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Those of the advance-party were now some ten days ahead of their companions in the rear. Mrs MacNaughton, whose husband was with the rear party, of which we shall hear more anon, relates the story of a young fellow so ravenous that he fried the deer-thong he had bought for a tump-line back at one of the company's forts.
MacNaughton, and her many secularist friends were nursing her; but all had been vague, dream-like, seen through the distorting fever-mist. On night, however, she woke after a sleep of many hours to see things once more as they really were. There was her little room with its green-paneled walls, and its familiar pictures, and familiar books.
Mr Sanderson, always a little absentminded, corrected the error, and promised the boy his articles. Five years later John Blunt was a solicitor. And now he was actually junior partner in the firm the firm of which it was said in the City, "If a man has Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton & Macnaughton behind him, he is all right."
MacNaughton, who was exceedingly fond of Erica, looked sorry for her. "You see, Erica," she said, "the professor judges by averages. No one would deny that some of the greatest men in the world have been, and are even in the present day, Christians; they have been brought up in it, and can't free themselves from its trammels.
"Why have you come back all of a sudden?" "The Wymington people wired for me. It seems the committee are divided between me and Sir Gerald Macnaughton." "He has strong claims," said I. "He has been Mayor of the place and got knighted by mistake. He also gives large dinners and wears a beautiful diamond pin." "I believe he goes to bed in it. Oh, he's an awful ass!
During this time he had saved the firm more than once by his readiness particularly on one occasion, when he had called old Mr Sanderson's attention to the fact that he had signed a letter to a firm of stockbrokers, "Your loving husband Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton, Macnaughton & Macnaughton."
It was he who said at a public function 'The Mayor of Wymington must be like Caesar's wife all things to all men! Oh, he's a colossal ass! And his conceit! My word!" "You needn't expatiate on it," said I. "I who speak have suffered much at the hands of Sir Gerald Macnaughton." "If he did get into Parliament he'd expect an armchair to be put for him next to the Speaker.
MacNaughton sat with her queen in her hand as though meditating her next move, but in reality absorbed in watching the game played by the living chess-men before her. Tom at last broke the uncomfortable silence by asking the professor about some of Erica's specimens, and at length Rose came down, much to every one's relief, followed by Erica, who had been helping her to collect the things.
A clock in the building struck one, and the sound seemed to recall things to her mind. She started up. "Oh!" she cried, "why am I not with my father? Where have you taken me to?" "It's all right, dear," said Mrs. MacNaughton soothingly; "you shall come back directly you are well enough." "I remember it all now," she said; "did I finish? Must I go back there?"
Craigie and Mrs. MacNaughton were playing their weekly game of chess. On the other side Raeburn had his usual Sunday evening recreation, his microscope. Erica knelt beside him, her auburn head close to his white one as they arranged their specimens or consulted books of reference.
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