Sisters Three Part 23

"How interested they seem! Now he is kissing her. Why don't they come over here and tell us all about it?" cried Norah; and, as if anxious to gratify her curiosity, Mr Bertrand came towards the verandah at that very moment, and presenting Hilary to them with a flouris.h.i.+ng hand, cried roguishly--

"Allow me to introduce to you the future Mrs Herbert Rayner!"

The excitement, joy, and astonishment of the next few minutes can be better imagined than described. Miss Carr shed tears into her teacup; the girls repeated incoherently that they had always expected it, and that they had never expected it; and Mr Bertrand was as mischievous in his teasing ways as Raymond himself could have been under the circ.u.mstances; but the lovers were too happy to be disturbed by his sallies. It was both beautiful and touching to see Mr Rayner's quiet radiance, and to watch how his eyes lightened whenever they lit on Hilary's face, while to see that self-possessed young lady looking shy and embarra.s.sed was something new indeed in the annals of the family!

Shy she was, however, beyond possibility of doubt, hardly daring to look in Mr Rayner's direction, and refusing outright to address him by his Christian name for the edification of the listeners.

"What is there to be frightened at? I am not frightened! Herbert, do you take sugar, Herbert? Will you have two lumps, Herbert?" cried Lettice saucily, and everyone smiled, pleased to see the lovely face lighted up by the old merry smile, and to hear a joke from the lips which had drooped so sadly.

"Will you put me in a story, Herbert, if I'm very good, and promise not to tease?" said Norah, determined not to be outdone; and the new brother looked at her with admiring eyes.

"I think I rather enjoy being teased, do you know; it is so very new and satisfactory! But I shall certainly make a heroine of you some fine day, Norah, when I have manufactured a hero worthy of the occasion!"

Norah's laugh rang out merrily, but as she turned her head to look at the distant mountains, a little film of moisture dimmed her eyes.

Impossible to see two people so happy together as Herbert and Hilary, and not think of the long years which must pa.s.s before such a joy came to herself. But Rex was true--he would not change; he was worth all the waiting--

"Well, Helen," said Mr Bertrand to his faithful old friend as the young people moved off at last and left them alone together. "Well, Helen, and what do you think of this latest development? Are you satisfied?

Have I been wise?--Do you think he is the right man for her?"

Miss Carr looked at him with a little flash of disdain.

"I think," she said slowly, "that Hilary has improved so wonderfully during the last few years, that there is now some chance of her being _almost_ good enough for him! My dear Austin, he is a king among men!

Hilary may be a proud woman that his choice has fallen upon her. They will be very happy."

"I trust, I think they will! It seems strange that it should be Hilary, who was always so careful of her own interests, who should have chosen to marry a delicate, crippled fellow who must be more or less of a care all his days; but I believe it will make a splendid woman of her, draw out all the tenderness of her nature, and soften her as nothing else could have done. Yes! I am thoroughly happy about it, more especially as it has the honour of your distinguished approval. These engagements come thick and fast upon us, Helen. Let us hope there will be a breathing time now for some time to come. Lettice is bound to marry sooner or later, but we will pray for 'later,' and as for Norah, I suppose her future is practically settled. Poor child! it will be a long waiting, but Rex is a fine lad, and is bound to succeed. He knows his own mind, too, and will not be likely to change; while Norah--"

"Yes, she is one of the steadfast ones, but she is only a child, Austin, and will be none the worse for the time of waiting."

"And I cannot regret it, since through it I shall be able to keep one of my little la.s.ses with me for some years at least. I shall be a lonely man when they all take flight! ... Come, it is getting chilly. Let us go into the house."