Part 32 (1/2)

”But, indeed, if you knew how anxious and unhappy we had sometimes been about some things, you would not call us altogether foolish,” said Selina.

”And it came so suddenly upon us. First we heard that Tessie had been to the convent, and then Dixen told us he had seen Charlie, and then I went away.”

”But who has taken the ordering of all these matters?” said Col.

Bentham. ”Where is the responsibility? Mr St. Cyr must have known the wishes of your father and mother with regard to these children.”

”It was not Mr St. Cyr,” said Frederica eagerly. ”At least, I don't think it was he. That was worst of all when we thought that he had turned against mama's wishes, because he had always been so kind to us before. But last night I went to see him.”

”What! more adventures!” said Edgar. ”You went to beard another lion in his den?”

”Oh! I have been there before. But he has been very ill this winter, and they would not let us in. But last night I did not ask leave. I ran upstairs and into the room where he was sitting.”

”And was he glad to see you?” asked Selina eagerly, ”and did you tell him about Tessie and the boys?”

”No, Lena. He looked so changed and weak, I could not ask him. Was I very foolish? But then I am quite sure he knew nothing about them.

And, Lena, he did not know about mama, though it was so long ago--Mr Jerome had not told him.”

”And was he very kind still?”

”Very kind, and he asked about papa, and said he hoped he would come home soon. And he asked about mama--and by-and-by I saw that Mr Jerome had come in, and then I came home.”

”And now it does not matter since you have all come to take care of us,”

said Selina.

That their coming would put an end to all cause for apprehension in the settlement of these children's affairs, did not seem by any means certain to those who listened. However, nothing was said to lessen their confidence. Nothing could be certainly known till Col. Bentham should see Mr St. Cyr, and as the arrangements for Mr Vane's burial must be made at once, he determined to lose no time in visiting him, and Edgar Vane went with him.

The interview was necessarily short, but it made Edgar quite sure that Mr St. Cyr knew nothing of the change of arrangements for the children after their mother's death. He spoke as though he supposed the boys to be at a distance, and requested Mr Jerome to take the necessary steps for bringing them home. Mr Jerome a.s.sented at once, but said very little during their stay.

”I wish I could be as sure of his good faith as I am of Mr St. Cyr's,”

said Edgar, when he spoke to his sisters about it afterward. ”However, it signifies little to us, as now he need have little to do with their affairs.”

”But did he say nothing about the boys being in town when you spoke of their coming home?” asked Mrs Brandon.

”Nothing--and we said nothing to him. But I cannot help wondering what he will say, when little Hubert shall not be forthcoming to-morrow.”

”I confess I should like to see that man put to confusion, if such a thing were possible,” said Mrs Brandon.

”Which is doubtful,” said her husband.

”Still, he will have to account for his non-appearance in some way, which will be rather difficult, I imagine,” said Edgar.

But Mr Jerome was not destined to be put to confusion by the non-appearance of little Hubert; for, as they were speaking, he walked in among them.

”You did not come for me, Fred, as you promised. And I thought your old woman had had enough of me, and so I came away,” said he.

Mr Jerome had no account to render to any of them. Whatever he said on the subject was said to Mr St. Cyr, not that he considered it necessary to give an account of his actions even to him. He was accountable only to a tribunal, which would acquit him of all wrong-doing in the matter.

He uttered some angry and bitter words, because of his brother's weakness and folly, where poor Mrs Vane and her children were concerned. The children were, in his opinion, in a fair way to be ruined. The only hope for them, both for this world and the next, lay in the proper choice of guardians.

”And for you to tell Colonel Bentham, even before he alluded to the subject, that he was one of the three persons charged with the responsibility of their future welfare was monstrous. If any instrument appointing him to this office exists, you should never let it see the light. I do not believe it exists. It is one of the many dreams of your illness. Why did you not produce it to-day, if it is here?”