One Maid's Mischief Part 12

"I don't care if you are fifty-four or sixty-four!" cried the little doctor excitedly. "I am not a youth, Mary. I'm fifty, my dear girl; and I've been so busy all my life, that, like our dear old Arthur, I have never even thought of such a thing as marriage. But since I have been over here--seen this quiet little home, made so happy by your clever hands--I have learned that, after all, I had a heart, and that if my dear old friend's sweet sister would look over my faults, my age, my uncouth ways, I should be the happiest of men."

"Pray--pray get up, doctor," said Miss Rosebury sadly.

"Call me Harry, and I will," he cried, gallantly.

"No, no!" she said, softly, and there was something so firm and gentle in her words that he rose at once, took the seat she pointed to by her side, and would have pa.s.sed his arm round her shapely little waist, but she laid one hand upon his wrist and stayed him.

"No, Henry Bolter," she said, firmly; "we are not boy and girl. Let us act like sensible, mature, and thoughtful folk."

"My dear," he said, and the tears stood in his eyes, "I respect and love you more and more. What is there that I would not do?"

She beamed upon him sweetly, and laid her hand upon his as they sat there side by side in silence, enjoying a few brief moments of the greatest happiness that had ever been their lot, and then the little lady spoke:

"Henry," she said, softly, "my dear brother's dearest friend--my dearest friend--do not think me wanting in appreciation of what you have said."

"I could never think your words other than the best," he said, tenderly; and the little lady bowed her head before resuming.

"I will not be so foolish as to deny that in the past," she went on, "there have been weak times when I may have thought that it would be a happy thing for a man whom a woman could reverence and respect as well as love to come and ask me to be his wife."

"As I would always strive to make you respect me, Mary," he said, softly; and he kissed her hand.

"I know you would," she said, "but it cannot be."

"Mary," he cried, pleadingly, "I have waited and weighed all this, and asked myself whether it was vanity that made me think your dear eyes lighted up and that you were glad to see me when I came."

"You did not deceive yourself," she said, softly. "I was glad to see my dear brother's friend when he first came, and that gladness has gone on increasing until, I confess to you freely, it will come upon me like some great sadness when the time is here for you to go away."

"Say that again," he cried, eagerly.

"Why should I?" she said, sadly.

"Then--then you do love me, Mary?"

"I--I think so," she said, softly; and the little lady's voice was very grave; "but love in this world has often to give way to duty."

"Ye-es," he said, dubiously; "but where two people have been waiting such a precious long time before they found out what love really is, it seems rather hard to be told that duty must stand first."

"It is hard, but it is fact," she said.

"I don't know so much about that," said the little doctor. "Just now I feel as if it was my bounden duty to make you my happy little wife."

"And how can I think it my duty to accept you?" she said, smiling.

"Well, I do ask a great deal," he replied. "It means going to the other side of the world; but, my dear Mary, you should never repent it."

"I know I never should," she replied. "We have only lately seen one another face to face, but I have known you and your kindness these many years."

"Then why refuse me?"

"For one thing, I am too old," she said, sadly.

"Your dear little heart is too young, and good, and tender, you mean."

She shook her head.

"That's no argument against it," he said. "And now what else?"

"There is my brother," she replied, speaking very firmly now.

"Your brother?"

"You know what dear Arthur is."

"The simplest, and best, and truest of men."

"Yes," she cried, with animation.

"And a clever naturalist, whose worth has never yet been thoroughly known."

"He is unworldly to a degree," continued the little lady; "and as you justly say, the simplest of men."

"I would not have him in the slightest degree different," cried the doctor.

"I scold him a good deal sometimes," said the little lady, smiling; "but I don't think I would have him different in the least."

"No; why should we?" said the doctor.

That _we_ was a cunning stroke of diplomacy, and it made Miss Rosebury start. She shook her head though directly.

"No, Henry Bolter," she said, firmly, "it cannot be."

"Cannot be?" he said, despondently.

"No; I could not leave my brother. Let us join them in the garden!"

"I am not to take that for an answer?" cried the doctor.

"Yes," she replied; "it would be cruel to leave him."

"But Mary, dear Mary, you do not dislike me!" cried the little doctor.

"I'm not much to look at I know; not a very gallant youth, my dear!"

"I think you are one of the best of men! You make me very proud to think that--that you could--could--"

"And you have owned to liking me, my dear?" he whispered. "Say _yea_.

Arthur would soon get used to your absence; and of course, before long we should come back."

"No," she said firmly, "it could not be!"