Paddy The Next Best Thing Part 32

"Well, mother, what was the good of Lord Selloyd making a fool of himself any more than he could help by asking me to marry him, when I was certain to decline with thanks? I didn't put it to him quite like that, but it came to the same thing in the end, and he had the sense to see it and go away."

"You are hopeless, quite hopeless; and I believe you make her worse, Lawrence."

"No, indeed," answered Lawrence from the depths of his easy-chair. "I have been at great pains to point out to her the ineffable benefits of a coronet, to say nothing of a husband who is--well--like cotton-wool in the hands of a strong-minded woman."

"You are both leagued against me," continued the mother, shaking her head. "If the same thing happens again, Lawrence, I shall just expect you to marry her yourself, and what will happen to your quiet Irish home then I'm afraid to think." She spread out her hands with a gesture of hopelessness, but there was a twinkle in her eyes that made the mother and daughter for a moment wonderfully alike. "Gwen buried in the Mourne Mountains would result in a social tornado, and a year of libel actions.

She'd just scandalise the whole countryside and set every one quarrelling to break the monotony, and though you think you are very strong-minded, Lawrence, you'd find your match in Gwen; and I ought to know, being her mother."

Owen laughed gayly, without the smallest shadow of self-consciousness, for marriage between herself and Lawrence had been so long talked of with jesting freedom that it embarra.s.sed neither of them in the smallest degree, although there were many who firmly believed it would eventually ensue.

"We'd get mummie to come and smooth things over, wouldn't we?" she laughed, and sauntered to the piano, afterward singing several songs in a rich and beautiful contralto. When she was tired of singing she came back to the fireplace and, seating herself upon a low footstool, remarked to her mother with a side-glance at Lawrence: "Has Lawrie told you about his Irish friend yet, mummie?"

"No," looking up questioningly. "Hasn't he?" in feigned surprise. "I am astounded. He's just full of her."

"Her?" repeated Mrs Carew, raising her eyebrows significantly.

"Yes, _her_--and she _hates_ me, mummie. What do you think of that?"

"But surely she doesn't know you?"

"That's of no account at all. She's rather given to hating, for she hates Lawrie too--at least she says she does."

"I hardly see how she can be his friend then."

"Oh, yes! it's simple enough. If I say I hate a man, I find it's generally a sure sign I rather like him. Only I'm surprised she's found the trick out, buried among those old mountains."

"All the mountain ranges in the world piled up round a woman wouldn't make her other than contrary," remarked Lawrence. "I can imagine her wrestling and struggling to get away, and then a deliverer of the male s.e.x comes along and proceeds to help her, says something she doesn't like, or doesn't say something she does like, and she would promptly sit down and say she adored mountain ranges and wouldn't be in any other spot for the world."

"Of course," exclaimed Gwen, "you wouldn't have us grow as milk and watery and monotonous as the male s.e.x, would you? That's just what makes us so interesting."

"Irritating would be nearer the mark."

"Well, both if you like. One is just as good for you as the other. But touching this Irish girl, what's her name, Lawrie?"

"There were two I told you of. Which do you mean?"

"Why, the one who hates, of course. The other doesn't count, especially if she's goody-goody."

"The hater is Paddy Adair."

"Paddy!" cried Gwen in amus.e.m.e.nt. "What a name, but I rather like it!

I'm beginning to feel quite interested in this Paddy. At first I was furious with her for daring to hate me, but now I rather like her for it. Tell me something about her."

"There isn't anything to tell."

"Of course there is. What does she do all day long, living in that deadly place!"

"Fishes, and shoots, and sails."

"Oh, does she shoot!" with eagerness.

"She's the finest shot of her s.e.x that I've ever come across, and she can sail a boat as well as any man. She gets capsized into the loch periodically, but thinks nothing of it. Her father is a soldier, and the wilder the things she does, the better he likes it, because then he is half able to persuade himself that she is a boy. I believe the dream of his life was to have a son, but as it is he considers Paddy the next best thing and dotes on her."

