The Major Part 40

Startled and confused by this extraordinary announcement, Nora could think of no answer.

"I think you were to show me the mine," he added. Then while Nora gasped at him, he said aloud, "My car is a seven pa.s.senger, so we can take quite a party."

"Why not Kathleen?" suggested Jane.

"Yes, indeed, Kathleen might like to go," said Mrs. Gwynne.

"Then let's all go," cried Nora.

"Thank you awfully," murmured Mr. Wakeham. "We shall only be two or three hours at most," continued Nora. "We shall be back in time for lunch."

"For that matter," said Mr. Gwynne, "we can lunch at the mine."

"Splendid," cried Nora. "Come along. We'll run up with you to the Waring-Gaunts' for Kathleen," she added to Mr. Wakeham.

At the Waring-Gaunts' they had some difficulty persuading Kathleen to join the party, but under the united influence of Jack and his sister, she agreed to go.

"Now then," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, "you have your full party, Mr.

Wakeham--Mr. and Mrs. Gwynne, Dr. Brown, and the three girls."

"What about me?" said Larry dolefully.

"I shall stay with you," cried Nora, evading Mr. Wakeham's eyes.

"No, Nora," said Jane in a voice of quiet decision. "Last night Mrs.

Waring-Gaunt and I arranged that I should visit her to-day."

There was a loud chorus of protests, each one making an alternative suggestion during which Jane went to Mrs. Waring-Gaunt's side and said quietly, "I want to stay with you to-day."

"All right, dear," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt. "Stay you shall." And, then to the company announced, "We have it all arranged. Jane and I are to have a visit together. The rest of you go off."

"And what about me, Jane?" again said Larry.

"You are going with the others," said Jane calmly, "and in the afternoon we are to have our ride."

"And this is Jane," said Jack Romayne as Mrs. Waring-Gaunt ushered the girl into his room. "If half of what I have heard is true then I am a lucky man to-day. Kathleen has been telling me about you."

Jane's smile expressed her delight. "I think I could say the same of you, Mr. Romayne."

"What? Has Kathleen been talking about me?"

"No, I have not seen Kathleen since I came, but there are others, you know."

"Are there?" asked Jack. "I hadn't noticed. But I know all about you."

It was a hasty introduction for Jane. Kathleen was easily a subject for a day's conversation. How long she discoursed upon Kathleen neither of them knew. But when Mrs. Waring-Gaunt had finished up her morning household duties Jane was still busy dilating upon Kathleen's charms and graces and expatiating upon her triumphs and achievements during her stay in Winnipeg the previous winter.

"Still upon Kathleen?" inquired Mrs. Waring-Gaunt.

"Oh, I am learning a great deal and enjoying myself immensely," said Jack.

"You must be careful, Jane. Don't tell Jack everything about Kathleen.

There are certain things we keep to ourselves, you know. I don't tell Tom everything."

Jane opened her eyes. "I have not told Jane yet, Sybil," said Jack quietly. "She doesn't know, though perhaps she has guessed how dear to me Kathleen is."

"Had you not heard?" inquired Mrs. Waring-Gaunt.

"No, I only came last night, you see." Then turning to Jack, she added, "And is--is Kathleen going to marry you?" Her astonishment was evident in her voice and eyes.

"I hope so," said Jack, "and you are no more astonished than I am myself. I only found it out night before last."

It was characteristic of Jane that she sat gazing at him in silence; her tongue had not learned the trick of easy compliment. She was trying to take in the full meaning of this surprising announcement.

"Well?" said Jack after he had waited for some moments.

"Oh, I beg your pardon," she said hurriedly. "I congratulate you. I think you are a very lucky man."

"I am, indeed," said Jack with emphasis. "And Kathleen? You are not so sure about her luck?"

"Well, I don't know you yet," said Jane gravely, "and Kathleen is a very lovely girl, the very loveliest girl I know."

"You are quite right," said Jack in a tone as grave as her own. "I am not good enough for her."

"Oh, I did not say that. Only I don't know you, and you see I know Kathleen. She is so lovely and so good. I love her." Jane's face was earnest and grave.

"And so do I, Jane, if I may call you so," said Jack, "and I am going to try to be worthy of her."

Jane's eyes rested quietly on his face. She made up her mind that it was an honest face and a face one could trust, but to Jane it seemed as if something portentous had befallen her friend and she could not bring herself immediately to accept this new situation with an outburst of joyous acclaim such as ordinarily greets an announcement of this kind.

For a reason she could not explain her mind turned to the memory she cherished of her own mother and of the place she had held with her father. She wondered if this man could give to Kathleen a place so high and so secure in his heart. While her eyes were on his face Jack could see that her mind was far away. She was not thinking of him.

"What is it, Jane?" he said gently.

Jane started and the blood rushed to her face. She hesitated, then said quietly but with charming frankness, "I was thinking of my mother. She died when I was two years old. Father says I am like her. But I am not at all. She was very lovely. Kathleen makes me think of her, and father often tells me about her. He has never forgotten her. You see I think he loved her in quite a wonderful way, and he--" Jane paused abruptly.

Mrs. Waring-Gaunt rose quietly, came to her side. "Dear Jane, dear child," she said, kissing her. "That's the only way to love. I am sure your mother was a lovely woman, and a very happy woman, and you are like her."

But Jack kept his face turned away from them.

"Oh, Mrs. Waring-Gaunt," cried Jane, shaking her head emphatically, "I am not the least bit like her. That is one of the points on which I disagree with father. We do not agree upon everything, you know."

"No? What are some of the other points?"

"We agree splendidly about Kathleen," said Jane, laughing. "Just now we differ about Germany."

"Aha, how is that?" inquired Jack, immediately alert.

"Of course, I know very little about it, you understand, but last winter our minister, Mr. McPherson, who had just been on a visit to Germany the summer before, gave a lecture in which he said that Germany had made enormous preparations for war and was only waiting a favourable moment to strike. Papa says that is all nonsense."