Janet's Love and Service Part 74

Though Harry did not now form one of the household, he was with them very often. Mr Millar did not quite fall into the place which Harry's friend Charlie had occupied, but though he said less about his enjoyment of the friendship of their circle, it was evident that it was not because he enjoyed it less than in the old times. He had only changed since then by growing quieter and graver, as they all had done. His brother's determination not to return to Canada had been a great disappointment to him at the time, and he still regretted it very much, but he said little about it, less than was quite natural, perhaps, considering that they had once been such friends. Circ.u.mstances had made the brothers strangers during the boyhood of the younger, and it was hard that circ.u.mstances should separate them again, just as they had been beginning to know and to value each other. Charlie had hoped for a long time that Allan might come back after a year or two; for his estate was by no means a large one, and he believed that he would soon weary of a life of inactivity, and return to business again. He was still young, and might, with his knowledge and experience, do anything he liked in the way of making money, Charlie thought, and he could not be satisfied with his decision. But Will, who had visited Allan lately, a.s.sured Charlie that his brother was settling down to the enjoyment of a quiet country life, and that though he might visit Canada, there was little chance of his ever making that country his home again.

"I should think not, indeed," said Arthur, one night, as they were discussing the matter in connection with Will's last letter. "You don't display your usual good judgment, Charlie, man, where your brother is concerned. Why should he return? He is enjoying now, a comparatively young man, all that you and Harry expect to enjoy after some twenty or thirty years of hard labour--a competency in society congenial to him.

Why should he wait for this longer than he need?"

"Twenty or thirty years!" said Harry. "Not if I know it. You are thinking of old times. But I must say I agree with Charlie. It is strange that Mr Ruthven should be content to sit down in comparative idleness, for, of course, the idea of farming his own land is absurd.

And to tell you the truth, I never thought him one to be satisfied with a mere competency. I thought him at one time ambitious to become a rich, man--a great merchant."

"It would not be safe or wise to disparage the life and aims of a great merchant in your presence, Harry," said Rose, "but one would think the life of a country gentleman preferable in some respects."

"I don't think Allan aspires to the position of a country gentleman--in the dignified sense in which the term is used where he is. His place is very beautiful, but it is not large enough to ent.i.tle him to the position of one of the great landed proprietors."

"Oh! as to that, the extent makes little difference. It is the land that his fathers have held for generations, and that is a thing to be proud of, and to give position, Rose thinks," said Arthur.

"His father never owned it, and his grandfather did not hold it long.

It was lost to the name many years ago, and bought back again by Allan's uncle within ten years."

"Yes, with the good money of a good merchant," said Harry.

"And did he make it a condition that he should live on it?" said Arthur.

"No, I think not. Allan never has said any such thing as that to me, or to my mother."

"Still he may think it his duty to live there."

"I don't know. It is not as though it were a large estate, with many tenants, to whom he owed duty and care and all that. I think the life suits him. My mother always thought it was a great disappointment to him to be obliged to leave home when he did to enter upon a life of business. He did not object decidedly. There seemed at the time nothing else for him to do. So he came to Canada."

"I daresay his present life is just the very life he could enjoy most.

I wonder that you are so vexed about his staying at home, Charlie."

"I daresay it is selfishness in me. And yet I don't think it is so altogether. I know, at least I am almost sure, that it would be better for him to come here, at least for a time. He might always have the going home to look forward to."

"I cannot imagine how he can content himself there, after the active life he lived on this side of the water; he will degenerate into an old fogey, vegetating there," said Harry.

"But I think you are hard on yourself, Mr Millar, calling it selfishness in you to wish your brother to be near you," said Graeme, smiling. "I could find a much nicer name for it than that."

"I would like him to come for his own sake," said Charlie. "As for me, I was just beginning to know him--to know how superior he is to most men, and then I lost him." He paused a moment--

"I mean, of course, we can see little of each other now, and we shall find it much easier to forget one another than if we had lived together and loved and quarrelled with each other as boys. I shall see him if I go home next summer, and I don't despair of seeing him here for a visit, at least."

