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He was upon honor not to speak to Ruperta; but he gazed on her with a wistful and terrified look that was very touching. She gave him a soft pitying smile in return, that drove him almost wild with hope. That night Richard Bassett sat in his chair, gloomy. When his wife and daughter spoke to him in their soft accents, he returned short, surly answers. Evidently a storm was brewing.
That love, so troubled at the outset, left, by degrees, the region of romance, and rippled smoothly through green, flowery meadows. Ruperta showed her lover one more phase of girlhood; she, who had been a precocious and forward child, and then a shy and silent girl, came out now a bright and witty young woman, full of vivacity, modesty, and sensibility. Time cured Compton of his one defect.
Ruperta put her hand before her mother's mouth, then turned to her father. "There was no need to express your wish so harshly, papa. We shall obey." Then she whispered her mother, "And Mr. Rutland shall pay for it." Mrs. Bassett communicated this behest to Lady Bassett in a letter. Then Lady Bassett summoned all her courage, and sent for her son Compton.
Such a child for answering slap bang I never." "I'm not a child. I'm older than you are, Ruperta." "That's a story." "Well, then, I'm as old; for Mary says we were born the same day the same hour the same minute." "La! we are twins." She paused, however, on this discovery, and soon found reason to doubt her hasty conclusion.
Ruperta blushed a little, for the boy's eyes beamed with fire. "If I believed that," said she, "I should hire myself out at the next match, and charge twelve pairs of gloves." "You may believe it, then; ask anybody whether our luck did not change the moment you came." "Then I am afraid it will go now, for I am going." "You will lose us the match if you do," said Compton.
Bassett were both among my hearers, and both turned their backs on me, and went away unsoftened; they would not give me a chance; would not hear me to an end, and I am not a wordy preacher neither." Here an interruption occurred. Ruperta, so shy and cold with Compton, flung her arms round Mrs. Marsh's neck, with the tears in her eyes, and kissed her eagerly. "Yes, my dear," said Mrs.
"No, he is not." "Don't tell stories, child; he is. I know all about him. A wicked, vulgar, bad boy." "He is not," cried Compton, almost sniveling; but he altered his mind, and fired up. "You are a naughty, story-telling girl, to say that." "Bless me!" said Ruperta, coloring high, and tossing her head haughtily.
They dined early on Sunday, at Highmore, and Ruperta took her maid for a walk in the afternoon, and came back in time to hear the female preacher. Half the village was there already, and presently the preacher walked to her station. To Ruperta's surprise, she was a lady, richly dressed, tall and handsome, but with features rather too commanding.
The match was not won yet, nor sure to be; but the situation was reversed. On going out, he was loudly applauded; and Ruperta naturally felt proud of her admirer. Being now free, he came to her irresolutely with some iced champagne.
Ah! Lady Bassett, I have loved your darling boy ever since; you can't wonder, you are a mother;" and, turning suddenly on Ruperta, "why do you keep saying he is only a boy? If he was man enough to do that at seven years of age, he must have a manly heart.
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