Part 18 (2/2)
In an instant Max had him in his arms and was whispering words of promise and consolation, and just then, fortunately, Mrs. Beaton entered with a servant who was carrying a service of tea and m.u.f.fins.
It was a welcome diversion and both Max and Sunna were glad of it. Max gently unloosed Eric's hand from Sunna's clasp and then they both looked at the child. He had fallen into a sleep of exhaustion and Max said, ”It is well. When he is worn out with feeling, such sleeps alone save his life. I am weary, also. Let us have a cup of tea.” So they sat down and talked of everything but the war--”He would hear us in his sleep,” said Max, ”and he has borne all he is able to bear today.”
Then Sunna said:
”Right glad am I to put a stop to such a trouble-raising subject. War is a thing by itself, and all that touches it makes people bereft of their senses or some other good thing. Here has come news of Thora Ragnor's hurried marriage, but no one knows or cares about the strange things happening at our doorstep. Such haste is not good I fear.”
”Does Ragnor approve of it?” asked Mrs. Beaton.
”Thora's marriage is all right. They fell in love with each other the moment they met. No other marriage is possible for either. It is this, or none at all,” answered Sunna.
”I heard the man was the son of a great Edinburgh preacher.”
”Yes, the Rev. Dr. Macrae, of St. Mark's.”
”That is what I heard. He is a good man, but a very hard one.”
”If he is hard, he is not good.”
”Thou must not say that, little Miss; it may be the Episcopalian belief, but we Calvinists have a stronger faith--a faith fit for men and soldiers of the Lord.”
”There! Mrs. Beaton, you are naming soldiers. That is against our agreement to drop war talk. About Macrae I know nothing. He is not aware that anyone but Thora Ragnor lives; and I was not in the least attracted by him--his black hair and black eyes repelled me--I dislike such men.”
”Will they live in Edinburgh?”
”I believe they will live in Kirkwall. Mrs. Ragnor owns a pretty house, which she will give them. She is going to put it in order and furnish it from the roof to the foundation. Thora is busy about her napery--the finest of Irish linen and damask. Now then, I must hurry home. My grandfather will be waiting his tea.”
Max rose with her. He looked at his little brother and said: ”Aunt, he will sleep now for a few hours, will you watch him till I return?”
”Will I not? You know he is as safe with me as yourself, Max.”
So with an acknowledging smile of content, he took Sunna's hand and led her slowly down the stairway. There was a box running all across the sill of the long window, lighting the stairs, and it was full and running over with the delicious muck plant. Sunna laid her face upon its leaves for a moment, and the whole place was thrilled with its heavenly perfume. Then she smiled at Max and his heart trembled with joy; yet he said a little abruptly--”Let us make haste. The night grows cloudy.”
Their way took them through the village, and Sunna knew that she would, in all likelihood, be the first woman ever seen in Maximus Grant's company. The circ.u.mstance was pleasant to her, and she carried herself with an air and manner that she readily caught and copied from him. She knew that there was a face at every window, but she did not turn her head one way or the other. Max was talking to her about the Sagas and she had a personal interest in the Sagas, and any ambition she had to be socially popular was as yet quite undeveloped.
At the point where the Vedder and Ragnor roads crossed each other, two men were standing, talking. They were Ragnor and Vedder, and Ragnor was at once aware of the ident.i.ty of the couple approaching; but Vedder appeared so unaware, that Ragnor remarked: ”I see Sunna, Vedder, coming up the road, and with her is Colonel Max Grant.”
”But why 'Colonel,' Ragnor?”
”When General Grant died his son was a colonel in the Life Guards. He left the army to care for his brother. I heard that the Queen praised him for doing so.”
Then the couple were so close, that it was impossible to affect ignorance of their presence any longer; and the old men turned and saluted the young couple. ”I thank thee, Colonel,” said Vedder, as he ”changed hats” with the Colonel, ”but now I can relieve thee of the charge thou hast taken. I am going home and Sunna will go with me; but if thou could call on an old man about some business, there is a matter I would like to arrange with thee.”
”I could go home with you now, Vedder, if that would be suitable.”
”Nay, it would be too much for me tonight. It is concerning that waste land on the Stromness road, near the little bridge. I would like to build a factory there.”
”That would be to my pleasure and advantage. I will call on you and talk over the matter, at any time you desire.”
”Well and good! Say tomorrow at two o'clock.”
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