Part 30 (1/2)

”What's in a name!” replied Hugh, laughing. ”Paint away, little artist; I will buy all your pictures, and pay you so well for them that you won't care for fame. By the way, am I not to ------

[Transcriber's Note: There is some dialogue missing here, although there are no pages missing in the images.]

”No,” replied Bessie, moving the easel; ”but I've got your eyes at last!”

”I'm glad of that; good-bye, Brownie,” and Hugh ran off down the stairs to prepare for dinner.

”And my bracket!” said Sibyl, as he came into the dining-room.

”And my poems!” added Aunt Faith, with a smile.

”All in good time, ladies,” replied Hugh. ”The first hour after dinner is to be devoted to packing; the second, to Sibyl and her bracket; the third, to Aunt Faith and her book; the fourth I give to the family as a collective whole, and all the rest of the time I reserve for tea, general farewells, and embarkation.”

”Highly systematic! You are practicing business habits already, I see,” said Sibyl.

”The B. B.'s are all coming to see you off, Hugh,” said Tom.

”What an honor! I am overwhelmed with the attention of the band! What time may I expect them?”

”A little after six. They are going to form on both sides of the front walk, and hurrah like troopers.”

”Oh Hugh, I am real sorry you are going,” said Gem suddenly, dropping her knife and fork as though the idea had only just become a reality to her. ”I shall hate to see your empty chair in the morning when I come down to breakfast; I know I shall.”

There was an ominous tremor in Gem's voice as she spoke.

”Come, little girl, no tears,” said Hugh, bending to kiss his little cousin; ”everybody must be cheerful or I shall not like it. And as for the chair, take it out of the room if you like, but be sure and bring it back in November when I come home again.”

”I'll keep it in my room, and bring it down myself the day you come home,” said Gem eagerly.

A little after three, Hugh tapped at Sibyl's door. ”Is it you, brother? Come in,” said Sibyl, and entering, Hugh sat down by the table and began to work on the half-finished bracket. They talked on many subjects, but princ.i.p.ally on Hugh's New York life, and his plans for the future; then gradually they spoke of November, and the approaching wedding-day. ”Before I go, Sibyl, I want to tell you in so many words how pleased I am to give you into Mr. Leslie's care. If I could have chosen from all the world, I know no one to whom I would more willingly have given my only sister; no one so welcome as a brother-in-law.”

”How glad I am that you feel so, Hugh,” said Sibyl warmly.

”And you yourself Sibyl; you have improved so much. It is not often that brothers and sisters express the affection they feel for each other, but you know I do not believe in such reserve, and I want you to know, dear, how thoroughly I appreciate the change in you. Leaving you, as I must, it is very pleasant to think that my one sister is growing into a n.o.ble good woman, such as our mother would have wished to have her.”

Sibyl threw her arms around Hugh's neck; she was much moved. In her new life and new love, her brother had become doubly dear to her, and perhaps for the first time, she realized how much she loved him.

”No tears, I hope, sister,” said Hugh, gently raising her head. ”This is my 'good-bye' to you, dear. You know I do not like formal leave-taking. Here is your little bracket all done, but I shall bring you a better present from New York, a set of wedding pearls. You will have to wear them if I give them to you, although you are a clergyman's wife.”

Aunt Faith was sitting by the window in her room when she heard her nephew's step outside. ”Come in!” she said; and when he entered she pointed to a chair next her own. ”My dear boy, I cannot realize that you are going to leave me.”

”Only for a few weeks, Aunt Faith; I shall be back in November.”

”Not to stay, dear. No, I feel that this is our first real separation, although for years you have been absent at school and college many months at a time. You are the first to leave the old stone house,--the first bird to fly away from the nest.”

”I am the oldest, aunt, and therefore naturally the first to go.”

”That is true, but the old bird feels none the less sad.”

”You must not feel sad, Aunt Faith; the future looks very bright to me. Let me tell you all my plans.” Sitting there in the quiet room, the young spirit full of hope, told to the old spirit full of resignation, all its bright dreams and plans.