Capricious Caroline Part 33

Caroline followed Mrs. Brenton out on to the landing. She felt subdued, even saddened, as she listened.

"Of course I am disappointed, but I am not thinking entirely about myself. I am sure Rupert is far more upset and annoyed than his manner shows. Ah well! by this time I suppose I ought to know Camilla too well to be surprised at anything she does! See that you have all you want, my dear, and if you should be at all anxious about the child, don't hesitate to send for me."

As she was pa.s.sing on to the staircase Mrs. Brenton paused.

"Mr. Haverford has brought down a number of things for the children. He said he was going to send them up to you. I hope they will learn to grow very fond of him," said Agnes Brenton earnestly. "Do you know that he has made them two little rich people? He has settled quite a fortune on Camilla, and on her children. Nothing can touch this money; it is hers and theirs, whatever may happen. He has asked me to be one of the trustees for the children."

Once again Mrs. Brenton turned back as she was going, and kissed Caroline.

"For all reasons," she said, "I deeply regret that Camilla has not come to us to-night."

It was a long time before Baby would be wooed into slumber, and even then Caroline did not like to leave her; not until she had a.s.sured herself that the child was sleeping deeply and tranquilly did she go into the other room.

She only s.n.a.t.c.hed a few moments to eat some supper. There was really so very much to do.

An enormous parcel of costly things had been sent down by Camilla for the children, and every one in the house had brought a little offering.

All these had to be ticketed and tied up. No ordinary sized stocking would hold what awaited the children, so large baskets had been made ready to put at the foot of each bed.

On inquiring, Caroline found that Mr. Haverford had sent nothing up to the nursery as yet.

After a while she dismissed the maid to go down to the servant's supper, and was busy scribbling and tying, when there came a knock at the door.

"Come in," she called.

As the door opened Rupert Haverford appeared. His arms were full of parcels as hers had been in the early afternoon. He was smiling, but Caroline quickly noticed that he looked tired, as if he were worried.

"Mrs. Brenton said I might come up. I hope I am in time."

"Oh yes," said Caroline with a laugh. "I am only just beginning to arrange things. Won't there be a scene to-morrow morning?"

"Can't I help?" asked Mr. Haverford; "this seems far too much for one pair of hands to manage."

As he disembarra.s.sed himself of his burden he said, "And I particularly desire to have my share in making the children's Christmas a happy one this year, for they belong to me now in a sense."

Caroline coloured.

"Yes, I know;" it was almost unconsciously that she added, "and I am so glad."

His eyes lit up and his lips took an eager expression.

"Are you?'" he asked; "well, then I ought to be content, for do you know, Miss Graniger, I have been hearing nothing but delightful things about you. Mrs. Lancing cannot say enough in praise of you."

"It is very good of her," said Caroline, and her voice was not very steady; "but she has to test me yet. She really knows so little about me."

Haverford sat down to the table, and began to help her.

They had to untie some of his packages to see which were the presents for the respective children.

"I think some of these things will have to disappear after to-morrow,"

said Caroline; "already these little people have enough toys to stock a shop."

It amused her to watch Rupert Haverford pack up and tie and direct as she commanded. He was so deliberate in all he did. Camilla would have lost her patience very quickly, but Caroline liked his slow ways. His parcels were so neat.

Every now and then he stole into the bedroom to see if Baby was still sleeping.

"I was rather anxious about her," she said to Haverford, "for Dennis has told me that she gets very heavy colds at times, and she seemed really rather feverish to-night."

As he remembered the interview with his mother the day before, he found himself looking every now and then with real interest at Caroline.

"I can't think why you want to bother about Caroline Graniger. I gave her a fair trial," Mrs. Baynhurst had said fretfully; "but she is a fool, and I hate fools. Give me a knave any day in preference to a fool!"

There seemed to be nothing foolish, or weak, or hesitating about Caroline as he saw her, but in the hours that had followed on his visit to his mother, he had been able to fill in the empty s.p.a.ces that she had left, and he seemed to understand all at once why it was that Octavia Baynhurst had set herself so resolutely against Caroline, both as a little child and a growing girl.

Undoubtedly there had been an old and bitter feeling rankling in her heart for Gerald Baynhurst's sister.

It was inevitable that the love the man had evidently lavished on his sister had been a source of resentment and misery to such a woman as his wife.

On Caroline, the helpless child, therefore, had the acc.u.mulation of this bitter anger and jealousy been poured out.

He broke the silence after a long and busily filled pause.

"My mother has a new secretary," he said, and as their eyes met they both smiled. Caroline found his face very attractive when he smiled.

"I saw her. She is middle-aged and very alarming looking. It is my impression that my mother is going to be managed for the first time in her existence. You will be well avenged, Miss Graniger."

When all the little parcels were made ready, and they filled the table, he got up.

"Well, I suppose I ought to go downstairs again. You are very cosy here. I am so glad the children are not in London this dismal weather."

Before going he asked permission to look at Betty and Baby as they slept. When he rejoined Caroline he said--there was a very tender look in his eyes--

"I feel quite important to-night, for now I have three wards; those two tiny souls and yourself, and if one can go by tradition, the life of a guardian is not entirely free from anxiety."

"I don't require a guardian," said Caroline. But she said it shyly, not sharply. "I have always taken care of myself, and I am sure I can do it now."

"I am afraid that argument does not move me," he answered, and with a smile he held out his hand and said, "Good night."

When he was gone Caroline sat down and thought about him. She felt sorry for him.

"I do wish she had come," she mused to herself. "I wonder why she did not? He looks miserable when he is not talking. I should like him to have a happy Christmas; he certainly has helped to give me one, and I expect I am only one of hundreds.... I remember last year how his mother grumbled at all his charities; I little thought then that he and I should be together for this Christmas! So everything is coming with a rush," Caroline mused on. "To-night I discover that I actually had a mother and a father, and now I have a guardian," and then she laughed outright, "and of course Cuthbert Baynhurst is my cousin! That sounds funny! How pleased he will be!" She reverted again to the subject of Camilla later on. "Will she come to-morrow? Oh, surely yes!... She _could_ not let Christmas go without seeing the children!"

And on the morrow, when every one was at church, except Caroline and Baby, who certainly was not quite her usual brisk little self, Mrs.

Lancing arrived.

She went up at once to the nursery, flung off her furs, and sat down and took her Baby in her arms.

"She is not really ill, is she?" she queried anxiously.