife until there is no possibility of +mistake. Therefore, it may some day be my painful duty to refuse to +become mistress of the Court; but the refusing itself I shall enjoy. +You would not, for you have a gentle nature; but Mr Druce shall find +that he cannot play with Margot Blount for naught!" + +Ruth could see in imagination the haughty tilt of Margot's graceful +head, and the flash in her eyes, as she wrote those words, and did not +envy Victor his hour of awakening. Evidently the whole countryside now +looked upon him as the accepted heir, and even hopeful Mrs Thornton +ceased to prophesy for the future. + +"I have seen Mr Farrell twice this last week, but have not succeeded in +making him mention your names," she wrote in her last letter. "I talk +continuously of you--in what vein you can imagine!--and read extracts +from your letters; and he listens intently, but makes no remarks. I can +see him mentally pounce on anything which gives him fresh insight into +your life here, as if he were still interested in the study of your +characters; but the moment I stop speaking he turns the conversation to +impersonal topics. Only one thing he has done which I thought really +thoughtful. Ruth's camera was found lying about, and he gave +instructions that it was to be taken down to the photographers the same +day, and copies printed from all the films, so that your mother might +receive them as soon as possible. I believe they were sent up +yesterday, so that you may expect them soon, and perhaps a letter at the +same time. Mr Druce is kind and amiable, and very much the man in +possession. I don't take to him, but my husband believes he will make a +good squire." + +"Will," not "would"! This from Mrs Thornton was conclusive indeed! +Ruth dropped a salt tear on the back of the sheet as she folded it up. +It was good news to hear of the trouble Uncle Bernard had taken on her +behalf. Surely, surely he would not forward the photographs without +enclosing some sort of an answer to her many notes! + +For the next few days Ruth's heart leapt every time the postman's knock +sounded at the door; but, when the longed-for packet arrived, the words, +"Photographs only," written on the back, killed her hopes at a glance. +The pictures themselves were fairly successful, and gave a happy half- +hour to the invalid, who bent lovingly over each familiar scene. + +"It takes me back to my youth to see the dear old rooms again! How +successful you are with interiors, Ruth; but you have no photograph of +the library, one of my favourite haunts. How did you come to leave that +out?" + +"I didn't. I took it twice over. I'm sorry, dear, but I expect they +were failures," said Ruth wearily. + +She could not guess that on these missing pictures hung the fate of many +lives. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +LOVE'S CONQUEST. + +Six months had passed by, taking with them the keen edge of anxiety, but +leaving behind the dull, monotonous routine which is almost as hard to +bear. It is not enlivening, to be obliged to work instead of play, to +look ten times at a sixpence before you dare spend it, to consider what +you can do without, rather than what you can have, and to see no +prospect ahead but continual cheese-paring and self-denial; and when you +happen to be young and full of life, it is harder than ever. + +With Dr Maclure's help, Mr Connor was able to continue his business, +and his City friends rallied round him, doing their best to put work in +his way; but, even so, there were pressing debts to be settled besides +the loan which one and all were anxious to repay, so that housekeeping +expenses had to be reduced to a minimum. It was decided that one of the +elder girls must stay at home, while the other tried for work abroad, +and it was at once a relief and a blow for Ruth when Mollie was chosen +as mother's help. She had dreaded the irksome duties of mending, +cooking, dusting, and everlasting putting to rights, which would have +fallen to her share, but it would have been a comfort to have been +chosen! + +"Don't feel hurt, darling; it's a pure question of suitability," Mrs +Connor had explained anxiously. "Mollie is stronger than you are, and +has a more adaptable temperament. She won't feel the little jars as you +would, and will get on better with the maid. It is the art of a good +general to place his forces in the best position." + +"Yes, of course, dear. It's quite--quite right! Arrange everything as +you think best," replied Ruth sweetly, kissing the little, wistful face +as she spoke; for Mrs Connor was still very fragile, and by Dr +Maclure's orders had to be spared all possible worry. + +The same orders were extended to forbid Ruth from taking advantage of +Lady Margot's offer to procure work at a distance. + +"Unless it proves absolutely impossible to find a suitable post here, I +don't think it would be wise to subject your mother to any further +anxiety. She would be constantly worrying about your welfare, and that +is the very thing we wish to avoid. Would it be a great disappointment +to you to give up going to London?" he inquired, with a quick, grave +look at Ruth's face. + +"It would be a blessed relief. I'd a million times rather be at home; +but what can I find to do? I am ashamed to think how incompetent I am! +Here we are back again where we were three months ago, Dr Maclure, when +I worried you and Eleanor about a vocation!" + +Ruth smiled, then flushed crimson at a sudden remembrance of how that +conversation had ended. She was immeasurably thankful to the doctor for +looking in an opposite direction and continuing to talk in the most +matter-of-fact manner. + +"It occurred to me last night that I knew of a post which might suit you +for the next few months. The secretary of our Home for Nurses is on the +point of breaking down, and needs a good rest. The work needs no +special knowledge; it consists mainly in answering endless notes of +inquiries, and in keeping some very simple accounts. I could soon coach +you up in what is necessary. You would have to be there from ten to +six--not heavy hours, as things go. I think I could secure the post for +you for, say, the next three months, if you cared to accept it." + +"And how much should I get?" + +"Miss Edgar's salary