"I was told to ascertain your wishes."
"I don't wish anything-now I have you-but to be a comfort to your mother. That is my first earthly wish just now."
"If that be earthly, it has a touch of the heavenly," muttered Miles to himself. "You will make it clear to mother then that you like to go on with her?"
"If she does not mind having me."
"And Julius says it really cheered our dear Raymond to think you would be the one to look after her! But that's not all, Nanny, I've only till to-morrow to decide whether I am to be Member for Wil'sbro'."
"Is that a duty?"
"Not such a duty as to bind me if it were altogether repugnant to you. I was not brought up for it, and may be a mere stop-gap, but it is every man's duty to come to the front when he is called for, and do his utmost for his country in Parliament, I suppose, as much as in action."
"I see; but it would be leaving your mother alone a great deal."
"Not necessarily. You could stay here part of the time, and I go backwards and forwards, as Raymond did before his marriage."
"It would be better than your being at sea."
"But remember," he added, "there is much that can't be shirked. I don't mean currying popularity, but if one is in that position, there's no shutting oneself up. It becomes a duty to keep society going, and give it the sort of tone that a nice woman can do. Do you see?"
"I think I do. Julius said so once."
"So if we are to have such tears and despair as there were about the ball in the Chimaera, then-"
"I was wrong then," said Anne. "I did not behave at all well to you all that time, dear Miles; I have been sorry for it ever since I understood."
"It was not you, little one, it was Mr. Pilgrim."
"No, it was not Mr. Pilgrim who made me cross."
"Yes, it was. He exacted pledges that he had no right to lay on your conscience, and your poor little conscience was in terrible straits, and I was too angry to feel for it. Never mind all that; you have done with the fellow, and understand better now."
"He thought he was right, and that only such abstinence could guard me. And, Miles, a promise is a promise, and I do not think I ought to dance or play at cards. It is not that I think them wrong for others, but I cannot break my word. Except those-I will do whatever is fitting for your wife."
"Spoken like a heroine!"
"I don't think I could ever give a tone. Rosamond could, if she tried, but I have no readiness and no training; but I do see that there is more good in being friendly like Jenny Bowater, than in avoiding everything, and as long as one does it because it is right and loving, it can't be the world or worldliness."
It was not lucidly expressed, but it satisfied the Captain.
"All right, my bonnie Nance, I'll promise on my side never to ask you to go against your real conscience, and if you must have a Pope, I had rather it were Pope Julius than Pope Pilgrim."
"Don't, Miles. Popes are all wrong, and I don't know whether Mr. Pilgrim would give the right hand of fellowship to Julius."
Miles chuckled. "You may think yourself lucky you have not to adjust that question, Madame Nan."
"There's the quarter chiming, Frank will want his beef-tea."
Presently after Miles laid his hand on his mother's shoulder, and said, "Mother, here's a daughter who thinks you want to turn us out because she is too slow and stupid for your home child." And he drew Anne up blushing as if she were his freshly-won bride.
"My dear, are you sure you don't want to go away from the old woman? Should you not be happier with him all to yourself?"
"I could not be happy if you were left," said Anne. "May I go on as we did last winter? I will try to do better now I have him to help me."
"My own dear child!"
That was the way Anne forgot her own people and her father's house.
CHAPTER XXXIII. Herbert's Victory
And of our scholars let us learn Our own forgotten lore.-KEBLE
"Joan, Jenny, dearest old Joanie!" It was eagerly spoken, though the voice was strangely altered that came from behind the flowered curtain of that big bed, while the fingers drew it back, and Rollo raised his black muzzle near at hand. "Oh, Jenny! have you come to me?"
"My dear, dear, poor boy!"
"No kissing-it's not safe," and he burrowed under the sheet.
"As if I did not mean to do more for you than that! Besides, it is not catching."
"So I said, till it caught me. What a jolly cold hand! You've not come in cold and hungry though?"
"No, indeed, Rosamond forced me to sit down to a whole spread. As if one could eat with a knot in one's throat."
"Mind you do, Jenny-it was what did for me. The Rector ordered me never to go about unfed; but one could not always-and there was something I have to tell you that drove all the rest out-"
"Dear Herbs! Papa can't talk of what you have done without tears. He longed to come, but we could not leave mamma without one of us, and he thought I could do the most for you. I have a note for you."
"Forgiving me?"
"I should think so. It is in my bag-"
"No, not this moment; I like to know it. And mammy-poor mammy-"
"She is as comforted as she can be that you have Cranky and me; and then papa's being proud of you has cheered her-oh! so much."
"I'm glad they can comfort themselves-"
"But, Herbert, dear, you must be much better; I did not expect to see you so well."
"I am not so bad between whiles," said Herbert, wearily. "And, while I can, I've got something to tell you that will make it up to you, and a great deal more."
"Make it up?" said Jenny, looking with bewildered eyes at the dear face.
"Yes, I made Gadley consent. The Rector has it in writing, and it will do quite as well if I die. O, Jenny, woman, think of my never knowing what you had gone through!"
"Is it about Archie?" said Jenny, beginning to tremble.
"Yes. It will clear him."
"I always knew he was clear."
"Yes, but he can come back now all right. Eh! what an ass I am! I've begun at the wrong end. He wasn't drowned-it was all a mistake; Miles saw him in Africa-Cranky, I say, come to her."
"Yes, Master Herbert, you've been talking a great deal too much for your sister just off a journey. You'll get the fever on again. Miss Joanna, you ought to know better than to let him run on; I sha'n't be able to let you do nothing for him if this is the way."
"Was it too sudden, Joan?" said Herbert, wistfully, as she bent to kiss his brow with trembling lips. "I couldn't let any one tell you but myself, while I could; but I don't seem able to go on. Is the Rector there, Cranky?"
"Yes, sir, waiting in the parlour."
"Rector," and Julius hurried in at once, "take her and tell her. I can't do it after all."
"Is he alive?" whispered Jenny, so much overcome that Julius had to hold her up for a moment as he led her into the other room.
"Really! She thinks me delirious," said Herbert, rather amused. "Tell her all, Rector."
"Really, Joan," said Julius, putting her into the great chair, and holding her trembling hand. "Miles has seen him, has had him in his ship."
"And you never told me!"
"He made Miles promise not to tell."
"But he told you!"
"Yes, because it was Anne who gave the clue which led to his discovery; but when he found we all thought him dead, he laid Miles under the strictest charge to say nothing. He is on an ostrich farm in Natal, Jenny, well, and all that he ever was, and more too. He took your photograph from Miles's book."
"And I never knew," moaned Jenny, quite overcome.
"He would not be persuaded that it was not more for your peace not to know of his life, and when Miles was put on honour, what could we do? But now it is all changed. Since Herbert's discovery he need not be a banished man any more." And Julius told Jenny the manner of the discovery. She listened, evidently gathering all in, and then she asked: "And what have you done?"
"Nothing as yet."
"Nothing! while there is this blot on Archie's name, and he is living in exile, and that Moy is revelling in prosperity. Nothing! Why don't you publish it to every one?"