Mona and Geoffrey have gone to their own pretty house, and are happy there as they deserve to be,—Mona proving the most charming of chatelaines, so , so gracious, so unaffected, as to win all hearts. Indeed, there is not in the county a more popular woman than Mrs. Geoffrey Rodney.
Yet much of their time is spent at the Towers. Lady Rodney can hardly do without Mona now, the pretty sympathetic manner and comprehensive glance and gentle smile having worked their way at last, and found a home in the heart that had so hardened itself against her.
As to and Violet, they have grown of late into a sort of moral puzzle that nobody can solve. For months they have been gazing at and talking to each other, have seen nothing but each other, no matter how many others may be present; and yet it is evident that no understanding exists between them, and that no formal engagement has been arrived at.
"Why on earth," says Nolly, "can't they tell each other, what they have told the world long ago, that they adore each other? It is so jolly senseless, don't you know?"
"I wonder when you will adore any one, Nolly," says Geoffrey, idly.
"I do adore somebody," returns that youth, staring openly at Mona, who is taking up the last stitch dropped by Lady Rodney in the little silk sock she is knitting for Phyllis Carrington's boy.
"That's me," says Mona, glancing at him archly from under her long .
"Now, how did you find it out? who told you?" asks Mr. Darling, with careful surprise. "Yes, it is true; I don't seek to deny it. The hopeless passion I entertain for you is dearer to me than any other more successful affection can ever be. I worship a dream,—an idea,—and am happier in my maddest moments than others when most same.
"Bless me, Nolly, you are not going to be ill, are you?" says Geoffrey. "Such a burst of is rare."
"There are times, I confess," goes on Mr. Darling, disposing of Geoffrey's interruption by a contemptuous wave of the hand, "when light breaks in upon me, and a , a thrice-blessed termination to my dream presents itself. For instance, if Geoffrey could only be brought to see things as they are, and have the grace to quit this mortal globe and soar to worlds unknown, I should then fling myself at your feet, and——"
"Oh—well—don't," interrupts Mrs. Geoffrey, hastily.
"Eh! you don't mean to say that after all my devotion you would then refuse me?" asks Mr. Darling, with some disgust.
"Yes, you, and every other man," says Mona, smiling, and raising her loving eyes to her husband.
"I think, sir, after that you may consider yourself flattened," says Geoffrey, with a laugh.
"I shall go away," declares Nolly; "I shall go aboard,—at least as far as the ;" then, with a complete change of tone, "By the by, Mrs. Geoffrey, will you come for a walk? Do: the day is 'heavenly fair.'"
"Well, not just now, I think," says Mona, evasively.
"Why not?" : "it will do you a world of good."
"Perhaps then a little later on I shall go," returns Mona, who, like all her countrywomen, giving a direct answer, and can never bring herself to say a decided "no" to any one.
"As you evidently need support, I'll go with you as far as the stables," says Geoffrey, , and together they leave the room, keeping company until they gain the yard, when Geoffrey turns to the right and makes for the stables, leaving Nolly to wend his way to the flowery orchard.
It is an hour later. Afternoon draws towards evening, yet one scarcely feels the change. It is sultry, , warm, and full of a "slow calm."
"Earth putteth on the borrow'd robes of heaven,
And sitteth in a Sabbath of still rest;
And silence into a dreamy sound,
That sinks again to silence.
The runnel hath
Its beneath the trees,
And through the woodlands
The tender trembles of the ringdove's ."
The Rodneys are, for the most part, in the library, the room dearest to them. Mona is telling Doatie's fortune on cards, Geoffrey and Nicholas are discussing the merits and demerits of a new , Lady Rodney in still struggling with the sock,—when the door is opened, and Nolly entering adds himself to the group.
His face is slightly flushed, his whole manner full of importance. He advances to where the two girls are sitting, and stops opposite Mona.
"I'll tell you all something," he says, "though I hardly think I ought, if you will swear not to betray me."
This speech has the effect of electricity. They all start; with one consent they give the desired oath. The cards fall to the ground, the fortune forgotten; the mare becomes of very secondary importance; another stitch drops in the fated sock.
"They've done it at last," says Mr. Darling, in a low, compressed voice. "It is an fact. I heard 'em myself!"
As he makes this last extraordinary remark he looks over his left shoulder, as though fearful of being overheard.
"Who?" "What?" say Mona and Dorothy, in one breath.
"Why, Jack and Violet, of course. They've had it out. They are engaged!"
"No!" says Nicholas; meaning, "How very !"
"And you heard them? Nolly, explain yourself," says his sister, .
"I'm going to," says Nolly, "if you will just give me time. Oh, what a day I've been havin', and how dear! You know I told you I was going to the orchard for a stroll and with a view to profitable . Well, I went. At the upper end of the garden there are, as you know, some Portugal , from which one can get a splendid survey of the country, and in an evil moment it occurred to me that I should like to climb one of them and look at the Chetwoode Hills. I had never got higher than a horse's back since my boyhood, and visions of my earlier days, when I was young and innocent, overcame me at that——"
"Oh, never mind your young and innocent days: we never heard of them," says Dorothy, impatiently. "Do get on to it."
"I did get on to it, if you mean the laurel," says Nolly with calm dignity. "I climbed most manfully, and, beyond slipping all down the trunk of the tree twice, and severely barking my shins, I sustained no actual injury."
"What on earth is a shin?" puts in Geoffrey, sotto voce.
"Part of your leg, just below your knee," returns Mr. Darling, undaunted. "Well, when I got up at last, I found a capital place to sit in, with a good branch to my back, and I was so pleased with myself and my exploit that I really think—the day is warm, you know—I fell asleep. At least I can remember nothing until voices broke upon my ear right below me."
Here Mona and Dorothy grow suddenly deeply interested, and lean forward.
"I parted the leaves of the laurel with cautious hand and looked down. At my very feet were Jack and Violet, and"—mysteriously—"she was pinning a flower into his coat!"
"Is that all?" says Mona, with quick contempt, seeing him pause. "Why, there is nothing in that! I pinned a flower into your coat only yesterday."
The naivete of this speech is not to be surpassed.
Nolly regards her mournfully.
"I think you needn't be unkinder to me than you can help!" he says, reproachfully. "However, to continue. There's a way of doing things, you know, and the time Violet took to arrange that flower is
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