Part 21 (2/2)

”Yes,” Donald nodded, ”and to the nephew too. I think we'll be quite good friends with him. You see, Barbara,” he went on, fearing lest she should feel disapproval about their visit, ”it really was better for them not to have to face us _all_ in a ma.s.s. Now they've got _us_ over--they've only to get mother's approval.”

But this remark was altogether too much for Barbara's gravity, and she drove her brother and sister off to make themselves presentable.

But when their visitors had gone that evening and she was talking in her mother's room, she told the story of the afternoon again, and they laughed over it together.

”Conceited little creatures,” Mrs. Britton said. ”But my judgment coincides with theirs, Barbara--and yours. I think he is one of the nicest men I have met, and it is splendid to see them so happy.”

”Yes,” Barbara replied contentedly; ”it was really rather a happy thing that I was chased by that cyclist and met the 'American pretender,'

wasn't it, mother?”

”I dare say it was,” said Mrs. Britton; but she eyed her daughter rather wistfully, then kissed her and bade her go to bed, though long after the girl had left her she sit thinking. It was clear to her, as it had been to Aunt Anne for some time, that Denys Morton was anxious to make his uncle Barbara's, by a less round-about method than through his connection with Aunt Anne; and before a week had pa.s.sed he had spoken of his desire, astonis.h.i.+ng no one so much as Barbara herself.

”Of course,” said Donald, who had gone to his mother for information on the matter, and was now discussing it in the privacy of the apple-tree with Frances, ”I felt, as eldest son, I ought to be told about it, though I knew as soon as I saw Denys Morton that he wanted to marry Barbara.”

”He would have been very foolish if he hadn't,” Frances remarked.

”But, of course, Barbara is such an unself-conscious kind of person that it was quite natural _she_ should be surprised. Aunt Anne says she would choose Denys above every one for Barbara--only, naturally, she's got a leaning to the family.”

Donald nodded.

”So have I, though that's no good if Barbara doesn't want to make up her mind, and she seems not to. In any case, mother thinks she's too young, though I should have thought that Aunt Anne kind of balanced it--being fairly old, you know; and besides, Denys is a lot older than she is.”

”Well,” said Frances, ”_I_ shall give him all the encouragement I can, for I think he's very nice. I believe, Donald, that he didn't go to Rouen just because it's an infectious kind of thing, and he didn't want to ask Barbara before he had told mother and us----”

”There he is,” interrupted Donald. ”He looks rather down; let's go and cheer him up,” and the two dropped over the wall into the field that bordered the garden. They sauntered towards the path leading to the river, and surprised Denys not a little by suddenly joining him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”They surprised Denys by suddenly joining him.”]

”I say,” Donald began, without giving him time to speak, ”I don't think you need be worried,--I've known Barbara a good long time, and I've never known her to be so absent-minded before.”

To say that Denys was startled is keeping strictly within the limits of truth, and at first he was not sure whether he felt angry or amused.

But he had grown pretty well accustomed to Donald and Frances by this time, and after a moment of embarra.s.sment accepted the situation.

”Thank you,” he said, ”it is kind of you to take an interest in--me.”

”Not at all,” Frances said graciously, ”we think it's really rather hard lines on you, as, of course we knew all along you wanted to marry Barbara.”

”By jove!” muttered Denys a little helplessly.

”Yes, of course,” Donald put in. ”Anybody sensible would want to do that. If I hadn't been her brother _I_ should have. But though it's rather rough on you, I think two months' absence in America will just be the thing for Barbara.”

The young man gazed at his youthful adviser, and was so overpowered that he could think of nothing to say.

”When do you go?” Donald continued.

”Next week. I'm coming back in six weeks--not two months--for my uncle's wedding,” said Denys, finding his voice.

There was a pause, and Frances, seeing from her brother's expression that he was deep in thought, forbore to make any remark until she saw him smile, then she said--

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