Agatha's Husband Part 72

"Not yet."

"Marmaduke is gone?"

"Yes; he wanted to get up a Free-trade dinner for the welcoming"--here she smiled--"of one whom he says all Dorset will be delighted to welcome--your Uncle Brian. Worthy Duke! It is his hobby, and one likes to indulge him in it."

"Most certainly. And where is the dinner--Uncle Brian's grand dinner--to take place?"

"I persuaded him to change it into a public meeting, and give the clay-cutters--many of them Mr. Locke Harper's former people, and some now old and poor--a New Year's feast instead. You will see to that, Nathanael?" And she laid her hand on his arm with rather more earnestness than the simple request warranted.

Nathanael a.s.sented hastily, and spoke of something else.

"I am rather sorry I asked my brother to meet me here; I forgot he has not been to Thornhurst for so many years."

"It is time then that he came," said Anne, gently. "I shall be very glad to see him."

While she was speaking, her old servant entered, with the announcement of "Major Harper."

Just the Major Harper of old--well-dressed, courtly, with his singularly handsome face, and his short dark moustache, sufficient to mark the military gentleman without degrading him into the puppy; Major Harper with his habitual good-natured smile and faultless bearing, so gracefully welcomed, so gaily familiar in London drawing-rooms.--But here?--

He paused at the door, glanced hastily round the old familiar room, with the known pictures hanging on the walls, and the windows opening on the straight alley of arbutus-trees. His smile grew rather meaningless--he hesitated.

"Will you come to this chair near me? I am very glad to see you, Major Harper."

"Thank you, Miss Valery."

He crossed the room to her sofa, Nathanael making way for him. He just acknowledged his brother's presence and Agatha's, then took Miss Valery's extended hand, bowing over it with an attempt at his former grace.

"I hope I find your health quite re-established? This change to your own pleasant house--pleasant as ever, I see"--he once more glanced round it--paused--then altogether broke down. "It seems but a day since we were children, Anne," he said, in a faltering voice.

Agatha and her husband moved away. They respected the one real feeling which had outlasted all his sentimentalism. For several minutes they stood at the far window apart. When Anne called them back, Major Harper had recovered himself, and was sitting by her.

"Nathanael, our old friend here says you wished to speak with me?"

"I did."

"Make haste, then, for I am going to London to-night I have made up my mind. I cannot settle here in Dorsetshire."

"Not if it were your father's wish--his last longing desire?"

"Anne, for G.o.d's sake don't speak of my father." He leant his elbow on the table and covered his eyes.

Nathanael and Agatha exchanged looks, then both smiled--the happy smile of a clear conscience and a heart at rest. "Tell him now," whispered the wife to her husband.

"Brother!"

Major Harper lifted up his head.

"My elder brother!" And Nathanael offered the hand of peace, which, in spite of all outward and necessary a.s.sociation, neither had offered or grasped since Frederick's return to Dorset.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you are my elder brother--my father's favourite always. If he had lingered but another day he would doubtless have proved that, and have done--what I intend to do, just as if he had himself accomplished it. Do you understand me?"

"No!" And Major Harper looked thoroughly amazed.

"Do you see this? which you, either from forgetfulness, or trust in me--I had rather believe the latter--left in my hands on that day."

And he drew from his pocket the will which had been read. "You spoke of throwing it into Chancery, and there would be scope for a century of Chancery business here. But I choose rather to respect the honour and unity of the family. Therefore, with my wife's entire consent in her presence, Anne's and yours, I here do what my father, had he lived, would certainly have done."

He took up the codicil, separated it from the will to which it was fastened by seals, and quietly, as if it had been a fragment of worthless paper, put it into the fire.

"Now, Frederick, the original will stands."

Frederick sat motionless. He seemed hardly to believe the evidence of his own eyes. He watched the curling, crackling paper with a sort of childish curiosity. When at last it was completely destroyed, he shut his eyes with a great sigh of satisfaction.

Miss Valery softly touched him. "Major Harper, every brother would not have acted thus."

"No, indeed. Just Heavens, no!" he cried, as the whole fact burst on him, touching his impressible nature to the quick. "My dear Nathanael!

My dear Agatha! G.o.d bless you both."

He wrung their hands fervently, and walked to the window, strongly affected. The husband and wife remained silent. Anne Valery lay on her sofa, and smoothed her thin fingers one over the other with a soft, inward smile.

"How n.o.bly you both act towards me! and I--how have I acted towards you?" said the elder brother, in deep and real compunction. "I would give half I possess to undo what has been done, and all through my cursed folly and weakness. Do you know that I have lost every penny of your fortune, Agatha?"

"Mr. Grimes told me so lately."

"What, only lately? Did you not know before? Did not your husband"--

"No," she cried, eagerly. "My husband never betrayed you, even by a single word. I am glad he did not. I had far rather he had broken my heart than his own honour."

Anne turned to look at the young face, flushed with feeling; and her own, caught something of the glow, though still she spoke not.

"But," said Major Harper, eagerly, addressing his sister-in-law--for Nathanael sat in one of those pa.s.sive moods which those who knew him well alone could interpret--"but my honour must not be broken either. I must redeem all I lost; and I will, to the very last farthing. Only wait a little, and you shall have no cause to blame me, my poor Agatha!"

"Nay, _rich_ Agatha," was the murmur that Nathanael heard, as two little hands came from behind and alit on his shoulders, like two soft white doves. He caught them, and rose contented, cheerful and brave.

"No, Frederick, you must dismiss that idea. It is untenable, at least for a long time. My wife and I are going to play at poverty." He smiled, and drew her nearer to him.

"Besides," said Miss Valery, putting in her quiet voice, to which every one always listened now, "I think there are perhaps stronger claims than Agatha's on Major Harper."

"Indeed? Anne, tell me what I can do. Anything," he added, much moved, "so that my old friends may think well of me. Speak!"

She did so, raising herself, though with some exertion, and re-a.s.suming the sensible, straightforward, business-like ways which through her long life of solitary independence had caused Anne Valery to be often called, as Duke Dugdale called her, "such a wise woman!"

"I should like very much to see all things settled in the Harper family.

Your sisters are provided for; Eulalie will be married next year; and you will keep Mary and Elizabeth always with you at Kingcombe Holm.

Promise that, Frederick."

He a.s.sented most energetically.