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There's no doubt, sir; there's no doubt that it was the spirit of Mr. Frederick Massingbird." Matthew's clear, intelligent eye was fixed firmly on Mr. Bourne's his face, as usual, bending a little forward. Mr. Bourne had never believed in "spirits"; clergymen, as a rule, do not. A half smile crossed his lips. "Were you frightened?" he asked.
Frederick Massingbird had been its inheritor for a short three or four months, and Lionel's sense of justice revolted against his widow being thrown on the world, as she expressed it, without a shilling. "The revenues of the estate during the short time that elapsed between Mr. Verner's death and your husband's are undoubtedly yours, Mrs. Massingbird," he said.
From the moment the codicil was found, John Massingbird had no further right to a single sixpence of the revenues of the estate. He was in the position of one who has nothing. It was Lionel who had found means for all for his expenses, his voyage; for a purse when he should get to Australia. John Massingbird was thinking of this as he sat now, smoking and taking draughts of the rum-and-water.
I did think of going to London, and looking about me a bit; but I am not sure that I shall do so just yet." "I say, Lionel," resumed John Massingbird, sinking his voice, but speaking in a joking sort of way, "how do you mean to pay your debts? I hear you have a few." "I have a good many, one way or another." "Wipe them off," said John. "I wish I could wipe them off."
A hot flush dyed his cheeks as he remembered there was nearly a twelvemonth's wages owing to most of his servants; and he had not the means now of paying them. "Stop on a bit if you like," said John Massingbird, in a hearty tone; "stop a month, if you will. You are welcome. It will be only changing your place from master to guest." From master to guest!
He asked no more questions of the old man upon the subject, but afterwards, when he was going out, he met Robin and stopped him. "Robin, what is this that your father has been telling me about Frederick Massingbird?" "Only to think of it!" was Robin's response, growing somewhat excited. "To think how our ways get balked!
Perhaps John was less of an ornament to a social party than even Jan, but Lionel had been anxious that no slight should be placed upon him. It would have been a slight for the owner of Verner's Pride to be left out at Decima Verner's wedding. Lady Verner held out a little while; she did not like John Massingbird: never had liked any of the Massingbirds; but Lionel carried his point.
He believed in his heart, that Sibylla, in spite of her aggravations shown to him, and whatever may have been her preference for Frederick Massingbird in the early days, best cared for him, Lionel, now. He believed that she would not willingly return to Frederick Massingbird. Or, if she did, it would be for the sake of Verner's Pride. He was right.
Unprepared for the encounter, while they were recovering their astonishment, I was beyond reach. Last night I had been watching over the gate ever so long, when I darted out in front of Tynn, to astonish him. Jan" lowering his voice "has it put Sibylla in a fright?" "I think it has put Lionel in a worse," responded Jan. "For fear of losing her?" laughed John Massingbird.
Sometimes I thought he was angry at my remaining so long away; but, if so, he might have given me a hint to return, or have suffered some one else to give it, for he never wrote to me." "Never wrote to you?" repeated Mr. Bitterworth. "Not once, the whole of the time I was away. I wrote to him often; but if he had occasion to send me a message, Mrs. Verner or Fred Massingbird would write it.
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