Part 28 (1/2)
”You blessed child! And he is rich, I suppose?”
”I'm sure he is very rich, but then I don't care about riches.”
”Heather, you mustn't keep me the whole day chattering. When a girl begins on the subject of her sweethearts she never stops, and I have plenty of things to attend to. Here's a list of provisions I wrote out early this morning. I want you to go into the town and buy them for me.
Don't forget one single thing; go right through the list and buy everything. Here's thirty s.h.i.+llings; you oughtn't to spend anything like all that. But pay for the things down on the nail the minute you have purchased them. Now then, off with you, and I will consider the subject of your sweethearts. Upon my word, to think of a mite like you having two!”
I left Aunt Penelope's room and went out and bought the things she required. She had a troublesome lot of commissions, and they took me some time to execute. When I had done so I returned home again.
”You are to go up to your aunt's room, and as quickly as you can, miss,”
said Jonas, when I found myself in the little hall.
”Jonas,” I said, ”several nice things will be sent in from the shops, and I have got a little bird for auntie's tea, and I want you to cook it just beautifully.”
”You trust me,” said Jonas. ”I'll see to that.”
He left me, and I went upstairs to Aunt Penelope's room.
”The doctor has been, Heather, and he says you are the finest medicine he ever heard of, and that my chest is much better, and I am practically out of the wood; but here's a telegram from your father.”
”Oh!” I said, breathlessly, ”has he discovered anything?”
”Read,” she answered, gazing at me with her glittering black eyes.
I read the following words:--
Leaving Paddington by the 11.50 train. Hope to be with you about 1.30.
GORDON GRAYSON.
”How did he know? Why is he coming?” I asked, my face turning very white.
”He is coming, if you wish to know, Heather, because I asked him to come. And now, you will have the goodness to sit down by me. No, I am not hungry for dinner. I won't touch any food until you know the story I am about to tell you. Sit down where I can see your face, my child. Your father is coming, of course, because I wish it, and now I have something to say to you.”
I sat down, feeling just as though my feet were weighted with lead. I was trembling all over. Aunt Penelope looked at me fixedly; she had the best heart in the world, but the expression of her face was a little hard. Her eyes seemed to glitter now as they gazed into mine.
”Aunt Penelope,” I said, suddenly, ”be prepared for one thing. Whatever you tell me, whatever you believe, and doubtless think you have good cause to believe, I shall never believe, never--if it means anything against my father.”
”Did I ask you to believe my story, Heather?”
”No, but you expect me to, all the same,” was my reply.
”I expect you to listen, and not to behave like an idiot. Now sit perfectly still and let me begin.”
”It doesn't matter, if you don't expect me to believe,” I said.
”Hus.h.!.+ I am tired, I have been dangerously ill, and am not at all strong. I must get this thing over, or I'll take to worrying, and then I shall be bad again. Well, now, about your father. You understand, of course, that he left the army?”
I nodded.