Janet's Love and Service Part 36

"It is not very late, Harry. I wonder whether they are up yet. There is a light."

"Allan," said Harry, lingering behind, "Marian died before my father.

Don't speak of her to Graeme."

Graeme was still sitting on the steps.

"Miss Elliott," whispered Charlie, eagerly, "who is the new partner, do you think? Did I ever tell you my half-brother's name? It is Allan Ruthven."

Graeme gave neither start nor cry, but she came forward holding out her hands to the tall figure who came forward with an arm thrown over Harry's shoulder. They were clasped in his.

"I knew you would come. I was quite sure that some time we should see you again," said Graeme, after a little.

"And I--I had quite lost hope of ever finding you," said Allan. "I wonder if you have missed me as I have missed you?"

"We have been very happy together since we parted from you," said Graeme, "and very sorrowful, too. But we never forgot you, either in joy or sorrow; and I was always sure that we should see you again."

They went into the house together. Rose, roused from the sleep into which she had fallen, stood very much amazed beneath the chandelier.

"You'll never tell me that my wee white Rose has grown into a flower like this!" said Allan.

It was a bold thing for him to do, seeing that Rose was nearly as tall as her sister; but he clasped her in his arms and kissed her "cheek and chin" as he had done that misty morning on the deck of the "Steadfast"

so many years ago.

"Rose," said Graeme, "it is Allan--Allan Ruthven. Don't you remember.

I was always sure we should see him again."

They were very, very glad, but they did not say so to one another in many words. The names of the dead were on their lips, making their voices trembling and uncertain.

"Arthur," said Rose, as they were all sitting together a day or two after, "you have forgotten to tell us about the party."

"You have forgotten to ask me, you mean. You have been so taken up with your new hero that I have had few of your thoughts."

Mr Ruthven smiled at Rose from the other side of the table.

"Well, tell us about it now," said she. "You must have enjoyed it better than you expected, for more than one of the 'small-hours' had struck before you came home."

"Oh, yes, I enjoyed it very well. I met young Storey, who has just returned from Europe. I enjoyed his talk very much. And then Mrs Gridley took me under her protection. She is a clever woman, and handsome, too."

"Handsome!" echoed Rose. "Why she is an old woman, with grown-up daughters. And if you were to see her by daylight!"

They all laughed.

"Well, that might make a difference. But she says very clever, or maybe very sharp, things about her neighbours, and the time pa.s.sed quickly till supper. It was rather late but I could not leave before supper-- the event of the evening."

"I should think not," said Harry.

"Well, we won't ask about the supper, lest it might make Harry discontented with his own. And what happened after supper?"

"Oh! after supper Mr Grove and his friend Barnes began to discuss the harbour question, and I very foolishly allowed myself to be drawn into the discussion. Mr Green was there, the great western merchant. He is a long-headed fellow, that. You must know him, Mr Ruthven."

"I know him well. He is a remarkably clever business-man, and a good fellow; though, I suppose, few know it so well as I do. I had a long illness in C once, and he nursed me as if I had been a brother. I might have known him for years in the way of business, without discovering his many excellent qualities. He has the name of being rather hard in the way of business, I believe?"

"He has a clear head of his own," said Arthur; "I enjoyed a talk with him very much. He intends visiting Europe, he tells me."

"Well, what next?" said Rose, to whom Mr Green and his good qualities were matters of indifference.

"Then I came home. Mr Green walked down the street with me."

"And didn't you see Miss Grove, the belle of the evening!" exclaimed Rose.

"Oh, yes! I had the honour of an introduction to her. She is a pretty little thing."

"Pretty! Is that all you can say for the belle? How does she look? Is she fair or dark? What colour are her eyes?"

"I can hardly say. She would be called fair, I think. I can't say about her eyes. She has a very pretty hand and arm, and--is aware of it."

"Don't be censorious, Arthur! Does she wear curls? And what did she say to you?"

"Curls! I cannot say. I have the impression of a quant.i.ty of hair, not in the best order toward the end of the evening. She seemed to be dancing most of the time, and she dances beautifully."

"But she surely said something to you. What did you talk about?"

demanded Rose, impatiently.

"She told that if she were to dance all the dances for which she was engaged, she wouldn't get home till morning."

"You don't mean to say you asked her to dance?"

"Oh, no! She volunteered the information. I could have waited so long as to have the honour."

"And, of course, you can't tell a word about her dress?"

"I beg your pardon," said Arthur, searching his pocket. "It must be in my other vest. I asked Mrs Gridley what the young lady's dress was made of, and put it down for your satisfaction. Rosie, I hope I haven't lost it."

"Arthur! what nonsense!" said Graeme, laughing. "I am sure Mrs Gridley was laughing in her sleeve at you all the time."

"She hadn't any sleeve to laugh in. But when I told her that I was doing it for the benefit of my little sister Rosie, she smiled in her superior way."

"I think I see her," said Rosie, indignantly. "But what was her dress, after all? Was it silk or satin?"

"No, nothing so commonplace as that. I could have remembered silk or satin. It was--"

"Was it lace, or gauze, or c.r.a.pe?" suggested Rose.

"Or tarltan or muslin?" said Graeme, much amused.

"Or damask, or velvet, or cloth of gold, or linsey-woolsey?" said Harry.

Arthur a.s.sumed an air of bewilderment.