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"Was Joseph Dearham rich?" Jake asked. "He had some land and money and the old house at Langrigg. I've often thought about Langrigg, but I'd sooner the lawyers had left me alone." "Why?" "I've been happy in Canada. I've friends I trust, I'm making good, and don't want to be disturbed."
She knew he had recently used a stern control, but he was hot-blooded and his reserve might be undermined. Yet there was a risk; she must give up much. She was drawn in different ways by romance and worldly caution and it looked as if caution would win. Soon after she reached Langrigg Mordaunt arrived with Dick.
However, I have a rich relation, from whom I want nothing, but whom the others think I ought to satisfy." "Bernard Dearham? Dick Halliday talked about him." Jim nodded. "Bernard is my grandfather Joseph's brother. Joseph was satisfied to live quietly at Langrigg like a small country gentleman; Bernard got rich by opening some iron mines not far off. Joseph married twice, and Mrs.
Both were wet and dirty, and when they reached Langrigg Jim's foot was sore. On the morning after his pursuit of Shanks, Jim was conscious of a flat reaction. Dick's story and the excitement of the chase had helped him to forget his troubles, but now he was cool they returned. He had promised to marry Evelyn and found out, too late, that he loved another.
Halliday, not liking the turn Bernard had given the talk, asked: "Who will take the otter-hounds?" "The matter's important and cannot be decided rashly," Bernard replied with some dryness, and addressed Mordaunt. "I imagine Jim might fill the post. What do you think, Lance?" "The choice lies between Langrigg and Dryholm, sir. The Dearhams have a kind of traditional right to keep the hounds.
He was carrying out a duty, honoring a claim his inheritance made on him; he wanted to leave Langrigg better than he found it. Jim sprang from a land-owning stock, and felt that since he had got the estate for nothing he must justify his ownership and prove he was worthy of the gift and the woman he hoped to marry.
"We're an independent lot in Canada and I've fought for my own hand since I was a boy. Anyhow, I mean to marry Evelyn, if she is willing." "It looks as if you had not asked her yet." "I have not; I'm half-afraid. In one way, it would be a rash plunge for a girl like Evelyn. Though I've inherited Langrigg, I'm a Western adventurer; I've lived with rough men in the wilds.
After all, his father had not talked about Langrigg often; in fact, only once or twice, when he was ill. Moreover, Jim reflected that he himself had used no Western colloquialisms; he had talked to the strangers like an Englishman. "Then your friend must have been at Langrigg. It looks as if he knew the hall well," remarked the younger man. His companion roused himself with a jerk.
"I don't know if it was fine or not; it might have made bad worse. Besides, you showed me you would be firm, although you knew I loved you." "Yes; I did know. You made good in Canada; I wanted you to make good at Langrigg." Jim thrilled with strong emotion. "Oh, my dear! My staunch and generous dear! But I'm going to put your generosity to another test.
There was plenty of room and although the old man was often ironical Mordaunt imagined he liked to have him about. The rain had stopped, the wet road was smooth, and as the car ran past the yellow stubble fields he gave himself to thought. It was plain that Mrs. Halliday meant to make a friend of Jim and her object was not hard to see since Langrigg gave its owner some importance.
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