"Don"t, Lancy; it is all over, so try to forget it. I know that Hugh felt sorry for his burst of temper the moment after, but he could not unsay the words, and I would not forgive them--that is why he felt so badly when we parted on the train. I did not intend to tell you of it, Lancy; so do not look so vexed."
"Oh! if I only could lay my hands on him, I would pay him for his impudence and brutality! but, Dexie, were you not very frightened?" and he clasped her hands in his own, and looked earnestly into her face.
"For the moment, when I turned my head and saw the stones beneath me, I was almost sick with fear, but I think my temper saved my life just then, for I turned on him and dared him! Oh! I could have torn him limb from limb, I was that angry! I broke the commandment a dozen times as I stood there before him--I mean the one that says "Thou shalt do no murder." I killed him in my heart, I mean. However, I feel real pleased to hear of his good fortune, so I think I must have repented; but I"m not quite sure," she laughingly added.
"My brave Dexie! that is no easy matter to forgive!" said Lancy earnestly.
"Oh, well! I am going to forgive everything, and be as amiable as possible to my future brother-in-law. You see, Gussie has claimed him already. Now, you must keep this to yourself, Lancy, or I will never tell you anything again; but you see how foolish it is to hold up Hugh as my possible lover.
Are you satisfied now?"
"No, not quite, Dexie, but if you will tell me what you refused to tell Hugh, then I will be," and he drew nearer her side.
"Then I guess you can remain unsatisfied, Sir Launcelot, for I will not confess to a feeling I am not sure of possessing."
"But you will confess that no one else holds the first place--that you love no one else? You will tell me that much, surely, Dexie?" and he tried to read the answer in her dark eyes.
"Well, yes, Lancy. I can safely concede that much without committing myself, but you need not begin to build air castles on that!"
A step sounded on the gravel walk, and Elsie"s head appeared through the swinging vines at the door.
"Here I have been searching for you for half an hour! Whatever have you two been doing here, all by yourselves? Not love-making, surely; but your face looks guilty, Dexie," and she looked keenly at her brother, to see what his earnest tones might have meant.
"Well! you little Paul Pry! we were love-making and love-breaking, both.
You came just in time to hear that my engagement to Lancy is--not a settled thing," and she laughed at the surprise in Elsie"s eyes. "So please unsay what you told Mrs. Fremont in the parlor last evening. But what are your wishes, Miss Gurney?"
Elsie returned her bow with great formality and replied "Miss Beatrice Fremont sends her compliments, and will Mr. Gurney be kind enough to drive us to the market this morning, as Miss Gertrude is otherwise engaged."
"With pleasure, but such dignity ill becomes your youthful brow, sister mine. Did mother tell you the news about Hugh?"
"No! She said you would tell me the news your letter contained."
"Well, just think! Hugh"s father has been alive for years, long enough to lay by a big fortune for Hugh. But he took a fever and died, just when he was almost ready to return to England. He managed to get a trusty man to see after his business, who has arrived in Halifax, and Hugh is rich enough to buy us all out if he wants to. Mother says he has made no plans for the future yet, but frequently asks when we are expected home, though why he is anxious about us, I can"t see."
Something caused him to glance at Dexie, and the peculiar smile on her face made Lancy understand at once the reason of the frequent inquiries. Hugh did not care to make plans for the future until Dexie had returned, when her acceptance or refusal of his suit would have something to do with his future plans. But after hearing Dexie"s story, Hugh"s anxiety on their account did not trouble him further.
As they walked towards the house, Elsie expressed a hope "that Hugh and Gussie would soon get married, and would give them a good party to celebrate the event," and Dexie heartily seconded her wish.
But even Hugh"s good fortune was set aside, for this was market day, and on no account would they miss the drive to the crowded mart. They were soon speeding along the level road, past cartloads of farm products of every kind, which were slowly making their way towards the same goal. While Beatrice was making her purchases the two girls wandered about to view the busy scene, but they soon became aware that the attention of a broad-shouldered countryman was directed to themselves. Dexie wondered where she had seen the man before, as his face looked familiar, but her memory was refreshed by the outspoken and hearty greeting that met her ears.