"Will says he means to come some time. Perhaps he will come back with you, or with Will himself, when he comes," said Rose.

"Oh! the voyage is nothing; a matter of ten days or less," said Arthur.

"It is like living next door neighbours, in comparison to what it was when we came over. Of course he may come any month. I don't understand your desolation, Charlie."

Charlie laughed. "When is Will coming?"

"It does not seem to be decided yet," said Graeme. "He may come in the spring, but if he decides to travel first, as he seems to have an opportunity to do, he will not be here till next autumn, at the soonest.

It seems a long time to put it off; but we ought not to grudge the delay, especially as he may never get another chance to go so easily and pleasantly."

"What if Will should think like Mr Ruthven, that a life at home is to be desired? How would you like that, girls?" said Harry.

"Oh! but he never could have the same reason for thinking so. There is no family estate in his case," said Rose, laughing.

"Who knows?" said Arthur. "There may be a little dim kirk and a low-roofed manse waiting him somewhere. That would seem to be the most appropriate inheritance for his father's youngest son. What would you say to that Graeme?"

"I would rather say nothing--think nothing about it," said Graeme, hastily. "It is not likely that could ever happen. It will all be arranged for us, doubtless."

"It was very stupid of you, Harry, to say anything of that sort to Graeme," said Rose. "Now, she will vex herself about her boy, as though it were possible that he could stay there. He never will, I know."

"I shall not vex myself, indeed, Rosie--at least I shall not until I have some better reason for doing so, than Harry's foolish speeches.

Mr Millar, you said you might go home next summer. Is that something new? Or is it only new to us?"

"It is possible that I may go. Indeed, it is very likely. I shall know soon."

"It depends on circ.u.mstances over which he has no control," said Harry, impressively. "He has my best wishes, and he would have yours, Graeme, I think, if you knew about it."

"He has them, though I don't know about it," said Graeme. "I have confidence in him that he deserves success."

"Yes, it is safe to wish him success--if not in one thing, in another.

I am not sure that he quite knows what he wants yet, but I think I know what is good for him."

"Rosie," said f.a.n.n.y, suddenly, "Mr Millar can set us right now. I am glad I thought of it. Mr Millar, is Mrs Roxbury your aunt, or only your brother's?"

"I am afraid it is only Allan who can claim so close a relationship as that. I don't think I can claim any relationship at all. I should have to consider, before I could make it clear even to myself, how we are connected."

"It is much better not to consider the subject, then," said Arthur, "as they are rather desirable people to have for relations; call them cousins, and let it go."

"But at any rate she is not your aunt, and Amy Roxbury is not your cousin, as some one was insisting over Rose and me the other day. I told you so, Rosie."

"Did you?" said Rose, languidly. "I don't remember."

"It was Mrs Gridley, I think, and she said--no, it must have been some one else--she said you were not cousins, but that it was a very convenient relationship, and very pleasant in certain circ.u.mstances."

"Very true, too, eh, Charlie," said Arthur, laughing.

"I should scarcely venture to call Miss Roxbury cousin," said Charlie.

"She is very nice, indeed," pursued f.a.n.n.y. "Rose fell in love with her at first sight, and the admiration was mutual, I think."

Rose shrugged her shoulders.

"That is, perhaps, a little strong, f.a.n.n.y, dear. She is very charming, I have no doubt, but I am not so apt to fall into sudden admirations as I used to be."

"But you admired her very much. And you said she was very like Lily Elphinstone, when you first saw her. I am sure you thought her very lovely, and so did Graeme."

"Did I?" said Rose.

"She is very like her," said Mr Millar. "I did not notice it till her mother mentioned it. She is like her in other respects, too; but livelier and more energetic. She is stronger than Lily used to be, and perhaps a little more like the modern young lady."