is forty pounds; you would get a fourth of that--" + +"Ten pounds!" Ruth stared at him with dilated eyes. "Ten pounds! +Every day from ten to six for three whole months, and only ten pounds! +Dr Maclure, do you know it is a real, true, honest fact that I paid +twenty pounds for a ball-dress only a few weeks ago? I've got it now in +a box upstairs!" + +The doctor smiled. + +"I should like to see you in it! I hope I may some day. It certainly +seems a good deal of money, but I suppose it is very fine, and will last +a long time." + +"But it won't! It's a mere wisp of gauze, that will only be fit to burn +after being worn two or three times. And I should have to work for six +months to earn enough to pay for it! How shocking! What a terrible +difference there is between the lives of the rich and the poor!" + +"Ah, there you have touched on a great problem! After you have had some +experience of being a working woman, you may not care to buy any more +twenty-pound dresses, even if the opportunity offers. I know that the +payment is small, but I am afraid you would find it difficult to get +more without any special knowledge or training. It is hard for you, +especially coming so soon after your taste of luxury; but if you can +face it--" + +"Oh yes, indeed! I'll take it, and be thankful; and perhaps, if I do +very well and keep the books nicely, I may be worth fifty pounds next +time!" said Ruth, with a charming courage, which might well have aroused +any man's admiration. + +Dr Maclure made no remark, and turned his head aside. He had a habit +nowadays of looking at other things when he was speaking to Ruth. So it +happened that while Mollie worked at home, Ruth went forth every day to +her monotonous task, trudging along the same well-known path, in sun and +rain, heat and cold--for the secretary's leave of absence had to be +prolonged--until Christmas was close at hand, and the ten pounds' salary +had doubled in value. + +"I shall be able to buy myself a new mackintosh and a pair of good stout +boots," Ruth said to herself, as she trudged home one dismal December +evening, and felt a suspicious dampness in the soles of her tired little +feet. + +She had no idea what a charming figure she made in her long, dark coat, +with her hair curling in wet rings about her face; for she carried no +umbrella, as her cloth toque defied the weather, and she preferred to +keep her hands free to hold her skirts from contact with the muddy +roads. The pink-and-white face, with its delicately cut features, and +straight black brows, shone out like a flower among the tired, +colourless-looking throng of workers who wended their way homeward; and +her expression was bright and alert, despite the dismal surroundings. + +Ruth was surprised at her own happiness of late. Her work was dull and +monotonous, and she had few pleasures to relieve it; yet, for some +mysterious reason, she was more truly content at heart than in those +days of ease and luxury, which seemed like a dream of the past. Six +months had passed since that memorable day when she and Mollie had +bidden adieu to the Court; and Uncle Bernard still lived, and was +apparently in the same condition. + +Mrs Thornton kept her friends well informed of the news of the +neighbourhood, so that they knew that, though Victor Druce had +ostensibly returned to town at the expiration of his three months' +visit, he was constantly running down and bringing friends with him for +a few days' shooting, with the privilege of a son of the house. For the +rest, Margot Blount had returned to town, and Jack Melland's +communications were limited to an occasional picture-postcard bearing +half a dozen words of greeting. Mollie made no comment on the briefness +of these missives, and was always cheery and busy, but sometimes on her +return from her day's work Ruth would look at her anxiously, and wonder +if it were only imagination that Mollie looked different, thinner and +older--a woman rather than a girl. Perhaps after all she had the harder +path--shut up in the house, without the daily variety of seeing fresh +rooms and fresh faces. The regular constitutional, too, was in itself +health-giving, and though Ruth received much pity at home on the score +of her long, wet walks, it was astonishing what pleasant surprises +loomed out of the fog at times. She smiled to herself, and a dimple +dipped in her cheek. + +The good old fairy days were not yet over, when a tired Cinderella, +trudging through the mire, was suddenly provided with a comfortable +carriage, springing as it were out of the earth to carry her to her +destination. It was extraordinary how often Dr Maclure's brougham +"happened" to be travelling in the same direction as herself on wet +evenings; and although the doctor himself was conspicuous by his +absence, the coachman was wonderfully quick to recognise one figure out +of many, and to draw up with a "Just driving past your house, miss. Can +I give you a lift?" + +Ruth had no doubt that it was the master, not the man, who was +responsible for these meetings, and the conviction brought with it a +glow of content, of which as yet she failed to realise the meaning. +Nevertheless, her heart beat with a pleasurable excitement as she +threaded her way through the crowded streets, wondering if once again +the fairy equipage would be sent to the rescue, if it would appear at +this corner or the next. At last, through the driving sleet, she +recognised the familiar outline of the brougham drawn up beside the +pavement, but for once the coachman sat stiffly on his box, while the +master stepped forward to meet her. + +"Miss Ruth, it is a shocking evening! I have a call to pay in this +neighbourhood. Do let George drive you home before you are wet +through." + +Ruth stood still and looked at him. The drops of moisture were thick +upon hat and coat, her soft cheeks were damp with rain, but her eyes +danced with a spice of mischief which was more like Mollie than the +grave, elder sister of the family. + +"I'll drive with pleasure on one condition--that you will first allow +yourself to be taken to your patient's house," she replied demurely, +adding when the doctor hesitated in embarrassment: "It is such a very +odd neighbourhood for a patient to live in, in the midst