The Three Brides

'Ah! you child! You know I would never have done it if I had known you were to be swamped among brides. At any rate, this poor old place doesn't look so woefully dismal and hateful to you now.'

'It could not, where you are, and where I have so many to know and love.'

'You can bear the downfall of our Bush schemes?'

'Your duty is here now.'

'Are you grieved, little one?'

'I don't know. I should like to have seen mamma; but she does not need me now as your mother does.'

'Then you are willing to be her daughter?'

'I have tried hard, and she is very kind; but I am far too dull and ignorant for her. I can only wait upon her; but when she has you and Julius to talk to, my stupidity will not matter.'

'Would you be content to devote yourself to her, instead of making a home of our own?'

'She can't be left alone in that great house.'

'The question is, can you be happy in it? or do you wish for a house to ourselves?'

'You don't, Miles, it is your own home.'

'That's not the question.'

'Miles, why do you look at me so?'

'I was told to ascertain your wishes.'

'I don't wish anything-now I have you-but to be a comfort to your mother. That is my first earthly wish just now.'

'If that be earthly, it has a touch of the heavenly,' muttered Miles to himself. 'You will make it clear to mother then that you like to go on with her?'

'If she does not mind having me.'

'And Julius says it really cheered our dear Raymond to think you would be the one to look after her! But that's not all, Nanny, I've only till to-morrow to decide whether I am to be Member for Wil'sbro'.'

'Is that a duty?'

'Not such a duty as to bind me if it were altogether repugnant to you. I was not brought up for it, and may be a mere stop-gap, but it is every man's duty to come to the front when he is called for, and do his utmost for his country in Parliament, I suppose, as much as in action.'

'I see; but it would be leaving your mother alone a great deal.'

'Not necessarily. You could stay here part of the time, and I go backwards and forwards, as Raymond did before his marriage.'

'It would be better than your being at sea.'

'But remember,' he added, 'there is much that can't be shirked. I don't mean currying popularity, but if one is in that position, there's no shutting oneself up. It becomes a duty to keep society going, and give it the sort of tone that a nice woman can do. Do you see?'

'I think I do. Julius said so once.'

'So if we are to have such tears and despair as there were about the ball in the Chimaera, then-'

'I was wrong then,' said Anne. 'I did not behave at all well to you all that time, dear Miles; I have been sorry for it ever since I understood.'

'It was not you, little one, it was Mr. Pilgrim.'

'No, it was not Mr. Pilgrim who made me cross.'

'Yes, it was. He exacted pledges that he had no right to lay on your conscience, and your poor little conscience was in terrible straits, and I was too angry to feel for it. Never mind all that; you have done with the fellow, and understand better now.'

'He thought he was right, and that only such abstinence could guard me. And, Miles, a promise is a promise, and I do not think I ought to dance or play at cards. It is not that I think them wrong for others, but I cannot break my word. Except those-I will do whatever is fitting for your wife.'

'Spoken like a heroine!'

'I don't think I could ever give a tone. Rosamond could, if she tried, but I have no readiness and no training; but I do see that there is more good in being friendly like Jenny Bowater, than in avoiding everything, and as long as one does it because it is right and loving, it can't be the world or worldliness.'

It was not lucidly expressed, but it satisfied the Captain.

'All right, my bonnie Nance, I'll promise on my side never to ask you to go against your real conscience, and if you must have a Pope, I had rather it were Pope Julius than Pope Pilgrim.'

'Don't, Miles. Popes are all wrong, and I don't know whether Mr. Pilgrim would give the right hand of fellowship to Julius.'

Miles chuckled. 'You may think yourself lucky you have not to adjust that question, Madame Nan.'

'There's the quarter chiming, Frank will want his beef-tea.'

Presently after Miles laid his hand on his mother's shoulder, and said, 'Mother, here's a daughter who thinks you want to turn us out because she is too slow and stupid for your home child.' And he drew Anne up blushing as if she were his freshly-won bride.

'My dear, are you sure you don't want to go away from the old woman? Should you not be happier with him all to yourself?'

'I could not be happy if you were left,' said Anne. 'May I go on as we did last winter? I will try to do better now I have him to help me.'

'My own dear child!'

That was the way Anne forgot her own people and her father's house.

CHAPTER XXXIII. Herbert's Victory

And of our scholars let us learn Our own forgotten lore.-KEBLE

'Joan, Jenny, dearest old Joanie!' It was eagerly spoken, though the voice was strangely altered that came from behind the flowered curtain of that big bed, while the fingers drew it back, and Rollo raised his black muzzle near at hand. 'Oh, Jenny! have you come to me?'

'My dear, dear, poor boy!'

'No kissing-it's not safe,' and he burrowed under the sheet.

'As if I did not mean to do more for you than that! Besides, it is not catching.'

'So I said, till it caught me. What a jolly cold hand! You've not come in cold and hungry though?'

'No, indeed, Rosamond forced me to sit down to a whole spread. As if one could eat with a knot in one's throat.'

'Mind you do, Jenny-it was what did for me. The Rector ordered me never to go about unfed; but one could not always-and there was something I have to tell you that drove all the rest out-'

'Dear Herbs! Papa can't talk of what you have done without tears. He longed to come, but we could not leave mamma without one of us, and he thought I could do the most for you. I have a note for you.'

'Forgiving me?'

'I should think so. It is in my bag-'

'No, not this moment; I like to know it. And mammy-poor mammy-'

'She is as comforted as she can be that you have Cranky and me; and then papa's being proud of you has cheered her-oh! so much.'

'I'm glad they can comfort themselves-'

'But, Herbert, dear, you must be much better; I did not expect to see you so well.'

'I am not so bad between whiles,' said Herbert, wearily. 'And, while I can, I've got something to tell you that will make it up to you, and a great deal more.'

'Make it up?' said Jenny, looking with bewildered eyes at the dear face.

'Yes, I made Gadley consent. The Rector has it in writing, and it will do quite as well if I die. O, Jenny, woman, think of my never knowing what you had gone through!'

'Is it about Archie?' said Jenny, beginning to tremble.

'Yes. It will clear him.'

'I always knew he was clear.'