"She must be very jolly," said Gwen. "What a pity she isn't pretty too."

"I never knew anyone who cared less. She won't even take the trouble to make the most of her hair, and yet, with a little pains, it is so beautiful that she could easily pa.s.s for a good-looking girl."

"I'd like to know her," said Gwen.

"I daresay you will when you find there's nothing for it but to take me and reign at Mourne Lodge instead of Selloyd Castle," with a twinkle.

"I wonder if she'd still hate me," thoughtfully.

Lawrence said nothing, but he was of the opinion that Paddy would hate more than ever.

Owen's father came in then from an official interview with Lord Kitchener, during which grave matters concerning the welfare of India had been discussed. The Hon. Jack Carew, as he still continued to be called, in spite of his forty-three years, held a Government post in India, and was one of the popular rising men of his day, great things being predicted for him in the future. Like all the rest, he idolised Gwen, and when told of the Earl's visit and its result he took her side entirely, secretly only too glad to feel the question of a wedding once more thrust in the background. The subject was quickly dismissed, and affairs of state, as far as was permissible, discussed with great interest between the father and daughter and Lawrence, until the latter departed for his club.

Here he was surprised to find a letter with a thin black edge awaiting him, in his mother's handwriting, and, once more sinking into the depths of a big easy-chair, he proceeded to read it. As he did so his brow contracted somewhat, and once or twice he glanced over the top of the paper with a half-anxious, worried expression. Then he folded it up slowly, and sat for a long time lost in thought.

So the General was dead--the kind old soldier he could remember almost as soon as he could remember anything--and, beyond doubt, Omeath and its neighbourhood was greatly the poorer. And The Ghan House was to be let, was probably already let, and Mrs Adair and her daughters were going to London. This was the news that set him thinking the most deeply--at first it seemed so utterly incredible. Omeath without the Adairs was like a problem he could not solve. Omeath without Jack O'Hara--without the Adairs or Jack--was only more extraordinary still.

And then to go to London! Eileen and Paddy cooped up in a little stuffy London house, after their lovely home among the mountains on the loch-side. It was not possible--surely it was not possible that this had to be.

He read the letter again, lingering over the part that explained how all the General's private means had gone and there was nothing left but the widow's pension, and how the post of dispenser had been offered to Paddy, and rather than be separated they were all going to London together.

So Paddy was to be dispenser? What in the name of fortune could have put such an idea into their heads? Paddy dispensing was so ludicrous to him that he could scarcely forbear to smile. But he soon grew serious again. The Adairs' misfortunes touched him more nearly than he would have thought. His mind ran on. If he went back and persuaded Eileen to marry him, he wondered if there would be any difficulty about his renting The Ghan House, and installing Mrs Adair and Paddy there for good. He believed not. If it were arranged that the gift came from Eileen, they could hardly object, and, for the matter of that, why should they?

Far into the night Lawrence sat in his big easy-chair, oblivious to all that was going on around him, thinking out his new idea.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

A CURIOUS ENGAGEMENT.

For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with b.a.l.l.s and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs. At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.

"There's something the matter with you, Lawrie," she said. "You've been looking as solemn as a boiled owl for days. Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode? Come, out with it, and let me give you the benefit of my sage advice."

They were standing on the large staircase at the Viceroy's, having met at a reception there, and she had detained him in pa.s.sing.

"Why not choose a more public spot?" Lawrence asked. "Only half Calcutta would hear us here, and they might as well all know."

"You goose," she laughed. "I suppose you want a _tete-a-tete_. Oh, dear!" with a sigh; "and I've got such a lot of special friends here to-night. Never mind, I'll manage it. I'll go with you to have refreshments at eleven o'clock, and then we'll--well, we'll go and look at the idols and mummies and things," and she pa.s.sed gayly on.

Later they found their way into a quiet alcove that overlooked the big reception rooms, and Gwen at once plunged into the subject.

"Is it anything to do with the little Irish girl?" she asked.

"Partly."