Janet's Love and Service Part 90

"Dear, I have not thought about his caring for either of us till lately.

Indeed, I never let the thought trouble me till last night, after Mr Millar came, and again, to-night. Rosie, you must not be angry with what I say."

"Of course not. But I think you must dispose of Mr Perry, before you bring another name into your accusation; Graeme, dear, I don't care a pin for Mr Perry, nor he for me, if that will please you. But you are not half so clever at this sort of thing as Harry. You should have began at once by accusing me of claiming admiration, and flirting, and all that. It is best to come to the point at once."

"You said you would not be angry, Rose."

"Did I? Well, I am not so sore about it as I was a minute ago. And what is the use of vexing one another. Don't say any more to-night."

Indeed, what could be said to Rose in that mood. So Graeme shut her lips, too.

In the mean time Mr Snow had opened his, in the privacy of their chamber.

"It begins to look a little like it, don't it?" said he.

He got no answer.

"I'd a little rather it had been Graeme, but Rosie would be a sight better than neither of them."

"I'm by no means sure of that," said Mrs Snow, sharply. "Rosie's no' a good bairn just now, and I'm no' weel pleased with her."

"Don't be hard on Rosie," said Mr Snow, gently.

"Hard on her! You ought to have more sense by this time. Rosie's no'

thinking about the minister, and he hasna been thinking o' her till lately--only men are such fools. Forgive me for saying it about the minister."

"Well, I thought, myself, it was Graeme for a spell, and I'd a little rather it would be. She's older, and she's just right in every way. It would be a blessing to more than the minister. It seems as though it was just the right thing. Now, don't it?"

"I canna say. It is none the more likely to come to pa.s.s because of that, as you might ken yourself by this time," said his wife, gravely.

"Oh, well, I don't know about that. There's Aleck and Emily."

"Hoot, fie, man! They cared for one another, and neither Miss Graeme, nor her sister, care a penny piece for yon man--for the minister, I mean."

"You don't think him good enough," said Mr Snow, discontentedly.

"Nonsense! I think him good enough for anybody that will take him. He is a very good man--what there is o' him," added she, under her breath.

"But it will be time enough to speak about it, when there is a chance of its happening. I'm no weel pleased with Rosie. If it werena that, as a rule, I dinna like to meddle with such matters, I would have a word with her myself. The bairn doesna ken her ain mind, I'm thinking."

The next day was rainy, but not so rainy as to prevent Mr Snow from fulfilling his promise to take Mr Millar to see some wonderful cattle, which bade fair to make Mr Nasmyth's a celebrated name in the county, and before they came home again, Mrs Snow took the opportunity to say a word, not to Rose, but to Graeme, with regard to her.

"What ails Rosie at your brother's partner, young Mr Millar?" asked she. "I thought they would have been friends, having known one another so long."

"Friends!" repeated Graeme. "Are they not friends? What makes you speak in that way, Janet?"

"Friends they are not," repeated Mrs Snow, emphatically. "But whether they are less than friends, or more, I canna weel make out. Maybe you can help me, dear."

"I cannot, indeed," said Graeme, laughing a little uneasily. "I am afraid Charlie's visit is not to give any of us unmingled pleasure."

"It is easy seen what she is to him, poor lad, and I canna but think--my dear, you should speak to your sister."

"But, Janet, Rosie is not an easy person to speak to about some things.

And, besides, it is not easy to know whether one may not do harm, rather than good, by speaking. I _did_ speak to her last night about--about Mr Perry."

"About the minister! And what did she answer? She cares little about him, I'm thinking. It's no' pretty in her to amuse herself so openly at his expense, poor man, though there's some excuse, too--when he shows so little discretion."

"But, amusing herself, Janet! That is rather hard on Rosie. It is not that, I think."

"Is it not? What is it, then? The bairn is not in earnest. I hope it may all come to a good ending."

"Oh! Janet! I hope it may. But I don't like to think of endings.

Rosie must belong to some one else some day, I suppose. The best thing I can wish for her is that I may lose her--for her sake, but it is not a happy thing to think of for mine."

"Miss Graeme, my dear, that is not like you."

"Indeed, Janet, it is just like me. I can't bear to think about it. As for the minister--" Graeme shrugged her shoulders.

"You needna trouble yourself about the minister, my dear. It will no'

be him. If your friend yonder would but take heart of grace--I have my own thoughts."

"Oh! I don't know. We need not be in a hurry."

"But, dear, think what you were telling me the other day, about your sister going out by herself to seek her fortune. Surely, that would be far worse."

"But she would not have to go by herself. I should go with her, and Janet, I have sometimes the old dread of change upon me, as I used to have long ago."

"But, my dear, why should you? All the changes in our lot are in good hands. I dinna need to tell you that, after all these years. And as for the minister, you needna be afraid for him."

Graeme laughed; and though the entrance of Rose prevented any more being said, she laughed again to herself, in a way to excite her sister's astonishment.

"I do believe Janet is pitying me a little, because of the minister's inconstancy," she said to herself. "Why am I laughing at it, Rosie?

You must ask Mrs Snow."

"My dear, how can I tell your sister's thoughts? It is at them, she is laughing, and I think the minister has something to do with it, though it is not like her, either, to laugh at folk in an unkindly way."

"It is more like me, you think," said Rose, pouting. "And as for the minister, she is very welcome to him, I am sure."

"Nonsense, Rose! Let him rest. I am sure Deacon Snow would think us very irreverent to speak about the minister in that way. Tell me what you are going to do to-day?"

Rosie had plenty to do, and by and by she became absorbed in the elaborate pattern which she was working on a frock for wee Rosie, and was rather more remiss than before, as to doing her part for the entertainment of their guest. She had not done that from the beginning, but her quietness and preoccupation were more apparent, because the rain kept them within doors. Graeme saw it, and tried to break through it or cover it as best she might. Mrs Snow saw it, and sometimes looked grave, and sometimes amused, but she made no remarks about it. As for Mr Millar, if he noticed her silence and preoccupation, he certainly did not resent them, but gave to the few words she now and then put in, an eager attention that went far beyond their worth; and had she been a princess, and he but a humble va.s.sal, he could not have addressed her with more respectful deference.

And so the days pa.s.sed on, till one morning something was said by Mr Millar, about its being time to draw his visit to a close. It was only a word, and might have fallen to the ground without remark, as he very possibly intended it should do; but Mr Snow set himself to combat the idea of his going away so soon, with an energy and determination that brought them all into the discussion in a little while.

"Unless there is something particular taking you home, you may as well stay for a while longer. At any rate, it ain't worth while to go before Sunday. You ought to stay and hear our minister preach, now you've got acquainted with him. Oughtn't he, Graeme?"

Graeme smiled.

"Oh! yes, he ought to stay for so good a reason as that is."