Part 35 (1/2)
Hard as it was freely to forgive her sister for holding up to her so exclusively the ”ideal Radcliff” in her conversations, Vinnie continued to apply the fan and hartshorn, with co words, until Link came in and said that Jack wished her to be present in the other room
”Don't leaveherself utterly helpless without Vinnie's support
”If we open this door between the rooms, and you sit near it, while I remain by you,--perhaps that will be the best way,” said Vinnie
The door was opened, showing Jack and Rad and Mr Betterson seated, and the boys standing by the outer door Rad was trying hard to keep up his appearance of gay spirits, chucking Chokie under the chin, and winking playfully at Rufe and Wad But Jack and Lord were serious
”I have reasons for wanting you to hear this talk, Vinnie,” said Jack
”I was just telling Mr Betterson that you had met his nephew before, and he was quite surprised It seeular that you never told your friends here of that adventure”
”I suppose I knohat you mean,” spoke up Caroline ”And I confess that _I_ aher wine; and Cecie whispered to me that she was sure it must have been Radcliff; but I couldn't, I wouldn't believe a Betterson could be guilty of--Fan me, Lavinia dear!”
Vinnie fanned, and Caroline went on,--
”'T was I who cautioned the children against saying anything disparaging of Radcliff's character in Lavinia dear's presence I had such faith in the stock! and now to think how I have been deluded! The hartshorn, Lavinia dear!”
”Seems to me you make a pile of talk about trifles!” Radcliff said with a sneer ”I owe an apology to this young lady But she knows I meant no harot hiht”
”It's all right enough, as far as I am concerned,” said Jack ”I won't say a word about the trouble and expense you putor not, you sold him, you obtained money under false pretences, you swindled an honest man”
”Well, that can't be helped now,” said Radcliff, with a scoffing laugh
”A feller is obliged sos that may not be exactly on the square”
”I don't know about anybody's being obliged to go off and play the gentleood tiood in such a time), at somebody else's expense I call such conduct si on the subject breaking forth in plain speech and ringing tones ”And I deterht you, to have you punished”
”O, well! go ahead! put it through! indulge!” said Radcliff, folding his ars with an air of easy and reckless insolence, but suddenly drawing up one of them, as he noticed the tear Lion's teeth had made ”Guess I can stand it if the others can What do you say, Uncle Lord? Give hed, and rubbed his chin with his palm ”If this sort of conduct is to continue, the crisis ive a solee to alter your course, I shall let it coe!” Radcliff replied
”You will notice--ahee in our family,” Lord went on ”The boys have applied theone to work
Although I have said little on the subject, I have silently observed, and I aratified Since our circumstances are what they are, they have done well,--I may add, they have done nobly”
”Fan me, Lavinia dear!” whispered Caroline
”Hey, boys? what's got into you?” said Radcliff, really astonished
Lord put up his hand, to prevent the boys fro absence, I am persuaded, has had a wholesome effect But to the presence of new eles, in a large racious wave of the hand, adding, ”Though a rateful”
This recognition of her influence, before Jack and the whole faht the quick color to Vinnie's cheeks and tears to her eyes She was surprised by what Lord said, and still more surprised that any words of his could touch her so He had hitherto treated her with civil, quiet reserve, and she had never been able to divine his secret thought of her Nor had she cared ht be; but day by day she had learned to know that under all his weaknesses there was so in his character worthy of her estees, Radcliff, you will be welcoain Jack was reminded of the look and tone hich he had seen Lord Betterson confront Peakslow at the gap of the fence