of these great +blocks of offices! I think we may perhaps have to drive you a long, +long way." + +For a moment Dr Maclure did not reply; he merely held open the door of +the carriage, waiting until Ruth should have taken her seat; then he +leant towards her, the light from the lamps showing the nervous tremor +of his lips. + +"I will come in too, on one condition--that you are willing to drive +beside me all the way, Ruth!" + +What did he mean? Ruth started and flushed, for the tone of voice was +even more eloquent than the words themselves. The moment which she had +vaguely expected, dreaded, and hoped for, had come suddenly upon her, +provoked by her own jesting words. She did not know what to say, or how +to say it, only one definite thought stood out distinctly in the +confusion of her mind, namely, that Dr Maclure was standing unprotected +in the damp and cold. She held out her hand towards him, and cried +tremulously-- + +"Don't stand out in the rain! Oh, please come in! We will go where you +like?" + +Dr Maclure leapt lightly to his seat, and the coachman whipped up his +horses without waiting for instructions. A coachman is only an ordinary +man after all, and George had seen how the wind blew for many a long +day. He took care not to drive too quickly, nor to choose the shortest +routes, satisfied that for once his master was not in a hurry. + +Inside the brougham Dr Maclure held Ruth's shabbily gloved little hand +in his, and asked earnestly-- + +"Can you give me a different answer this time, Ruth? It has been a +weary waiting, and I seem to have grown worse instead of better. I fear +it is an incurable complaint! Can you give me a glimmer of hope, dear, +or is it still quite impossible?" + +Ruth shook her head and nodded and smiled, and sighed, and shed a few +bright tears, in a whirl of delightful confusion. + +"It's--it's not impossible at all! I think I am quite sure. I have +been growing surer and surer all this time. But am I good enough? You +remember that six months ago I fancied myself in love with someone +else?" + +"I can afford to forget that episode, and even to be thankful for it, if +it has shown you your own mind, so that now you are `quite sure'! Oh, +Ruth, it is too good to be true! Can you really be happy with a dull, +old fellow like me? No country seat, you know; no life of ease and +luxury, just a comfortable, commonplace house, with a husband who is too +hard-worked to have much time for play. I have no fortune to offer you, +dear, except love--there's no end to that wealth!" + +Ruth turned her beautiful eyes upon him with a smile of perfect content. + +"But that's everything!" she cried. "I shall be the richest woman in +the world!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +MARGOT'S ANSWER. + +A week later Victor Druce was sitting _tete-a-tete_ with Margot Blount +in the drawing-room of her aunt's London house, a cramped little house +in a fashionable neighbourhood. The house was generally let furnished +during the season, and inhabited by the impecunious owner at those odd +seasons of the year when she had no invitations which made it possible +to saddle other people with the cost of food and maintenance. Just now +there was a gap of a few weeks between the last shooting-party and a +Christmas gathering in the country, so the house had been reopened, and +friends flocked to call and leave cards, foremost among them Mr Victor +Druce, a young man of importance, nowadays, as the accredited heir to +one of the finest properties in the kingdom. + +"I am not at home to anyone else this afternoon," Margot announced to +the servant, as Victor took his seat beside her. She smiled to herself +as she spoke, an odd little smile, whose meaning her visitor was puzzled +to decipher. It was a great compliment to be allowed a private +interview, but there was a mysterious something in Margot's manner which +detracted from his satisfaction. He watched her as she poured out tea +at the inlaid Turkish table, with eyes in which admiration and anxiety +were equally mingled. He had known many women more beautiful, but never +one with such an air of grace and distinction; every movement of the +slim body and white tapering fingers was a poem in itself, and the coils +of chestnut hair shone like burnished gold. Even in the poorest of +surroundings Margot would look an aristocrat, and reflect credit on her +husband's good taste. + +While he was drinking his tea and listening to the pretty flow of +conversation about everything in general and nothing in particular, +which seems to come so naturally to women of the world, Victor was busy +painting a mental picture of a wonderful, rose-coloured future where he +would reign as master of Raby Court, with Margot acting chatelaine by +his side. The exclusive county families might have hesitated to welcome +a stranger, who was moreover a "City man," but, with Margot Blount as +his wife, he would have the entree into any society. + +Victor congratulated himself on his usual good luck, inasmuch as this +desirable partner was the girl of all others whom he would have selected +for her own sake. A year ago he had looked upon her as a star entirely +out of his own sphere, for he had the poorest of prospects for the +future, but now, as by the stroke of a magician's wand, a fine position +was almost assured, and he could approach Margot if not as an equal, +still as a match whom nobody need disdain. Almost, but not quite! +There lay the rub. + +The old squire still lingered on, dying by inches as it were, and +preserving to the last his grim enigmatical silence. Victor had not +heard one word from his lips to substantiate his hopes; but actions-- +which, as the proverb says, speak louder than words--all seemed to range +themselves in his favour. His three rivals had retired in disfavour, +and, receiving no replies to their first letters, had gradually ceased +writing, so that there was at present no correspondence between them and +the squire, while he himself was a constant visitor, and was even +allowed carte blanche in inviting and entertaining his friends. The +very servants about the place spoke of him as "the young master," and +the local tradesfolk lost no opportunity of begging his patronage in the +future. Surely, surely he