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Ruperta declined, with thanks; but he looked so imploringly that she sipped a little, and said, warmly, "I hope we shall win: and, if we do, I know whom we shall have to thank." "And so do I: you, Miss Bassett." "Me? Why, what have I done in the matter?" "You brought us luck, for one thing. You put us on our mettle. Staveleigh shall never beat me, with you looking on."
And I was always much fonder of you than you were of me. My tippet! I'd give my head sooner than any harm should come to you, Ruperta!" Ruperta made no reply, but, being now at Highmore, she put out her hand to him, and turned her head away. He kissed her hand devotedly, and so they parted. Compton told Lady Bassett all that happened, and Ruperta told Mrs. Bassett.
Compton had no more plausible theory ready, and declined to commit himself to Ruperta's; so that topic fell to the ground. One day he found her perched as usual, but with her bright little face overclouded. By this time the intelligent boy was fond enough of her to notice her face. "What's the matter, Perta?" "Ruperta. The matter? Puzzled again! It is very serious this time." "Tell me, Ruperta."
Says the proud mother, "You might tell Lady Bassett you think it is your mission to reunite your father and Sir Charles." "Mamma!" said Ruperta, reproachfully. That was to stop her mouth. "If you tell all the wild things I say to you, her ladyship will think me very presumptuous." "No, no," said Lady Bassett, "enthusiasm is not presumption.
Ruperta was sent to school, and passed her holidays at the sea-side. To return to Reginald, he was compelled to change his clothes that evening, but was allowed to sit up, and, when the heads of the house were a little calmer, became the hero of the night. Sir Charles, gazing on him with parental pride, said, "Reginald, you have begun a new life to-day, and begun it well.
That young lady looks seventeen or eighteen years of age." "Yes, but it is Ruperta. There's nobody like her. Papa!" "Well?" "I suppose I may speak to her now." "What for?" "She is so beautiful." "That she really is. And therefore I advise you to have nothing to say to her. You are not children now, you know. Were you to renew that intimacy, you might be tempted to fall in love with her.
"Thanks to the girl you would not ring the bells for." Sir Charles and Lady Bassett lead a peaceful life after all their troubles, and renew their youth in their children, of whom Ruperta is one, and as dear as any. Yet there is a pensive and humble air about Lady Bassett, which shows she still expiates her fault, though she knows it will always be ignored by him for whose sake she sinned.
They listened, as to the voice of an angel; they gazed, as on the face of an angel; and when those silvery accents ceased, they turned toward each other and came toward each other, with the sweet enthusiasm that became their years. "Oh, Cousin Ruperta!" quavered Compton. "Oh, Cousin Compton!" cried Ruperta, the tears trickling down her lovely cheeks. They could not say any more for ever so long.
So long as your son is attached to my daughter, I could never welcome any other son-in-law. Lady Bassett looked at Ruperta, for an explanation. Ruperta only blushed, and looked uncomfortable. She hated all allusion to the feats of her childhood. Mrs. Bassett saw Lady Bassett's look of perplexity, and said, eagerly, "You never missed it? All the better.
Those ladies readily promised to be on the side of peace, but they feared it could only be the work of time, and said so. By-and-by Compton got impatient, and told Ruperta he had thought of a way to compel their fathers to be friends. "I am afraid you won't like the idea at first," said he; "but the more you think of it, the more you will see it is the surest way of all." "Well, but what is it?"
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