Part 33 (2/2)

The Honourable John Ruffin came down for a week-end and was pleased to find the duke and Pollyooly on such excellent terms. So pleased was he that he forebore, by a considerable effort, to tease the duke. At least he did not tease him more than was good for him. Also, to his great surprise, he found himself suffering from a twinge of jealousy now and again at Pollyooly's frank display of friendliness for the duke. He told himself that it was wholly absurd. But there it was: with his money and influence the duke could do so much more for her than he could. He consoled himself with the thought that after all the duke would be only carrying on his work.

On the Sat.u.r.day afternoon they went, as was their wont, for a stroll through the woods; and the Honourable John Ruffin, who had so carefully gratified his great inborn interest in the human race that now he missed very little, observed that once or twice the duke paused and looked about him as if he missed something.

The next afternoon as they were starting, the duke said in a voice which was not as easy as it tried to be, and with an air that was distinctly shame-faced:

”I say: we may as well take Pollyooly with us.”

The Honourable John Ruffin raised his eyebrows a little and said:

”Oh, well--little pitchers have long ears, don't you know.”

”Oh, that's all right--that's all right, we needn't talk secrets,” said the duke quickly; and he ran lightly up the stairs to fetch her.

It was a pleasant walk; and the Honourable John Ruffin was alive to the fact that the company of Pollyooly greatly improved it. But at times to his astonishment he was no less distinctly conscious of the fact that two were company and three were none; and he was the third.

At dinner that night he said somewhat gloomily:

”I wish Caroline would hurry up and start firmly to come back to you.

I miss Pollyooly.”

”Give her time--give her time,” said the duke quickly. ”Besides the country is doing the child a lot of good.”

”Oh, it's all very well for you. You've got a chef; but I've got no one to grill my bacon, and that after training Pollyooly to be the finest griller of bacon in England,” said the Honourable John Ruffin in a bitterly aggrieved tone.

”Don't you think you're a bit selfish? You ought to think of the good the country's doing the child,” said the duke in a somewhat lofty tone.

The Honourable John Ruffin snarled quietly.

The next afternoon, as he was getting into the car to go to the station, he paused and said in his most amiable tone:

”Well, all I can say is: it's a jolly good thing for everybody that Pollyooly isn't six years older.”

”Oh, get out!” said the duke.

”Especially for Pollyooly,” said the Honourable John Ruffin; and he stepped into the car.

CHAPTER XXI

LORD RONALD RICKSBOROUGH COMES TO THE COURT

On the Wednesday morning, in the middle of lessons, a footman came from the duke to ask Pollyooly to go to him at once. She went wondering, and found him in the smoking-room in a panic.

As she entered he waved a telegram at her and said:

”Here's a new mess. Lord Ronald Ricksborough--you know him--he's my heir, you know--always spends his holidays at the court. He's been visiting friends, but his visit's at an end; and he wires to say that he's coming here--arriving this evening.”

”Oh, that will be nice!” cried Pollyooly.

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