Niece Catherine Part 4

Uncle Jack had been pacing the room--a short promenade! His niece had just time to find out how overwhelmingly delighted she was to see him once again, before he had put his arm round her shoulders and kissed her cheek, as a father might have done.

'My darling! What, crying? Oh, it's a long while since we said good-bye at Wattle Creek, isn't it? I couldn't tell you how often I've wanted my niece since then. But I believed we should meet again some day, and I've found out that the times chosen by the Great Commander are always best and fittest, la.s.sie.'

'Uncle Jack, why didn't you write oftener to me? Why did you let me forget even a little bit how good you were to me, and how fond we were of one another? When you call me "la.s.sie" it all comes back to me. I used to fancy that my father must have been like you.'

'An uncle isn't as much good as a father; still, he may be some use. And you are poor now--your possessions have melted away! We won't call the absent bad names, la.s.sie, will we? but I always saw "rascal" written on your stepfather's brow. He couldn't stand fire properly, though he ought to have been used to it out there. I remember once I held my sword to his throat, too--to show him how poor Northcote died; and he winced under it. Still, I won't blame him, since we are the gainers by his wrong-doing, Agatha and I.'

'Gainers? How is that?'

'Because you are coming home, my dear, to live with us. Sit there in the basket-chair--it was bought for you this morning, for this room was rather short of chairs--and good old Harriet made the cus.h.i.+ons. I verily believe she went without her dinner that she might get them finished.

Ah, you kept us waiting a long time, la.s.sie! Robert has been in the yard nearly all day, he was so anxious not to keep you on the doorstep.'

Catherine sat down in the chair, and could not find words to answer with all at once. Home! Uncle Jack had taken her consent to his invitation for granted! _Home!_ And even the postman knew that he 'wasn't well enough off for himself'! Oh, the dear, true-hearted, generous old man!

And what could she say? She could not bear to hurt his feelings, yet she must not be a burden upon him. Tears were in her eyes, and it was with the utmost difficulty that she steadied her voice to thank him.

'Grat.i.tude? Nonsense, my dear (if I may use such a word to a lady).

Think of the joy your presence will be to us--Agatha, myself, old Harriet, and even Robert. I haven't been able to resist talking about you to the servants, and they have been very curious to see you; you would have laughed at Harriet's endeavour to get a cake made ready to greet you. She is not the typical, cross housekeeper, resenting interference. Indeed, she told me to-day that we all need some one to smarten us up, and that you, "being a travelled young lady," would be sure to do it!'

In this way did Colonel Jack talk on, softly patting Catherine's hand, and trying to give her time to control her evident emotion.

She understood this, and appreciated it. Soon her eyes began to smile through her tears, and she cried:

'You _know_ I am grateful, so I need not speak any more thanks to you; but oh, Uncle Jack, dear, until you offered me a home I had not realized the loneliness of being without one. Mrs. Arderne has always been so kind to me (you remember her, don't you?) that I've never been sorry for myself while with her, and Uncle Ross's pity this morning only made me feel more independently cheerful!'

'So I've taught you to be lonely, la.s.sie?'

'No; you first made me long for a home, and then you gave me one! I cannot come to live in it altogether, for I must earn my living--not be an idle creature, you know; but Redan Cottage is "home" for me from henceforth--"home," to love, to remember, to dream of, to visit, to spend my holidays in!'

Uncle Jack looked troubled.

'Catherine, you are not--what is commonly called "an advanced woman,"

are you? You are not of opinion that women should do all the work in the world?'

She laughed.

'No, indeed! but a penniless young woman certainly should support herself, if she is able to do so. Dearest of uncles, don't you think that, by coming "home" to subsist upon the income which keeps up this establishment, I should be defrauding Agatha, if not you?'

'The poor child would receive benefits that no money could buy her: your love and care--and counsel, especially counsel.'

'Whose counsel can be better than yours?'

There was a shake of the white head.

'I'm a beginner in Christianity, Catherine,' said the colonel thoughtfully. 'In my youth I wasn't taught much about G.o.d, and then my ambitions and enthusiasm for the service left me no time, so I imagined, for other than military studies. Naturally, when my comrades were falling around me, I prayed, for them and for myself, if I were about to fall too; still, I knew next to nothing of the Lord whose help I asked.