might be done with doubts, and allow himself +the joy of speaking out all that was in his heart! + +"A penny for your thoughts, Mr Druce," cried Margot gaily. "You have +not been listening to me for the last ten minutes. It must have been a +very pleasant day-dream to engross you so completely." + +"It was," said Victor simply. For once he was thoroughly sincere, and +voice and manner both testified to the change. "I was thinking of you," +he added, looking at her with the dark eyes which could be so eloquent +upon occasions. "My daydreams have always been of you for the last +year!" + +"Always?" echoed Margot sceptically. She selected a little cake from +the basket by her side, and nibbled it daintily with her small white +teeth. "Really? I am surprised to hear that. I fancied that you were +more catholic in your tastes. It is very flattering of you to include +me in your dreams, but I am not presumptuous enough to expect to occupy +the entire stage!" + +"Presumptuous!" echoed Victor reproachfully. The vague uneasiness which +had possessed him since the beginning of the interview was deepened by +the unconcealed irony of her tone; and he realised suddenly that he must +speak plainly, since it was dangerous to play fast and loose any longer. +"What a word for you to use of yourself! It is I who am presumptuous +to dream of you as I do; but a man is not always master of his thoughts. +I think you must know what my feelings have been ever since we met. I +fell hopelessly in love with you at first sight--hopelessly in every +way, as it seemed at that time; but, all the same, my fate was sealed, +and the world held no other woman." + +"Really?" queried Margot again, in the same voice of scepticism. "But, +then, how wonderfully you act, Mr Druce! I have seen you only +occasionally during the year, but I cannot say that you impressed me as +a man who had lost his interest in my sex! At one time I made sure--a +good many people made sure--that you had a very definite preference. +That was at the beginning of your stay at the Court, when Mr Farrell +seemed so devoted to his charming grand-niece. Do you remember the +afternoon when I came to call, and found you two sitting together upon +the terrace? What a charming picture you made! The old house makes an +ideal background for a _tete-a-tete_!" + +Victor's eyes lit up with a flash of relief and triumph. Margot was +jealous--that was the reason of the change of manner which had puzzled +him all the afternoon. She was jealous of his attention to Ruth +Farrell, which she evidently looked upon as disloyal to herself. As he +could not deny the evidence of her own eyesight, the wisest plan was to +throw himself upon her generosity and forgiveness. + +"Ah, you must not be hard on me! You were out of reach, and the time +and the opportunity were there. She was a pretty girl, and not +disinclined for an innocent flirtation. You would not confound so +trivial an incident with my feeling for you? Ruth Farrell is a charming +girl in her own way; but--" + +"But not so charming as she was! She has fallen from favour all round, +poor little Ruth, since Mr Farrell transferred his favour to another!" + +Victor leapt from his seat, and strode across the room to her side. + +"Margot, what is the matter? Why do you speak to me in that voice? +Leave Ruth Farrell alone--she is nothing to you or to me. I have been +waiting to ask you a question, but I can wait no longer. If the Court +is mine, if Mr Farrell makes me his heir, as we all expect, will you +share my good fortune? Will you be my wife, and make me the happiest +man on earth? I could give you a home which would be worthy even of +you!" + +He bent over her as he spoke; but Margot pushed back her chair, and rose +to confront him, her head almost on a level with his own. + +"Really, Mr Druce, you are too original in your methods! A conditional +proposal is quite a novelty in my experience. _If_ you inherit? And +what if by chance you are disappointed? It is still possible, you know! +There are some people who believe that the squire is deliberately +misleading us all, and that the property will go to Ruth Farrell, +despite all appearances. I should like to know exactly how I stand +before I commit myself to a reply. Does your offer still hold good if +Ruth inherits in your place?" + +Victor's eyelids sank, and a dull red flush showed on his cheeks. + +"It is impossible!" he protested. "Why will you conjure up such a +position? Mr Farrell has never mentioned his niece's name since she +left the Court. He treats me like a son; I come and go as I choose. It +is preposterous to believe there can be any doubt on the subject!" + +"But suppose there were? Suppose the impossible happened, if you like +to put it in that way?" + +"If I were back in my old position--worse than my old position, for +these months of idleness have not helped me on--I--I should be no match +for you, Margot. You would not care to marry a pauper!" + +"Nor you an equally impecunious bride! My title would be of service to +you as master of the Court, but a commoner with a substantial fortune to +her back would be a better bargain for a budding barrister. Such a +commoner as--shall we say Ruth Farrell, for example? Mr Druce, you +ought to succeed in your profession, for you have shown wonderful +forethought in the management of your own affairs. It was an admirable +idea to provide for both emergencies, while leaving yourself free. The +only drawback to success is that Ruth and myself happened to be friends, +and were mutually anxious that the other should not be deceived. Under +the circumstances, you will not be surprised that I must decline to +consider the problematical offer of the Court and its master. I will +live unmarried all my days, or I will marry an honest man and a +gentleman!" + +Victor stood gazing at her, a figure cut in stone. For a few moments +stupefaction held him dumb; then his face worked convulsively in the +effort of speech. + +"You have known all along--you have deliberately waited, intending to +deal me this blow?" + +Margot bent her head gravely. + +"Yes, I have waited! I am able to take care of myself, but I wished to +make quite sure that Ruth was safe. To-day I was glad to feel that it +was unnecessary to wait any longer. You