Janet's Love and Service Part 69

"I have heard about you, too," said she, gravely. "And I am very glad that we chanced to meet to-day. And you are going home to Scotland?"

"Yes, for a little while. I have not been quite well, and the doctor advises the voyage, but we shall be home again before winter, I hope, or at the latest, in the spring."

There was not time for many words. Arthur came at the last minute, and with him Charlie Millar. He held out his arms for the baby, but she would not look at him, and clung to Graeme, who clasped her softly.

"She has discrimination, you see," said Charlie. "She knows who is best and wisest."

"She is very like what Rosie was at her age," said Mrs Snow. "Don't you mind, Miss Graeme?"

"Do you hear that, baby!" said Charlie. "Take heart. The wee white Lily may be a blooming rose, yet--who knows?"

"You have changed," said Mrs Snow, as Mr Ruthven came up to her with Will.

"Yes, I have changed; and not for the better, I fear," said he, gravely.

"I do not say that--though the world and it's ways do not often change a man for the better. Keep it out of your heart."

There was only time for a word or two, and Graeme would not lose the last minutes with their friend. So she drew her away, and turned her face from them all.

"Oh, Janet! Must you go? Oh! if we only could go with you! But that is not what I meant to say. I am so glad you have been here. If you only knew how much good you have done me!"

"Have I? Well, I am glad if I have. And my dear, you are soon to follow us, you ken; and it will do you good to get back for a little while to the old place, and the old ways. G.o.d has been very good to you all."

"Yes, and Janet, you are not to think me altogether unthankful. Forget all the discontented foolish things I have said. G.o.d _has_ been very good to us all."

"Yes, love, and you must take heart, and trust Him. And you must watch over your sister, your sisters, I should say. And Rose, dear, you are never to go against your sister's judgment in anything. And my bairns, dinna let the pleasant life you are living make you forget another life.

G.o.d be with you."

Mr Snow and Will made a screen between them and the crowd, and Janet kissed and blessed them with a full heart. There were only a few confused moments after that, and then the girls stood on the platform, smiling and waving their hands to their friends, as the train moved off.

And then Graeme caught a glimpse of the lovely pale face of Lilias Ruthven, as she smiled, and bowed, and held up her baby in her arms; and she felt as if that farewell was more for her, than any of the many friends who were watching them as they went away. And then they turned to go home. There was a crowd in the boat still, in the midst of which the rest sat and amused themselves, during the few minutes sail to the other side. But Graeme stood looking away from them all, and from the city and crowded wharf to which they were drawing near. Her eyes were turned to the far horizon toward which the great river flowed, and she was saying to herself,--

"I _will_ take heart and trust Him, as Janet said. He _has_ been good to us all I will not be afraid even of the days that look so dull and profitless to me. G.o.d will accept the little I can do, and I _will_ be content."

Will and Charlie Millar left them, after they had pa.s.sed through a street or two.

"We might just as well have gone to Merleville with them, for all the difference in the time," said Rose.

"But then our preparations would have interfered with our enjoyment of Janet's visit, and with her enjoyment, too. It was a much better way for us to wait."

"Yes. And for some things it will be better to be there after the wedding, rather than before. But I don't at all like going back to an empty house. I don't like people going away."

"But people must go away, dear, if they come; and a quiet time will be good for us both, before we go away," said Graeme.

But the quiet was not for that day. On that day, two unexpected events occurred. That is, one of them was unexpected to Graeme, and the other was unexpected to all the rest. Mr Green proposed that Miss Elliott should accompany him on his contemplated European tour; and Mrs Tilman's time of service came to a sudden end.

As Graeme and Rose turned the corner of the street on their way home, they saw the Grove carriage standing at their door.

"_That_ does not look much like quiet," said Rose. "However, it is not quite such a bugbear as it used to be; don't you remember, Graeme?"

Rose's fears were justified. They found f.a.n.n.y in a state of utter consternation, and even Mrs Grove not quite able to conceal how much she was put about. Mrs Tilman had been taken suddenly ill again, and even the undiscerning f.a.n.n.y could not fail to understand the nature of her illness, when she found her unable to speak, with a black bottle lying on the bed beside her. Mrs Grove was inclined to make light of the matter, saying that the best of people might be overtaken in a fault, on occasion; but Graeme put her very charitable suggestions to silence, by telling the secret of the housekeeper's former illnesses.

This was not the first fault of the kind, by many.

There were a good many words spoken on this occasion, more than it would be wise to record. Mrs Grove professed indignation that the "mistress of the house" should have been kept in ignorance of the state of affairs, and resented the idea of f.a.n.n.y's being treated as a child. But f.a.n.n.y said nothing; and then her mother a.s.sured her, that in future she would leave her to the management of her own household affairs; and Graeme surprised them all, by saying, very decidedly, that in doing this, she would be quite safe and right.

Of course, after all this, f.a.n.n.y could not think of going out to pa.s.s the afternoon, and Graeme had little quiet that day. There were strangers at dinner, and Arthur was busy with them for some time after; and when, being at liberty at last, he called to Graeme that he wanted to see her for a minute, it must be confessed that she answered with impatience.

"Oh! Arthur, I am very tired. Won't it keep till morning? Do let Mrs Tilman and domestic affairs wait."

"Mrs Tilman! What can you mean, Graeme? I suppose Mrs Grove has been favouring the household with some advice, has she?"

"Has not f.a.n.n.y told you about it?" asked Graeme.

"No. I saw f.a.n.n.y was in tribulation of some kind. I shall hear it all in good time. It is something that concerns only you that I wish to speak about. How would you like to visit Europe, Graeme?"

"In certain circ.u.mstances I might like it."

"Mr Green wished me to ask the question--or another--"

"Arthur, don't say it," said Graeme, sitting down and turning pale.

"Tell me that you did not expect this."

"I cannot say that I was altogether taken by surprise. He meant to speak to you himself, but his courage failed him. He is very much in earnest, Graeme, and very much afraid."

"Arthur," said his sister, earnestly, "you do not think this is my fault? If I had known it should never have come to this."

"He must have an answer now."

"Yes, you will know what to say to him. I am sorry."

"But, Graeme, you should take time to think. In the eyes of the world this would be a good match for you."

Graeme rose impatiently.

"What has the world to do with it? Tell me, Arthur, that you do not think me to blame for this."

"I do not think you intended to give Mr Green encouragement. But I cannot understand why you should be so surprised. I am not."

"You have not been seeing with your own eyes, and the encouragement has not been from _me_. It cannot be helped now. You will know what to say. And, Arthur, pray let this be quite between you and me."

"Then, there is nothing more to be said?"

"Nothing. Good-night."

Arthur was not surprised. He knew quite well that Mr Green was not good enough for Graeme. But, then, who was? Mr Green was very rich, and it would have been a splendid settlement for her, and she was not very young now. If she was ever to marry, it was surely time. And why should she not?

He had intended to say something like this to her, but somehow he had not found it easy to do. Well, she was old enough and wise enough to know her own mind, and to decide for herself; and, taken without the help of his position and his great wealth, Mr Green was certainly not a very interesting person; and probably Graeme had done well to refuse him. He pondered a long time on this question, and on others; but when he went up-stairs, f.a.n.n.y was waiting for him, wide awake and eager.

"Well, what did Graeme say? Has she gone to bed?"