“But he has gone away, and what can you do if he does not come again?”
“Do! Oh, I can do nothing. I could do nothing, even though he were here in Baslehurst every day of his life. If I once thought that he didn’t wish me—to—be—his wife, I should not want to do anything. But, mamma, I can’t believe it of him. It was only yesterday that he was here.”
“They say that young men don’t care what they say in that way nowadays.”
“I don’t believe it of him, mamma; his manner is so steadfast, and his voice sounds so true.”
“But then she is so terribly against it.”
Then again they were silent for a while, after which Rachel ended the conversation. “It is clear, at any rate, that you and I can do nothing, mamma. If she expects me to say that I will give him up, she is mistaken. Give him up! I couldn’t give him up, without being false to him. I don’t think I’ll ever be false to him. If he’s false to me, then—then, I must bear it. Mamma, don’t say anything to Dolly about this just at present.” In answer to which request Mrs. Ray promised that she would not at present say anything to Mrs. Prime about Mrs. Rowan’s visit.
The following day and the Sunday were not passed in much happiness by the two ladies at Bragg’s End. Tidings reached them that Mrs. Rowan and her daughter were going to London on the Monday, but no letter came to them from Luke. By the Monday morning Mrs. Ray had quite made up her mind that Luke Rowan was lost to them forever, and Rachel had already become worn with care. During that Saturday and Sunday nothing was seen of Mrs. Prime at Bragg’s End.
XVI
Rachel Ray’s First Love-Letter
On the Monday evening, after tea, Mrs. Prime came out to the cottage. It was that Monday on which Mrs. Rowan and her daughter had left Baslehurst and had followed Luke up to London. She came out and sat with her mother and sister for about an hour, restraining herself with much discretion from the saying of disagreeable things about her sister’s lover. She had heard that the Rowans had gone away, and she had also heard that it was probable that they would be no more seen in Baslehurst. Mr. Prong had given it as his opinion that Luke would not trouble them again by his personal appearance among them. Under these circumstances Mrs. Prime had thought that she might spare her sister. Nor had she said much about her own love affairs. She had never mentioned Mr. Prong’s offer in Rachel’s presence; nor did she do so now. As long as Rachel remained in the room the conversation was very innocent and very uninteresting. For a few minutes the two widows were alone together, and then Mrs. Prime gave her mother to understand that things were not yet quite arranged between herself and Mr. Prong.
“You see, mother,” said Mrs. Prime, “as this money has been committed to my charge, I do not think it can be right to let it go altogether out of my own hands.”
In answer to this Mrs. Ray had uttered a word or two agreeing with her daughter. She was afraid to say much against Mr. Prong;—was afraid, indeed, to express any very strong opinion about this proposed marriage; but in her heart she would have been delighted to hear that the Prong alliance was to be abandoned. There was nothing in Mr. Prong to recommend him to Mrs. Ray.
“And is she going to marry him?” Rachel asked, as soon as her sister was gone.
“There’s nothing settled as yet. Dorothea wants to keep her money in her own hands.”
“I don’t think that can be right. If a woman is married the money should belong to the husband.”
“I suppose that’s what Mr. Prong thinks;—at any rate, there’s nothing settled. It seems to me that we know so little about him. He might go away any day to Australia, you know.”
“And did she say anything about—Mr. Rowan?”
“Not a word, my dear.”
And that was all that was then said about Luke even between Rachel and her mother. How could they speak about him? Mrs. Ray also believed that he would be no more seen in Baslehurst; and Rachel was well aware that such was her mother’s belief, although it had never been expressed. What could be said between them now—or ever afterwards—unless, indeed, Rowan should take some steps to make it necessary that his doings should be discussed?
The Tuesday passed and the Wednesday, without any sign from the young man; and during these two sad days nothing was said at the cottage. On that Wednesday his name was absolutely not mentioned between them, although each of them was thinking of him throughout the day. Mrs. Ray had now become almost sure that he had obeyed his mother’s behests, and had resolved not to trouble himself about Rachel any further; and Rachel herself had become frightened if not despondent. Could it be that all this should have passed over her and that it should mean nothing?—that the man should have been standing there, only three or four days since, in that very room, with his arm round her waist, begging for her love, and calling her his wife;—and that all of it should have no meaning? Nothing amazed her so much as her mother’s firm belief in such an ending to such an affair. What must be her mother’s thoughts about men and women in general if she could expect such conduct from Luke Rowan—and yet not think of him as one whose falsehood was marvellous in its falseness!
But on the Thursday morning there came a letter from Luke addressed to Rachel. On that morning Mrs. Ray