"Bless yer bonnie face! If this aren"t Mr. Sherrud"s dochter, I"m mista"en!
What! dinna ye ken the auld farmer McDonald, that was seein" ye in Halifax?
Oh, I thocht ye"d ken me! An" whan did ye come owre?" and her hand was grasped and given a hearty shake as she tried to answer his many questions, for the pleasure of the meeting was easily read in the open countenance before her.
"Weel, weel! but it"s pleased I am to hae met ye the day, an" is yer faither as smart as ever?" and seeing him glance towards Elsie she remembered herself and introduced her friend.
"She is our next-door neighbor in Halifax," Dexie explained.
"An" ye are both owre for a visit? Weel, weel, an" ye never telt me ye were comin" at a", at a". But whaur are ye stayin", if I may ask?"
"At Mrs. Fremont"s. I am here at Miss Gurney"s invitation, and her friends have been very kind to me. We have been here a little more than three weeks."
"An" ye never sent me word! If I had kent ye were here, I wad hae sent doon for ye afore."
"You are very kind, indeed, Mr. McDonald, but I am here with friends this time, and I am afraid I cannot leave them."
"Hoot, noo! ye needna leave them; there"s room at the farm for ye a". Hoo mony is there besides this ane?"
"One young man."
And catching sight of Lancy, a short distance away, she called his name and he stepped at once to her side.
"This is Mr. Gurney, a brother to my friend here."
"Ay, ay; I remember him," greeting Lancy heartily. "An" hoo dae ye like the look o" the Islan"?"
"Very much, indeed!" Lancy replied. "It is a fine place, and we have been enjoying ourselves immensely."
"But ye haena been up oor way yet! If I"d only kent ye were here I wad hae had ye up afore this," he repeated.
"Thank you kindly, Mr. McDonald, but we could hardly impose on your good-nature as far as that."
"Impose, is"t? Ma dear sir, it"s prood an" happy we wad be to hae ye come to see us. You maun gie me yer promise to come afore ye gang back to Halifax. The gran"mother wad be sair hurt at no seein" ye. Whan could ye come, noo?" turning to Dexie.
Just then Beatrice Fremont came towards them, and her smile of recognition told Dexie that the farmer was well known to her.
"I did not know you were acquainted with my friends, Mr. McDonald," and she extended her hand.
"I ken her faither weel, an" I met the dochter whan I was abroad," he replied with a smile, "but I never expected to meet ony Halifax folk the day. It"s her faither that did me the kindness whan I was in Halifax that I"ll never forget, an" it"s weel pleased I am to meet them. Is"t at your place they are staying, Miss Fremont?"
"Yes," replied Beatrice, smiling, "but I think I heard you trying to coax them away from us, Mr. McDonald."
He looked up into the bright face and replied:
"Ay, I want to show them that I dinna forget their kindness to me whan I was a stranger in a strange land, an" no wishin" to rob ye o" yer visitors at a", I was tryin" to hae them say whan they wad come up to the farm, for it"s masel" that"ll come efter them, whanever they say the word."
"You need not be afraid to accept the invitation, girls," said Beatrice, as the farmer turned to say a few words to Lancy. "Your presence would cause no trouble; they are always so glad to have visitors that it is a pleasure to go. I spent several weeks there last summer, and I know they would all be glad to see you."
"It is well enough for Dexie to go," said Elsie, "but it would be very rude for me to go on such short acquaintance."
"There, Elsie, I stand condemned. Behold me, a visitor at Mrs. Fremont"s, and we never knew of each other"s existence before the visit was planned,"
said Dexie.
"But this is different, Dexie," Elsie hurried to explain.
"The difference is in your favor, Elsie."
"I think I can promise that they will be as glad to see you both at the farm as we were to have you here, and you know your being no relation does not matter to us."
"Well, I would dearly love to go," Dexie said. "It will be such a chance to see that part of the country, and by the way papa speaks of the McDonald homestead we would like it very much."