"I believe you there!" said Rob demurely; but Peggy was launched on the stream of eloquence, and oblivious of sarcasm.
"Oh, oh! It will be lovely!" she cried. "We will have the dearest little house, with a study for you, and a study for me, and a garden, and a pony cart, and a conservatory, and immaculate servants who do everything they should do, and never need looking after. And we will trot about together, and work and play, and do everything just exactly as we like, and have no one to order us about. Think of it! We shall be master and mistress--no one can interfere--no one can find fault. If I forget all about dinner some fine day, there won"t be a soul who will have the right to blame me, or fly into a temper."
"Oh, won"t there just! Don"t make any mistake about that!" cried Rob.
"If you forget your duties, you will have me to reckon with, and I am not too amiable when I"m hungry. It will be my business to help you to overcome your failings, just as it will be yours to help me with mine."
"You haven"t got any," said Peggy quickly. "At least--I mean, yes, you have--lots--but I like them. They will keep mine company. No, seriously, Rob, I"ll try to be good. I made up my mind to-day that if you came back safe, I would try with all my strength to be a better girl, and overcome my careless ways. And now I have more reason than before to persevere. I"ll begin at once, and try so hard that by the time we are married I shall be quite a staid, responsible housewife."
"Humph!" said Rob in ungrateful fashion. "Don"t try too hard. I don"t want my Peggy altered out of recognition. There are thousands of staid, responsible housewives in existence, but Peggy Savilles are rare. I prefer her of the two."
"And yet you want to be rid of her! Poor, dear, little thing! If you get your way, she won"t be in existence much longer. How can you make up your mind to be so cruel?"
"I shall love Peggy Darcy better," said Rob firmly, and at that Peggy gave a gulp and relapsed into silence. Peggy _Darcy_! The name brought with it a dozen thrilling reflections. Rosalind"s sister, Hector"s sister, daughter to Lady Darcy, and the dear, kind old lord, and, oh, most wonderful of all, Rob"s wife! His partner for ever, in the truest sense of the word! The sound of that eloquent word had thrilled through Rob also, and silenced the word on his lips. His clasp tightened on Peggy"s fingers, and they walked hand in hand through the fields together, in a blissful trance of happiness which has no need for speech.
When the vicarage gates were reached the carriage was already in sight; but Peggy hung back, and Rob called a pa.s.sing direction to the coachman to stop on his way back after leaving Mellicent at the door. Neither he nor Peggy felt inclined to encounter even the oldest of friends in the first flush of their happiness, but they stood together watching the scene which greeted the return of the travellers, and rejoicing in the ease of mind which they had been instrumental in securing.
The door opened, and the light of the lamps streamed out into the darkness. They saw the figure of the Vicar standing upon the threshold, and that of his wife by his side: they saw Esther and Mellicent run up the steps, and the mother"s arms stretched wide to receive them; then the door shut once more, and the light died out. The moonlight seemed cold and wan after that bright ray, but not so cold as it had been before, for some of the atmosphere of love and kindness for which that home was famous seemed to have escaped through the open door, and warmed the hearts of those who looked on.
"If we can make a home like that, Peg, we shall never be poor, however little money we may have to spend. We shall have found the greatest treasure the world can give," said Rob softly; and "Amen!" sighed Peggy Saville beneath her breath.
THE END.