Part 22 (2/2)
”Certainly not! I don't know that I should have ever summoned up courage to speak to you, if you had not taken me by surprise. It would be different if I were now as I was ten years ago, but I feared you might think my health an insuperable objection.”
”No--no! I can't say that--if you have really set your heart on it.
How long has this been going on?”
Mr Rayner smiled--a quick, whimsical smile, which was like a flash of suns.h.i.+ne.
”Well, you have heard the story of the scarlet slippers? That evening, after you left, I went to look for them behind the curtains, and smuggled them downstairs beneath my coat. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I did, and I have them still!”
Mr Bertrand threw back his head with a burst of laughter.
”Oh, after that! If you have got the length of treasuring worsted slippers, there is no more to be said. Rayner, my dear fellow, I suppose I ought to be distressed, but I believe I am--uncommonly pleased and proud! Little Hilary! It would be delightful to feel that you were one of us. And have you any idea as to whether she cares for you in return?”
”We have always been great friends. I cannot say more. And do you really give me permission to speak to her? Would you give her to me, in spite of my weakness and infirmity? How can I ever express my thanks?”
”If Hilary cares for you, I will put no hindrance in your way; but we must have no more mistakes. I will not allow an engagement until I have satisfied myself as to her feelings. There is one comfort: she knows her own mind uncommonly well, as a rule. You can speak to her when you will...”
Although the conversation lasted for some time longer, the same things were practically repeated over and over again, and when the two gentlemen came in to lunch, the girls and Miss Carr all noticed the unusual radiance of their expressions. The last few weeks had contained so much trouble and worry, that it was quite inspiriting to see bright faces again, and to hear genuine laughter take the place of the forced ”ha, ha!” which had done duty for so long. Even Lettice smiled once or twice in the course of that meal, and Norah's eyes lost their dreamy, far-away look and twinkled with the old merry expression, while Hilary nodded gaily across the table in answer to her father's searching look, and chattered away all unsuspecting of the great event which was so close at hand.
When Mr Rayner asked her to take her work to the seat overlooking the lake, in the afternoon, she said, ”Won't you come too, Lettice?” and tripped after him, humming a lively air.
It was a very different Hilary who returned to the hotel two hours later, and went to join her father on the verandah. Her face was pale and serious; she looked older and more womanlike; but there was a steady light of happiness in her eyes which told its own tale.
”Well, Hilary,” he asked gravely, ”and what is it to be?”
”There is no doubt about that, father! It is to be as he wants--now and always!”
”I thought as much. But you must realise what you are doing, dear.
When most girls are married they look forward to having a strong man's arm between them and the world; they expect to be s.h.i.+elded from trouble; but if you marry Rayner, this will not be your lot. You will have to watch over him, to spare him fatigue and anxiety, and take the burden on your own shoulders, for he is a man who will require constant care.”
”I know that. It is what I long to do. I should be so happy looking after him.”
”And perhaps--it seems brutal to mention it, but the possibility must be faced--he might not be spared to you for many years! A delicate fellow like that--”
”Strong men die unexpectedly, father, as well as weakly ones. Everyone has to run that risk. I would rather be his wife even for two or three years than marry any other man. And I will nurse him so well--take such good care--”
”Ah, I see your mind is made up! Well, dear, some people would think I was doing a foolish thing in consenting to this engagement, but I _do_ consent. I do more than that, I rejoice with all my heart in your happiness, and in my own happiness, for it will be a joy to every one of us. Rayner will be a son-in-law worth having, and a husband of whom any woman might be proud. Ah, well! this is something like an engagement!
That other unhappy affair was nothing but trouble from first to last.
You know your mind, my dear, and are not likely to change.”
”Never!” said Hilary. And her eyes flashed with a bright, determined look, at which her father smiled.
”That's good hearing! Well, dear, we will have another talk later on, but now we had better go and join the others. They are curious to know what we are whispering about over here.”
Miss Carr had come out of the hotel after her afternoon nap, and was seated on the verandah beside the two younger girls. Mr Rayner had joined them, and was listening with mischievous enjoyment to their speculations about Hilary's conference with her father.
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