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But Dolly's plans were already arranged, and even if such had not been the case she would scarcely have rejoiced at the prospect of the escort of young Mr. Jessup, who was a mild young idiot engaged in the study of theology. "Thank you, Lady Augusta," she said, cheerfully, "but I have promised Mr. Gowan."
"Of course it's true, mother," said the lad proudly. "Did I ever tell you a lie?" "Never, my boy," said Lady Gowan firmly. "It has been my proud boast to myself that I could trust my son in everything." "Then why did you ask me in that doubting way if it was true?" "Because my son is prevaricating with me, and speaking in a strange, evasive way. He never spoke to me like that before.
Gowan is one of his best friends. I liked him myself." "I dare say you did," despairingly. "You are such a child. You would like the man in the moon or a Kaffre chief " "That is not true," interposed the delinquent. "I don't know about the man in the moon. He might be well enough at any rate, he would be travelled and a novelty, but Kaffre chiefs are odious.
'No, no company. 'And how did you get on, you four? asked Clennam gaily. 'There were five of us, returned his partner. 'There was What's-his-name. He was there. 'Who is he? said Clennam. 'Mr Henry Gowan. 'Ah, to be sure! cried Clennam with unusual vivacity, 'Yes! I forgot him. 'As I mentioned, you may remember, said Daniel Doyce, 'he is always there on Sunday.
They say he's terrible smart full of the real old stuff." "Has Gowan been thinking up anything in particular?" "Well, he's thinking he sees that money piled up in the bank vaults. We all do. And we want to get at it. Say, great thing to be working for a bank, eh? No flighty, shilly-shallying, notional women, but a lot of steady, sober business-men who'll make a good straight contract and keep it.
It was plain enough that Gowan admired Dolly, but other men had admired her before; the sting of it was that this fellow, with his cool airs and graces and tantalizing repose of manner, had no need to hold back if he could win her.
Gowan found it so at least, but still it must be confessed that Dolly was the chief subject of their conversation. "You are very fond of your sister?" he said to the child. Mollie nodded. "Yes," she said, "I am very fond of her. We are all very fond of her. Dolly 's the clever one of the family, next to Phil. She is n't afraid of anybody, and things don't upset her. I wish I was like her.
Ah, Tod," in a fresh burst, "when you grow up, the daisies may have been growing for many a year over poor little Aunt Dolly, and you will have forgotten her quite." "You must not look at the matter in that desponding way," said Gowan, quite unsteadily. "We must hope for the best, and do what we can. You may rely upon me to exert myself to the utmost.
They rode side by side across Dry Fork and over the divide. When they stopped at the corral she would have unsaddled her pony had he not begged leave to do her the service. As reward, she waited until he could accompany her to the house. They found her father and Gowan resting in the cool porch after a particularly hard day's ride. The puncher was strumming soft melodies on a guitar.
He spoke hurriedly, as if afraid to linger on the thought. "You can't not to save her and have me give her to you?" asked Gowan. Ashton clenched his hands and bent over in an agony of doubt and indecision. "You devil!" he groaned. "What! Because I'm willing to give her up, in order to see her saved?" "Why don't you shoot him, if you're so anxious?" queried Ashton.
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