Essie said she was not looking well; and no doubt waiting is telling on her, just as her mother always feared it would.'
'John has just not had the forbearance you have shown!'
'That is all circumstance. There was the saving her life, and afterwards the being on the spot when she was tormented about the other affair. He has no notion of having cut me out, and I trust he never will.'
'No, I do him that justice.'
'Then he has the advantage of me every way, out and out in looks and University training; and it was to him that Ruthven first took a fancy.'
'You surpassed him in your essay, and in--.
'Oh, yes, yes,' interrupted Jock hastily, 'but you see work was my refuge. I had nothing to call me off. Besides, I have my share of your brains, instead of her Serenity's; but that's all the more reason, if you would listen to me. Depend upon it, Ruthven, if he knew all, would much prefer the connection John would have, and she would bring means to set up directly.'
'I suppose you will have it so,' replied she, looking up to him affectionately.
'I should like it,' he said. 'It is the one thing for them, and waiting might do her infinite harm; the dear old Monk deserves it every way. Remember how it all turned on his desperate race. If your comfort depended on my taking it, that would come first.'
'Oh, no.'
'But there is sure to turn up plenty of other work without leaving you,' he continued. 'I don't fancy getting involved in West-end practice among swells, and not being independent. I had rather see whether I can't work out this principle further, devoting myself to reading up for it, and getting more hospital experience to go upon.'
'I dare say that is quite right. I know it is like your father, and indeed I shall be quite content however you decide. Only might it not be well to see how it strikes John, before you absolutely make it over to him?'
'You are trying to be prudent against the grain, Mother Carey.'
'Trying to see it like your uncle. Yes, exactly as if I were trying to forestall his calling me his good little sister.'
'I don't know what he would call me,' said Jock, 'for at the bottom is a feeling that, after reading my father's words, I had rather not, if I can help it, begin immediately to make all that material advantage out of 'Magnum Bonum' as you call it.'
'Well, my dear, do as you think right; I trust it all to you. It is sure to turn out the right sort of 'Magnum Bonum' to you-'
The Monk's characteristic ring at the bell was heard, and the letter was, without loss of time, committed to him, while both mother and son watched him as he gathered up the sense.
'Well, this is jolly!' was his first observation. 'Downright handsome of Ruthven!' and then as the colour rose a little in his face, 'Just the thing for you, Jock, home work, which is exactly what you, want.'
'I'm not sure about that,' said Jock; 'I don't want to get into that kind of practice just yet. It is fitter for a family man.'
'And who is a family man if you are not?' said John. 'Wasn't it the very cause of your taking this line?'
'There's a popular prejudice in favour of wives, rather than mothers,' said Jock. 'I should have said you were more likely to fulfil the conditions.'
'Oh!' and there was a sound in that exclamation that belied the sequel, 'that's just nonsense! The offer is to you primarily, and it is your duty to take it.'
'I had much rather you did, and so had Dr. Ruthven. I want more time for study and experience, and have set my heart on some scientific appointment-'
'Come now, my good fellow-why, what are you laughing at?'
'Because you are such a good imitation of your father, my dear Johnny,' said his aunt.
'It is just what my father would say,' returned John, taking this as a high compliment; 'it would be very foolish of Lucas to give up a certainty for this just because of his Skipjack element, which doesn't want to get into routine harness. Now, don't you think so, Mother Carey?'
'_If_ I thought it _was_ the Skipjack element,' she said, smiling.
'If it is not,' he said, the colour now spreading all over his face, 'I am all the more bound not to let him give up all his prospects in life.'
'_All_ my prospects! My dear Monk, do you think they don't go beyond a brougham, and unlimited staircases?'
'I only know,' cried John, nettled into being a little off his guard, 'that what you despise would be all the world to me!'
The admission was hailed triumphantly, but the Kencroft nature was too resolute, and the individual conscience too generous, to be brought round to accept the sacrifice, which John estimated at the value of the importance it was to himself, viewing what was real in Lucas's distaste, as mere erratic folly, which ought to be argued down. Finally, when the argument had gone round into at least its fiftieth circle, Mother Carey declared that she would have no more of it. Lucas should write a note to Dr. Ruthven, accepting his proposal for one or other of them, and promising that he should know which, in the course of a few days; so that John, if he chose, could write to his father or _anyone_ else. Meantime there was to be no allusion to 'the raid of Ruthven' till the day of the review was over. It was to be put entirely off the tongue, if not out of the head!
And the two young doctors were weary enough of the subject to rejoice in obedience to her.
The day was perfect except that poor Allen was pinned fast by his tyrant, all the others gave themselves up to the enjoyment of the moment. They understood the sham fight, and recognised all the corps, with Jock as their cicerone, they had a good place at the marching past, and Esther had the crowning delight of an excellent view of Captain Viscount Fordham with his company, and at the luncheon. Jock received an absolutely affectionate welcome from his old friends, who made as much of his mother and sister for his sake, as they did of the lovely Lady Fordham for her husband's, finding them, moreover, much more easy to get on with.
CHAPTER XXXIX. THE TRUANT.
The bird was sitting in his cage And heard what he did say; He jumped upon the window sill, ''Tis time I was away.' Ballad.
There is a young lady in the drawing-room, ma'am,' said the maid, looking rather puzzled and uncertain, on the return of the party from the review.
'A stranger? How could you let her in?' said John.
At that moment a face appeared at the top of the stairs, a face set in the rich golden auburn that all knew so well, and half way up, Mrs. Brownlow was clasped by a pair of arms, and there was a cry, 'Mother Carey, Mother Carey, I'm come home!'
'Elvira! my dear child! When-how did you come?'
'From the station, in a cab. I made her let me in, but I thought you were never coming back. Where's Allen?'
'Allen will come in by-and-by,' said the astonished Mother Carey, who had been dragged into the drawing- room, where Elvira embraced Babie, and grasped the hands of the others.
'Oh, it is so nice,' she cried, then nestling back to Mother Carey.
'But where did you come from? Are you alone?'
'Yes, quite alone, Janet would not come with me after all.'
'Janet, my dear! Where is she?'
'Oh, not here-at Saratoga, or at New York. I thought she was coming with me, but when the steamer sailed she was not there, only there was a note pinned to my berth. I meant to have brought it, but it got lost somehow.'
'Where did you see her?'
'At the photographer's at Saratoga. I should never have come if she had not helped me, but she said she knew you would take me home, and she wrote and took my passage and all. She said if I did not find you, Mr. Wakefield would know where you were, but I did so want to get home to you! Please, may I take off my things; I don't want to be such a fright when Allen comes in.'
