Part 10 (2/2)

”And soon,” interrupted Minnie, ”you will be wondering at yourself because you did not see it immediately.”

After this the three had a long and earnest conversation, but Archie did not seem to get any nearer a solution of his difficulties, and at last decided to go in search of Edward Laurence, who might help him he thought.

Minnie was a good deal disappointed that she could not make things clear to Archie, but feeling a.s.sured by his earnestness that he would not long remain in the dark, she brightened up, and gave Mabel an account of how the strike had been averted.

Mabel's delight at this good news was in no way less than Minnie's had been, and for the first time since its occurrence, Minnie allowed herself to taste the fruit of her labour.

”And O, Mabel!” she exclaimed when they had talked about it till she felt it was too dangerously pleasant. ”I didn't think of it before, but now the hall won't be needed for any more miner's meetings, so I suppose _we_ may have it now.”

”I should think we shall be able to get it easily enough,” agreed Mabel, ”What a deal of good has grown out of our little venture.”

”Yes, is it not splendid to think of--and oh, don't you think we might go round to Rowson's to-night and secure the hall?”

”I think we might, the sooner it's settled the better.”

They were soon ready, and walked slowly along, enjoying the sweetness of the lovely evening. Not far from the door they met Archie coming at a terrible pace, his face as bright and glowing as the sunset sky; without stopping to consider that he was on the public road, or regarding the amused look of pa.s.sers-by, he caught Minnie round the neck and kissed her, and would in all probability have done the same to Mabel, if Seymour had not come up at that moment, and demanded of him what he meant by ”making such an a.s.s of himself.”

Unabashed by Seymour's description of his conduct, Archie replied that Minnie understood him, and did not object, which statement she instantly corroborated.

He next enquired where they were going, and on their errand being explained both boys volunteered to accompany them, being of opinion that they were better fitted to carry out arrangements of such a nature than young ladies in general--a view which Mabel and Minnie both warmly protested against.

”But I think you had better go home, Archie,” said Minnie with a look which he was not slow to interpret and respond to.

”All right!” he replied cheerfully. Then in an undertone as Seymour and Mabel walked on, ”you understand, Min, it _is_ all right.”

”Yes dear, I understand, and I _am_ so glad,” she returned in such an affectionate voice, that Archie was moved to kiss her again, and then she ran off after the other two, feeling that her heart was almost too full of happiness.

When the trio arrived at Mr. Rowson's he was out, but they were desired to wait for his coming as he had left word that if any of the young ladies from the Hollow called, he wished particularly to see them.

Accordingly, they sat down as requested, and in the course of ten minutes the gentleman himself appeared.

”I suppose you have come about the hall,” he observed, addressing Minnie, after they had exchanged greetings.

”Exactly,” she replied, ”we guessed it would be vacant now, as the miners' dispute is settled.”

”Thanks to you and your kind-hearted friends,” put in the little man, smiling at the two girls who blushed violently.

”I am sure,” he continued, turning to Seymour, ”it would be quite a pleasure to let the hall to these young ladies for any purpose, but most of all for the purpose they have in view, and not to be behind hand in doing a good turn when I can, I must beg of you to accept the use of the hall for that day as a present.” And he stopped breathless and perspiring from his unwonted exertion.

At first neither Mabel nor Minnie would hear of Mr. Rowson's proposal, and protested that they would rather pay for the hall, till Seymour, who had until now been a mere spectator of the proceedings, came to Mr.

Rowson's aid who was by this time in a state of hopeless perspiration.

”Come, come, young ladies!” he said. ”Do try to reduce yourselves to an ordinary level. Be a little more sensible, and a little less quixotic.

Does it not occur to you that it is perhaps a little selfish, trying to secure the monopoly of charity to yourselves, and leaving others who too would like to do something in that way out in the cold?”

”But--” Minnie began, and then she came to a standstill, quite overcome by the last most ingenious argument.

<script>