will be interested to hear that +Miss Farrell is happily engaged to an old friend of the family. It +sometimes happens that the cleverest of schemers falls between two +stools. The position is undignified, but you have only yourself to +thank. I think we have nothing more to say to each other, Mr Druce. I +have the pleasure to wish you--Good-bye!" + +She had touched the electric bell a moment before, and now the door +opened and a servant stood awaiting her bidding. In his presence it was +impossible for Victor to reply. For one moment he stood glaring at her, +a picture of impotent fury, then slowly turned and left the room. As +the house door closed behind him, the electric bell pealed once more, +and the servant turned back to the drawing-room. + +"I am not at home in future to Mr Druce! Please remember!" said Lady +Margot. + +Then her eye fell on the envelope of a telegram which the man was +carrying towards her. She tore it open, saw at a glance that it came +from Mrs Thornton at Raby, and read the following message:-- + +"Squire died suddenly last night. Husband, Druce, Melland, summoned to +funeral on Thursday. Will write details." + +It was a duplicate of a message which was even then speeding on its way +to the two grand-nieces in Liverpool. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +BERNARD FARRELL'S HEIR. + +"I'm not sorry; I'm _glad_!" cried Mollie, while a rain of tears rolled +down her cheeks. "He was old and was tired, and everyone he loved had +gone before him. It will be like going home to meet them again. He was +grim and cross and suspicious, but I loved him all the same, and in his +queer way I am sure that he liked me too. I'm thankful he is at rest! +... `Will write details.' Thursday!--that means that she will write on +Thursday evening. Mrs Thornton is nothing if not businesslike. We +shall hear from her by the second post on Friday. By Friday at ten +o'clock we shall know our fate. To be, or not to be--that is the +question. Oh, I hope--I hope he has remembered us a little! There is +no chance of inheriting the Court, as we once dreamt of doing; but +still, there is a hope, and it will be a shock to bury it for ever. I +used to feel comparatively indifferent; but the strain of these last six +months has made me greedy; while you, you dear goose, who used to be all +ambition, are in such a ludicrous condition of bliss that you can hardly +rouse yourself to take any interest in the question! What it is to be +engaged!" + +Ruth tried to look contrite, but succeeded only in smiling seraphically. + +"When you are perfectly happy it is impossible to be happier, and I +honestly don't care very much. I should like Uncle Bernard to leave me +a nice message, and I shouldn't at all object to a legacy, which would +provide my trousseau; but the Court itself would be a white elephant to +me now. Donald adores his work, and would not give it up for any +consideration, so we could never live there ourselves." + +"You might lend it to a poor but deserving family! Astonishing as it +may appear, there are a few other people in the world beside yourself +and Donald, and they are not all going to be married and live happily +ever after!" + +This time Ruth did, indeed, look contrite, and that without an effort. + +"Oh, Mollie, I am horribly selfish! Forgive me, darling! I honestly do +forget everybody but ourselves sometimes; and it is hateful of me, for +when I am so happy I ought to be more sympathetic, instead of less. I +am, when I remember! I am so bubbling over with happiness and good-will +that I feel inclined to kiss everyone I meet. But there is so much to +be thought about, and every time we meet there seems to be more, and I +get lost in dreams." + +"Bless your heart, don't apologise to me. I like it!" cried Mollie +heartily. "I know your heart is right; and it's a poor thing if lovers +can't live in a world of their own for a few weeks of their life. I'm +thankful beyond words that your future is settled. But oh, what a help +a few hundreds would be to the rest of us just now! I feel as if I +could hardly live until Friday morning, I am so anxious to hear the +news! And the mysterious condition, Ruth! Do you realise that we shall +know all about it in three more days?" + +"I wonder!" sighed Ruth dreamily. Then, with sudden animation, "If it +is good news,--if either of us came in for something really big, Mrs +Thornton would wire! She simply could not wait. She is far too +impulsive!" + +It was an unfortunate suggestion, as it added tenfold to the strain of +waiting. The minutes seemed to drag on Thursday afternoon and evening; +but no telegram appeared, and Mollie's heart sank heavily. She knew +better than her sister how difficult it was to make both ends meet, and +what a long and arduous task it would be to pay off the loans which had +tided the family through their time of need, and she was tired--as any +natural, high-spirited young thing would be--of all work and no play, +and eagerly longing for a respite. Mr Farrell had expressly stated +that he would not divide his property; but that did not prohibit small +legacies, and when he knew that his nearest relations were in straits, +surely--surely... + +Mollie was up and dressed even before her usual early hour the next +morning, for sleep was impossible in such a whirl of nervous anxiety. +Ruth kissed her before departing to her work, and said-- + +"Rush down to me, dear, if there is anything good to tell. I shall look +out for you about eleven." + +Mollie set about her household duties with great fervour, so as to make +the long hour pass by more quickly. At last ten o'clock struck, and +almost at the same time came the sound of the postman's rat-tat. She +flew to the door, arriving at the very moment that three letters fell +into the box. + +One was of that long, narrow shape, which inevitably foretells a bill; a +second was unmistakably a circular; the third-- Mollie stared at it, +turned it over, looked at the postmark, stared at the writing again, in +a whirl of bewildered dismay. It could not be an ordinary, unimportant +letter from the children's aunt at Brighton! It could not! The thing +was impossible! Yet why, then, the address to Trix, the well-known +writing--most of all, the horrible postmark? + +She