The Star-Gazers Part 73

"d.a.m.n it all, mother, do let that cursed business rest," cried Rolph impatiently.

"Yes, dearest, of course; pray forgive me."

"Oh, all right! But--er--Madge--she hasn't seen her--hasn't been over there?"

"No, my love, of course not. There must be no further communication between our families. It was Sir John's own wish, as you know. No one could have behaved more honourably, or with more chivalrous consideration than he did over the horribly distressing circ.u.mstances.

But that's all dead, past and forgotten now, and you need not fear any allusions being made in the place. It was quite wonderful how little was ever known outside the house. But there, no more past; let's have present and future. Time is flying, Rob, dearest, and I'm getting an old woman now."

"And a deuced fine, handsome old woman, too," said Rolph, with an unwonted show of affection, for he pa.s.sed his arm about her, and kissed her warmly. "I tell you what it is, old lady, I only wish I could meet with one like you--a fine, handsome, elderly body, with no confounded d.a.m.n-nonsense about her. I'd propose in a minute."

"My dearest boy, what absurd stuff you do talk, when the most beautiful girl for miles round is waiting patiently for you to say,--'Come, and I will recompense you with my life's devotion for all your long suffering, and the agony of years.'"

"Just what I'm likely to say, mother," said Rolph, grimly.

"But you will in your heart."

"All right, I'll try. She will let me have my own way. But I say, mother, she has grown precious thin and old-looking while you have been on the Continent."

"What wonder, dearest boy. Can a woman suffer, as she has about you for two years now, without showing the lines of care. But what of them. It will be your pleasant duty to smooth them all out, and you can, dearest, and so easily. A month after she is yours she will not look the same."

Mrs Rolph's words were spoken in all sincerity, and there was a great deal in them as to their probabilities, but not in the direction she meant.

"Rob, dearest," she whispered caressingly, soon after, "when shall it be?"

"Don't know."

"To set your mother's heart at rest--and hers."

"Oh, very well, when you like; but hold hard a minute."

"Rob!" cried Mrs Rolph in dismay, for her heart was beating fast with hope, and his words had arrested the throbbing.

"I can't have two of my important meetings interfered with. I've the Bray Bridge handicap, and a glove fight I must attend."

"Rob, my darling!"

"But I must go to them. The confounded service takes up so much of my time, that I've neglected my athletics shamefully."

Marjorie came in from the garden just then, and as she appeared at the French window, the careworn, hunted look in her eyes, and a suggestion of twitching about the corners of her lips, fully justified her athletic cousin's disparaging remarks.

"Ah, my darling!" cried Mrs Rolph, rising.

"I beg pardon, aunt dear. I did not know you and Rob were engaged."

"Don't go, dearest," said Mrs Rolph, holding out her hands, her tone of voice making Marjories eyes dilate, and as she began to tremble violently, a deathly pallor overspread her cheeks, and she tottered and then sank sobbing in Mrs Rolph's arms.

"My darling--my darling!" whispered her aunt. "There--there! Rob, dearest, help me!"

Rolph rose from his chair, half-pleased, half-amused by his mother's action, as she shifted the burden to his great muscular arms.

"Help her to the couch, my love. Why, she is all of a tremble. I'll go and fetch my salts. Rob, dearest, can't you bring back the colour to her cheeks?"

She moved slowly toward the door in quite a stage exit, smiling with satisfaction as she saw her son make no effort to place the trembling woman upon the couch, but holding her to his breast, while, slowly and timidly, her hands rose to his neck, gained faith and courage, and by the time the door closed upon the pair, Madge was clinging tightly, and for the first time for two years felt that the arms which encircled her held her firmly.

"Rob!" she cried wildly, as she raised her head to gaze wildly in his eyes.

"All right, p.u.s.s.y," he said. "The mater says we are to forget all the past, and forgive, and all that sort of thing, and the event is to be a fixture, short notice and no flam."

"You mean it, Rob--darling?"

"Of course," he cried; and his lips closed upon hers.

"There," he said, after a time; "now let's go and have a quiet walk and talk."

"In the garden? Yes!"

"Hang the garden! outside. I don't want the old girl to be hanging about us, patting us on the back and watching for every kiss."

"No, no," she whispered, as she clung to him, as if fearing to lose him before she had him fast. "Except for this, Rob, dear, I wish we had not come back to The Warren."

"Hallo!" he cried, boisterously; "jealous of Judy, pet? Why, I haven't seen her for months? That's all over, and I'm going to be your own good boy."

"It wasn't that, Rob. I was afraid."

"What of? Losing me? Oh, you're safe now," he cried, with a boisterous laugh.

"No, dear Rob; it was not that, but of something else."

"What, Brackley?" he said roughly, and with an angry scowl.

"Oh, no, Rob," she cried, with a frightened look and a shudder as she covered his lips with hers. "Don't, pray, speak of that. It is too horrible. I didn't mean that."

"What then?"

"It was nothing about you, Rob, dearest. It was about myself. I was frightened, but no, not _now_," she whispered caressingly, as she nestled to him. "I shall always have your brave, strong, giant's arms to be round me, to protect me against everybody."

"Of course," he said, complacently, as he smiled down at her. "But what are you afraid of?"

"Oh; nothing," she whispered; "it's because I'm weak and foolish. Oh, Rob, how grand it must be to feel big, and strong and brave. It was some time before we went away, I was out walking, and a man came out from among the hazel bushes."

"Eh?" growled Rolph.

"It was that dreadful poacher who used to be about, and he asked for money, and I gave him some, dear, and then he became insulting, and tried to catch me in his arms, but I shrieked out and he ran away."

"Caleb Kent?" growled Rolph.

"I think that is what he was called," said Marjorie timidly; "but I need not be afraid of him now, need I, Rob?"

"You may be afraid for him," said Rolph, fiercely; "for so sure as ever we meet any night, and he is poaching, I shall have an accident with my gun."