Part 10 (1/2)

”Oh, but I say, this is interesting, and quite fascinating. Please tell me who else holds that place of vantage.”

I mentioned the Duke of Marlborough and Sir Walter Raleigh and a few of the heroes of old, but I said nothing about father, nor about the pale curate, although I did mention Jonas.

”Who is Jonas?” asked Captain Carbury.

”Jonas is no longer in this world. When he was here he was a very great hero.”

”But what was he? Army, navy, church, or what?”

”Oh, nothing of the sort,” I answered; ”he was only our b.u.t.tons, and he had one shoulder much higher than the other. I put him in because he bore the pain of his livery so bravely. You see, he had to wear his livery, or Aunt Penelope would have dismissed him. He wore it because he wanted the money to help his mother. I call him a real hero--don't you?”

”I do. And what have I done, may I ask, to be such a privileged person?”

”You haven't done much yet,” I answered, ”but I think you can do a great deal. For instance, if there was a big war against England, I think you'd fight and probably get your V.C.”

”Bless you, child, you talk very nicely. Do you know, I have never met a little girl who talked like this before. I hope we shall see much more of each other, Miss Grayson.”

”I hope we shall,” I answered.

”I come here a good deal,” continued Captain Carbury. ”I am a sort of cousin of Lady Carrington's, and she always treats me as though I were her son. There are no people in the world like the Carringtons. By the way, you must be excited, coming up to town just in time for your----”

”In time for what?” I asked.

”Is it possible you don't know?” he said. And he looked full at me with his dark and serious eyes. Just then Lady Carrington came up.

”I am going to take Heather away now for a little time,” she said.

”Thank you so much, Vernon, for trying to entertain her. We will expect you to dinner this evening--no, I'm afraid Heather won't be here; she will be much occupied for the next few days.”

”Well, good-bye, Miss Heather, and thank you so much for putting me into the gallery,” said the Captain, and then he left the room.

”He is a very nice man,” I said, when he had gone and I was back in the drawing-room. ”Do you know many men as nice as Captain Carbury, Lady Carrington?”

”No, I do not,” said Lady Carrington, not laughing at my remark, as some women would have done, but pondering over it. ”He is one of the best--that is all I can say about him.”

I looked across the room. The visitors had gone; Sir John had taken his leave; Captain Carbury was no longer there.

”I want to ask you a question,” I said, looking full up into Lady Carrington's face. ”Captain Carbury said something to me.”

”Yes, dear child. What?”

”He supposed I was glad or excited or something, at being in time for--and then he stopped. Please, Lady Carrington--I see you know it by your eyes--what is it I am in time for?”

”I was going to speak to you about that,” said Lady Carrington, with extreme gravity.

”Please do,” I said.

She took my hand and pressed it between both her own.

”Sir John and I,” she said, ”have never been blessed with a little daughter of our very own, so we want you, as much as your father and mother can spare you, to come and be with us. We want you morning, noon, and night--any day or any hour.”