put her hand to her head, wondering if it were true, or only a +horrible nightmare that Mrs Thornton had not written, after all! + +The little mother came creeping out of the dining-room, and, seeing her +child's blanched face, was persistently optimistic. Absurd to give up +hope because a letter did not come by the first possible post! A +hundred things might have happened to cause a delay; and, even if it had +been posted in time, the post-office was not always infallible. + +Mrs Farrell recalled stories of belated letters from her own +experience, and related them at length, while Mollie went numbly about +her work. The disappointment was severe, and seemed like a foretaste of +worse to come. Nevertheless, as time went on, her naturally buoyant +nature asserted itself, and, as each delivery drew near, excitement grew +to fever-pitch. + +One o'clock, and a letter for the maid; three o'clock, and the postman +walked past the door. Poor Mollie! The sound of his departing +footsteps rang like a knell in her ears, and two hot rebellious tears +rose to her eyes. It did not seem possible that anything would have +prevented the kindly Mrs Thornton from keeping her promise except sheer +inability to communicate bad news; and bad news meant that her own name +and Ruth's were not mentioned in the will, and that everything went to +Victor Druce. Oh, it was hard to give up so much to so unworthy a +supplanter! + +The children came home from school and settled down to their "prep." +Mrs Connor retired to her room for a rest, and Mollie took her way to +her stepfather's little den to set a match to the fire, and hold a +newspaper before it to make it blaze cheerily in preparation for his +return. It was one of the pleasures of the day to make the sanctum look +cheery and home-like for the tired man, and to-day there was an +additional impetus in the knowledge that he would share in her own +disappointment. + +Mollie knelt by the grate, holding the newspaper in place--a tired, +disheartened little Cinderella, who would have liked to lay her head on +the table and indulge in a good cry. But such luxuries are not for the +brave-hearted; so she resolutely blinked away the rising tears, and, +rising to her feet, lighted the crimson-shaded lamp on the writing- +table. Its rosy light had a wonderfully beautifying effect on the +little room, giving an air of luxury to the commonplace furnishings; and +when the curtains were drawn, and the easy-chair drawn up to the fire, +it was as bright and cheerful a little interior as one need wish to see. + +Mollie looked round with a glance of satisfaction, then suddenly rushed +into the hall at the sound of a loud knock at the door. So soon! She +had not expected the next delivery for another half-hour at least. No +letter appeared in the box; so, with wild visions of a legal missive, +registered for greater safety, she threw open the door and peered out +into the night. + +A man's tall figure stood on the step; but it was not the figure of a +postman. Mollie leant forward--the light from above shining on cheeks +flushed from contact with the fire, and ruffled golden head--leant +forward, and stared into his face with incredulous eyes. + +"Mollie!" cried a well-remembered voice, which broke into an eloquent +tremor over the name. + +"You!" cried Mollie! "Mr Melland! It can't be! What does it mean? +You can't really be here!" + +He laughed at that, and took a step forward, like the masterful Jack of +old. + +"I am here; it is myself, and nobody else! I'll tell you all about it +if you will let me in. It's rather cold to-night, you know." + +She held the door wide open at that, and hurried him across the hall +into the little, pink-lighted room, which she had just prepared for +another's reception. There they stood face to face, staring at each +other for a breathless moment. + +"I thought you were in Raby--" + +"So I was yesterday. I left this morning, and came down by the first +train." + +"Mrs Thornton promised to write. I thought you were the postman just +now; and, of course, one cannot help being curious.--Have you come to +tell us anything nice? Did Uncle Bernard remember us at all?" + +"He has left your sister his wife's rubies. They are very beautiful, I +am told, and of considerable value." + +"Oh, I am glad! Ruth will be pleased; and she will be able to wear them +when she is married. How beautiful she will look! And--and me?" + +Jack shook his head. + +"Nothing? Not even a word to say he forgave me for coming away?" + +"There is a letter. You will see it later on. What I meant was that +your name was not mentioned in the will. He left you no legacy." + +Mollie sat down in the easy-chair, and leant her head against the +cushions. In spite of all that had passed, in spite of every +determination to be prepared for the worst, the blow fell with crushing +weight. She was conscious of a feeling of physical weakness, as if the +body shared with the mind in grieving over the vanished dream; but she +tried bravely to smile and look unconcerned. + +"Then I suppose he--Victor Druce--inherits all?" + +Jack looked at her with anxious eyes. + +"You expected it, didn't you? You are not surprised? It seems to have +been generally taken for granted for the last six months." + +"Yes; so Mrs Thornton said. If it had been anyone else I should not +grudge it so much. And you are left out too! I wish--oh, I wish it had +been different!" + +Jack Melland took a step forward, and bent over her chair. + +"Mollie," he said softly, "shall we console each other? I have been +waiting until this question was settled before coming to see you. It +seemed an endless time to wait, but I couldn't come till I knew the +truth. How could a poor fellow, with a few beggarly hundreds a year, +approach a girl who might be one of the biggest heiresses in the +kingdom? But I didn't forget you--I couldn't forget. I have been +thinking of you night and day. It was all the harder to be silent when +you were in trouble; but it was the straight thing to do. You can't +tell what it means to me to see you again! When you opened the door +just now, and the lamp-light showed me your little golden head--" + +He broke off, with the same strange quiver in his voice which had marked +his first utterance of her name; but Mollie shrank back still further in +her chair, staring at him with troubled eyes. + +"What do you mean? I don't understand!" + +"It's simple enough--only that I love you, and want you to love me in +return!" + +"But--don't you remember?