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Will you kindly tell me how much it was?" "No, Miss Deyncourt; I think not." "Why not?" "Because excuse me, but I perceive that if I do you will instantly wish to pay it." "I do wish to pay it." "I thought so." There was a short silence. "I still wish it," said Ruth at last. Charles was silent. Her pertinacity annoyed and yet piqued him.
There was a time, Miss Deyncourt, when your brother and I both rowed in the same boat; and both, I fancy, split on the same rock. It was not so long since " There was a sudden silence. The chicken question was exhausted. It dropped dead. Charles left his sentence unfinished, and, turning to his brother, the conversation became general.
As she was about to leave the room he moved forward suddenly, and said, "Miss Deyncourt!" Involuntarily she stopped short, in obedience to the stern authority of the tone. "You are unjust." She did not answer and left the room. "Uncle John," said Ruth next morning, taking Mr. Alwynn aside after breakfast, "we are leaving by the early train, are we not?" "No, my love, it is quite impossible.
"I should like to know the condition first." "Of course. If I agree," Charles's light gray eyes had become keen and intent "if I agree to receive payment of what I lent Deyncourt three years ago, will you promise not to pay any other debt of his, or ever to lend him money without the knowledge and approval of your relations?" Ruth considered for a few minutes.
They like to think it is all their own doing, and that the whole universe will be taken by surprise when the engagement is given out. Charles is no exception to the rule. Our duty is to provide a wife for him, and then allow him to think his own extraordinary cleverness found her for himself. How old is this cousin of yours, Miss Deyncourt?" "About three-and-twenty." "Exceedingly suitable.
And when Raymond Deyncourt finally disappeared in America for the last time, having been fished up therefrom on several occasions, each time in worse case than the last, she excommunicated him, and cheerfully altered her will, dividing the sixty thousand pounds she had it in her power to leave, between her two granddaughters, and letting the fact become known, with the result that Anna was married by the end of her second season; and if at the end of five seasons Ruth was still unmarried, she had, as Lady Deyncourt took care to inform people, no one to thank for it but herself.
The following afternoon, as she was writing in the library, she was amused to see that he found it incumbent on him to write too, even going so far as to produce a letter from Molly, whose correspondence he said he invariably answered by return. "You seem very fond of giving Molly pleasure," said Ruth. "I am glad to see, Miss Deyncourt, that you are beginning to estimate me at my true worth."
And, moreover, he could give her eventually a title and very considerable wealth, a house in London, and all imaginable gaiety. While, as to Mr. Deyncourt, he was not poor and had expectations, but the utmost she could look to for him with confidence was Northmoor Vicarage after Mr. Woodman's time, and anywhere the dull, sober, hard-working life of a clergyman's wife!
He was so kind to me and Cousin Ruth." "Kind to Miss Deyncourt, was he?" "Yes; and when we went away he ran and opened the gate for us. Oh, there comes Cousin Ruth back again in the carriage. I'll run and tell her he's coming. She will be glad." "Aunt Mary is right," said Charles, watching his niece disappear. "Molly has formed a habit of expressing herself with unnecessary freedom.
"We have met before, Miss Deyncourt; but I see you don't remember me. I gave you time to recollect me by throwing out that little remark about the weather, but it was no good." Ruth glanced at him and looked puzzled. "I am afraid I don't," she said at last. "I have seen you playing polo once or twice, and driving your four-in-hand; but I thought I only knew you by sight. When did we meet before?"
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