Lately I _have_ been studying the Bible, and I'm honestly ashamed of my purposeless past. Every time I pray I make the best excuse I can to the Creator, by a.s.suring Him that had I been so fortunate as to know Him earlier, I would have served Him as loyally as, thanks be to Him, I have always served my Queen.'

Catherine's smile was very tender as she looked at the colonel's reverential face.

'G.o.d must quite understand you!'

'Do you think so? You used to talk of Him in the old days, I recollect, but I regarded your piety as a mere part of a gentle girl's sentiments--as a sort of beautiful romance unsuitable for men to share.

Dear, what a fool I was, Catherine (if you will excuse the strong expression)!'

'You are G.o.d's own soldier now, dear uncle. I am glad indeed. Nothing is equal to the peace of serving Him who died for us.'

'Ah, what a soldier He was!--the Great Commander is the t.i.tle I like best to give Him. You will teach me all you know about Him, will you not, my child?'

Catherine's fingers returned the pressure of his hand.

'We will teach each other, Uncle Jack. And even when we are absent one from another we shall know that we are both looking in the same direction, towards the glory of the Prince of Peace and the King of Battles.'

'If you _must_ earn your living, la.s.sie!'

'It seems to be a clear duty. I will never stay away from home out of pride, or because I do not like to take favours from you, you may be quite sure of that. And if Brian could only find employment in this neighbourhood, oh, how glad I should be! He is not very strong, his health would be so much better in the country, and he would have quiet hours in which to write.... Oh, I forget--you don't know about Brian yet!'

'Your bright face tells your secret, la.s.sie. Tell me you love him, and that he loves you with all his heart, and then I shall be quite satisfied!'

'Yes, to both those questions! He is a poor, hard-working journalist, earning a bare livelihood for himself.'

'That doesn't matter; his love will give him courage to work on for you, and G.o.d will reward him some day!'

'He does not call G.o.d "Father" yet; his mind is only just groping nearer to the Light; his heart has not yet been taken captive by the Lord.'

'You will teach him, as I want to be taught. G.o.d will help you.'

'Uncle Jack, you are the dearest consoler and encourager possible! Brian shall love you almost as well as I do! He shall come to see you very, very soon! Uncle Ross wants to see him too; isn't it strange?'

'Surely not strange, la.s.sie. He would naturally be interested. If my brother offers you a home with him--what then? You will be standing in your own light if you refuse. He is a rich man; Carm Hall is more fitted than this cottage to be your shelter. You mustn't allow any--any affection for me to--to influence you in this matter.'

Yet, bravely though the colonel was looking this possibility in the face, n.o.bly though he was anxious for Catherine's welfare rather than for his own pleasure, the contemplation of his vision of what might be, cast a shadow into his eyes. Watching him, Catherine learned how sincerely he wanted her.

Though a most unworldly young woman (as Mrs. Arderne had often told her), she could not help understanding that she had made a choice which most people would blame and ridicule. She had promised always to regard Redan Cottage as home. Though she honestly believed that Uncle Ross would keep to his intention of leaving his wealth to be divided among charities, she could not deny that he might offer her, and even her husband, a home during his lifetime--possibly a small portion of his fortune might be set aside for them.

Yet, as she had said, she believed 'the right of the quarrel to be on Uncle Jack's side,' and never could she deny this belief.

The result of her short reflection was that she said happily, 'I have got a home now, and I prefer it to any other at present existing in all the world, dear colonel!'

'Then my duty is done! I need never again try to persuade you to desert me, la.s.sie! And if Brian is vexed with me----'

'But he won't be.'

'No doubt you can answer for him, so I won't trouble over any supposition! Ross does not need you, as Agatha does. He is a good man, in his own way; Heaven forbid I should judge him harshly, but he would not be grateful for being taught religion.'

'My choice is made, uncle dear, and you may be sure I shall never, never regret it!'

'G.o.d bless you, la.s.sie!'

The old gentleman bent his lips to his niece's hand, and they were both silent for a minute or two, gazing into the fire. Then he said: