Johnny Ludlow Fourth Series Part 106

"Which I think was very pretty of them, Mr. Johnny," she said to me after dinner; "and I'm proud of standing to it."

"It was in recompense for the worry I've given you, you dear old thing!"

whispered Verena, as she pulled Mrs. Cramp's chair backwards and kissed her motherly forehead. "You'll never have such a tenant again--for worry."

"Never, I hope, please Heaven!" a.s.sented Mrs. Cramp. "And I'm sure I shall never see a black woman without s.h.i.+vering. Now, my dear, you just put my chair down; you'll have me backwards. Hold it, will you, Mr.

Johnny!"

"What dishes of talk you'll get up about me with Susan Dennet!" went on Verena, the chair still tilted. "We are going back home the beginning of the year, do you know. George got his letters to-day."

"And what about that young lady over there--that Miss Magnolia?" asked Mrs. Cramp.

Verena let the chair fall in ecstasy, and her tone was brimful of delight. "Oh, that's the best news of all! Magnolia is going to be married: she only waits for George to get back to give her away. I must say this is a delightful Christmas-Day!"

On the thirty-first of December, the last day in the year, Coralie was married to Dr. Rymer. Archdeacon Sale, being Benjamin's brother-in-law, came over to Islip Church to tie the knot. _Her_ brother-in-law, George Bazalgette, gave her away. The breakfast was held at Coralie's, Verena presiding in sky-blue satin.

And amidst the company was a lady some of us had not expected to see--Mrs. Rymer. She had scarlet ringlets (white feathers setting them off to-day) and might be vulgar to her fingers'-ends, but she was Benjamin's mother, and Coralie had privately sent for her.

"You have my best wishes, Mr. Benjamin," said the Squire, drawing Ben aside while Coralie was putting on her travelling attire; "and I'd be glad with all my heart had your father lived to see it."

"So should I be, Squire."

"Look here," whispered the Squire, holding him by the b.u.t.ton-hole, "did you ever tell her of that--that--you know--that past trouble?"

"Of the bank-note, you mean," said Ben. "I told her of that long ago, and everything else that could tell against me. Believe me, Mr.

Todhetley, though my faults were many in the days gone by, I could not act dishonourably by my dear wife; no, nor by any one else now."

The Squire nodded with a beaming face, and pressed Ben's hand.

"And let me thank you now, sir, for your long-continued kindness, your expressions of esteem for my poor father and of goodwill to me," said Ben, with emotion. "I have not talked of it, but I have felt it."

They started away in their new close carriage, amidst a shower of rice and old shoes; and we finished up the revels in the evening with a dance and a fiddle, the Squire leading out Mrs. Cramp. Then came a cold supper.

The noise had reached its height, and the champagne was going about, when the Squire interrupted with a "Hush, hus.h.!.+" and the babel ceased.

The clock on the mantelpiece was striking twelve. As the last stroke vibrated on the air, its echo alone breaking the silence, the Squire rose and lifted his hands--

"A Happy New Year to us all, my friends! May G.o.d send His best blessings with it!"

It may as well be added, in the interests of peace and quietness, that those Indians had not committed any crime at all; it had been invented by rumour, as Worcester discovered later. They were only inoffensive strangers, travelling about to see the land.

THE END.