--you told me about her--the girl you met, and +loved at first sight. Suppose you met her again, and felt the same; +then you would be sorry if I--" + +"Oh, Mollie, do you mean to say you have remembered all this time, and +never guessed! It was yourself, darling; there never was anyone else! +I think I must have cared for you from the first, though I did not +realise it, for I was irritated that I could never get you to be +serious. You were like a child out for a holiday--full of fun and +mischief--and I wanted to talk of deeper things. Then one day for a +moment you showed me a glimpse of your real self--the sweet, womanly +heart that lay beneath the gaiety; and as I looked at your face I +recognised it, Mollie. It was something I had dreamed of when I did not +know I was dreaming, and wanted, without knowing what I wanted! I saw +that look again five minutes after I had told you of my lost love, as +you looked at me and wished me happiness. Why did you look sad, Mollie? +Were you--were you sorry at all?" + +Mollie put her hand to her side with a gesture as natural as it was +charming. + +"It hurt," she said simply. "I never, never dreamt that you meant me, +and I have tried hard not to think of you ever since; but I didn't +succeed very well... Why did you always write to Ruth instead of to +me?" + +Jack laughed happily, and with a lover's privilege seated himself on the +arm of the easy-chair, and took Mollie's hands in his. + +"Because, as I told you before, you darling, I was waiting. And do you +really think you could make up your mind to marry me on next to nothing, +and live in a tiny house, and wrestle with the household bills? Do you +think I am worth the sacrifice?" + +Mollie smiled at him, shyly confident. + +"I'm so improvident that I'm afraid I'd marry you on nothing. I haven't +a copper of my own, remember. You will have a penniless bride. Oh, I +wish more than ever that Uncle Bernard had left me something, so that I +might help you! It does seem hard, doesn't it, that Victor Druce should +get it all?" + +Jack hesitated a moment, tugging at his moustache with his unoccupied +hand. + +"I didn't say that, you know. I never told you that he did." + +"Jack!" + +The name slipped out so naturally on the surprise of the moment that +there was a prolonged interval in the conversation, while Jack +acknowledged the compliment. Then Mollie returned to the attack, +laughing and rosy. + +"You asked if I were surprised. You said everyone had taken it for +granted!" + +"Exactly; so I did. But for once everyone was mistaken. Druce has not +come in for the property." + +"Then, who--who--" + +"Someone equally unworthy--an ungracious rascal of a fellow called +Melland. It is all mine, Mollie--all that there is to leave!" + +And then Jack did a pretty thing--a thing that he would have sneered at +as high-flown and sentimental a few months before; but no man really +knows himself or his capabilities till he loves and is beloved. He +slipped off his seat, and knelt on the floor at Mollie's feet. + +"And I have come to you," he said gravely, "to ask you to share it with +me, for it's worth nothing, and worse than nothing, if I have not you by +my side!" + +He held out his hand as he spoke, and Mollie laid hers in it, while her +face confronted him, white and tense with excitement. + +"I can't--I can't believe it!" she gasped. "It is too wonderful! You +and me! That lovely, lovely place; and we the masters of it, able to do +as we like--just as we like, all the summer days, and the winter days, +and the beautiful spring, and no more anxiety and trouble! Jack--Jack!" + +Her head went down on his shoulder, and he held her fast while she shed +a few natural tears of joy and thankfulness. + +"My poor girl--my dear girl! Yes, it is all over, and the money is as +much yours as mine. I feel sure Mr Farrell meant it to be so, and that +you will find something to that effect in this letter he has left you. +He discovered my secret before I left Raby, and said plainly how much he +wished it success. There, darling, read your letter! I hope you may +find some kind words to comfort your heart." + +Mollie broke open the envelope, which he handed to her. It was a solemn +business, reading a message from the dead, and her big eyes looked quite +awestruck as they scanned the page. There were only a few words, +written in a small, tremulous hand:-- + + "My dear Mollie,--I leave you nothing, hoping that you may share all. + That is my strong wish, and I believe I am helping on your happiness + by an apparent neglect. Try to forgive me for refusing your last + request. It would have been easier to consent, but I considered that + a short period of anxiety would be a blessing in disguise, if it + showed you who were your true friends. If a man comes forward and + offers you his love in the days of obscurity and poverty, that man's + love is worth having. I hope and believe it will come to you. I + thank you for your kindness to an old man. Forgive him for all his + offences, foremost among them an unfounded suspicion.--Your friend and + kinsman, Bernard Farrell." + +"There! You see how right I was?" cried Jack in triumph. "In effect, +we are joint heirs, and have equally free hands in the disposal of the +money. You must settle an income on your mother which will ensure her +against anxiety, and then you can come away with an easy mind, and help +me to turn into a country squire and learn my duties to the tenants. +You told me once that he would be hard-worked if he were conscientious, +and I want to do the thing well while I am about it. This is December. +I mean to be married in January, at latest!" + +Mollie laughed, but with a somewhat tremulous sound. The change of +scene which had taken place within the last quarter of an hour was so +complete, so extraordinary, that she felt dazed by the shock. Not only +had undreamed-of happiness come to herself, but with it such relief and +ease for all belonging to her, that they would rejoice equally with +herself. It did indeed seem more like a dream than a reality, as, with +Jack's arm round her waist and her head resting contentedly upon Jack's +shoulder, they drifted off into one of those delightful conversations +which follow all happy betrothals. + +"Do you remember?" queried Jack. "Do you remember?" echoed Mollie. +"What did you mean when you said?" + +"How did you feel when you heard?" + +"When did you first begin?" + +"And are you quite sure you will never, never--" It is all as old as the +hills, and as new as to-morrow morning, though each separate pair of +lovers imagine in their innocence that they own the exclusive monopoly. + +"Jack!" cried Mollie at last, sitting suddenly upright and clasping her +hands in amaze. "Jack, imagine it! All this time I have forgotten the +most thrilling part of all. The condition--the mysterious condition! +What was it? What did you do, or leave undone, which made you different +from the rest of us?" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +CONCLUSION. + +"Aha!" cried Jack. "I wondered when you were coming to that! It was +indeed something of which we could never have thought! Mr Farrell had +learnt by sad experience that real happiness cannot be purchased by +money, so had determined to leave his fortune to the one who cared for +it least--that is to say, to the one who put other things first--love-- +whole-hearted, disinterested love, such as he himself had felt for his +beautiful wife; and honest work, enjoyed for its own sake more than for +what it will bring! Ruth was out of the running from the start, for she +showed so plainly that, to her, money meant happiness. There must have +been a time when he wavered in favour of Druce, who played his part +remarkably well; but on the whole, it was my obstinate, ungracious self +which approached nearest to his ideal. He knew that I loved you, but +that I should never venture to ask you to be my wife if you were a great +heiress; so as he himself writes, he left you nothing, hoping that you +would share all. I want you literally to realise that, darling--and to +feel that the money belongs as much to you as to me!" + +Mollie smiled at him in her sunny, candid fashion. + +"Oh, I shall!" she said simply. "I mean to. There are so many things +that I want to do for the dear people here, and they would like them +better if they came from me. Uncle Bernard was a dear, sweet old thing +to scheme for our happiness, and I adore him for it. I certainly put +love before money, for I would marry you if we had to play an organ in +the streets or sing sentimental ditties out of tune, but it will be like +a fairy tale to live in the Court--with you!" + +"It will, indeed! I don't feel indifferent to fortune any longer now +that it has brought us together. When the Will was read aloud +yesterday, I did not know whether I was standing on my head or my heels. +I rushed down to the vicarage, and good little Mrs Thornton cried upon +my neck, literally she did, Mollie!" + +Mollie smiled at him with love-lit eyes. + +"But oh, Jack, there's something else--Victor? What about him? Was he +terribly disappointed? Did he get nothing?" + +"No! not a cent!" + +"Did Uncle Bernard leave no word of explanation or good-bye?" + +"There was no note, but there was an envelope and an--an enclosure," +said Jack gravely. + +He put his hand in his waistcoat-pocket and drew from his pocket-book an +unmounted photograph. + +"Druce opened this in the library after the Will was read, stared at it +for a moment, then threw it in the fire, and dashed out of the room. It +fell on the grate and the lawyer picked it up and gave it to me." + +He held out the photograph as he spoke, and Mollie bent eagerly over it. +It was Ruth's missing picture of the library at the Court--one of the +longtime exposures which she had taken on the eventful morning when the +desk had been opened in the squire's absence. The nearer part of the +interior was clear and distinct, but the further half was blurred as if +something had moved while the plate was still exposed, while leaning +over the open desk was a man's figure, dim and blurred indeed, but +recognisable in a flash as that of Victor Druce! + +Mollie's face was white to the lips as she raised it to meet Jack's +glance, and he put his arm round her protectingly. + +"Yes; I knew you would be shocked! It is easy to see what happened. +After Druce went out, ostensibly for the day, he slunk back unseen, and +entered the library by the window. The blur across the picture shows in +which direction he crossed to the desk. Meantime, Ruth had put her +camera in position, and as the exposure would be a long one in such a +dark room, she had gone away and left it there. Druce would never +notice the little camera perched on a side-table, and when he heard Ruth +returning he, no doubt, hid himself hastily behind the curtains; but he +had remained sufficiently long at the desk to give a definite impression +of his figure. The camera was discovered after you left, and the squire +had the plates developed in the village. He must have had the curiosity +to examine them before sending them on, and one can imagine his feelings +upon finding the solution of the mystery which had troubled him so much. +I have no sympathy for Mr Victor Druce; I am only profoundly thankful +that Ruth escaped his clutches. Don't let us talk of him any more. We +want only pleasant subjects on this great night, sweetheart!" + +"And there are so many pleasant subjects to think of. It will be such a +lovely experience to play fairy godmother to people who have had a bad +time; the first of all comes the dear pater. There's his key in the +latch! Be nice to him, Jack; he has been so good to us!" + +"Come, then!" said Jack, rising, and holding out his hand towards her. +"Let us go to meet him together, and you shall tell him that he has a +new son, and that all his troubles are at an end?" + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fortunes of the Farrells, by +Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FORTUNES OF THE FARRELLS *** + +***** This file should be named 21120.txt or 21120.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2/21120/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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