CHAPTER XXV
LOVE AND VICTORY
Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; anddinner was a trying function. She sat next to Foster, and she found ithard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusuallyquiet. It was his last evening in England.
When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her fora while, and then she was asked to sing. An hour passed before Blakehad an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
"They'll make you sing again if you stay here," he said softly.
She understood that he wanted her to himself, and she thrilled atsomething in his voice.
"You're interested in Eastern brasswork, I think?" he went on.
"I hardly know," said Millicent. "I haven't seen much of it."
She was vexed with herself for her prudish weakness. An opportunitythat might never be repeated was offered her, and she could not musterthe courage to seize it. Blake, however, did not seem daunted.
"You said you were delighted with the things my uncle showed you thelast time you were here, and a friend has just sent him a fresh lotfrom Benares." He gave her an appealing look. "It struck me you mightlike to see them."
The blood crept up into Millicent's face, but she answered with forcedcalm:
"Yes; I really think I should."
"Will you give me the key to the Indian collection?" Blake askedChalloner.
"Here it is," said the Colonel; and then turned to Mrs. Keith. "Thatreminds me, you haven't seen my new treasures yet. Dryhurst has latelysent me some rather good things; among others, there's a small Buddha,exquisitely carved. Shall we go and look at them?"
Mrs. Keith felt angry with him for a marplot.
"Wouldn't it be better to wait until I'm here in the daylight? If Itry to examine anything closely with these spectacles, they strain myeyes."
"I've had a new lamp placed in front of the case," Challoner persisted;and Mrs. Keith found it hard to forgive him for his obtuseness.
"Very well," she said in a resigned tone; and when Millicent and Blakehad gone out she walked slowly to the door with Challoner.
They were half-way up the staircase, which led rather sharply from thehall, when she stopped and grasped the banister.
"It's obvious that you have recovered," she said.
"I certainly feel much better; but what prompted your remark?"
"These stairs. You don't seem to feel them, but if you expect me torun up and down, you'll have to make them shallower and less steep.I've been up twice since I came. I must confess to a weakness in myknee."
Challoner gave her a sharp glance.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Mrs. Foster mentioned something about your notwalking much; I should have remembered."
"It's the weather; I find the damp troublesome. If you don't mind, Ithink we'll go down."
Challoner gave her his arm, and Millicent, standing in the picturegallery, noticed their return. She suspected that it was the result ofsome maneuver of Mrs. Keith's intended for her advantage, and she triedto summon her resolution. The man she loved would sail the next day,believing that his poverty and the stain he had not earned must standbetween them, unless she could force herself to give him a hint to thecontrary. This was the only sensible course, but she timidly shrankfrom it.
Blake unlocked a glass case and, taking out two shelves, he carefullylaid them on a table.
"There they are," he said with a rather nervous smile. "I've no doubtthe things are interesting, and if our friends come up they can look atthem. But it wasn't Benares brassware that brought me up here."
"Wasn't it?" Millicent asked demurely.
"Certainly not! One couldn't talk with Foster enlarging upon the onlyrational way of rearing pheasants!" He paused a moment. "You know I'mgoing away the first thing to-morrow," he added softly.
"Yes; I know. I'm sorry."
"Truly sorry? You mean that?"
He gave her a searching glance and then laid his hand on her shoulder,holding her a little away from him.
"Dear little girl," he said, "you don't know what a struggle it isbetween the knowledge of the duty I owe you and my own selfishlonging--my uncontrollable longing for you. You are very young andbeautiful, and I love you--but I am a broken man."
"Does that matter, when it is through no fault of yours?" She smiledup at him as she spoke.
For one instant he hesitated; then, all his good resolutions forgotten,he gathered the girl in his arms.
"Millicent!" he breathed. Then, after a long silence: "We'll laugh atcold-blooded prudence and take our chances. It's a wide world, andwe'll find a nook; somewhere if we go out and look for it. All my carewill be to smooth the trail for you, dear."
They spent a half-hour in happy talk, and Blake murmured when Millicentprotested that they must go back; and she feared that her lover'sexultant air would betray them as they entered the drawing-room.
"Where's the key?" Challoner asked.
"I'm afraid I forgot it, sir," Blake confessed. "Very sorry, but I'mnot even sure I put the things away."
Challoner rang a bell and gave an order to a servant.
"Did you see the Buddha?" he asked Millicent.
"No," she said. "I don't think so."
"Or the brass plate with the fantastic serpent pattern round the rim?"
"I'm afraid I didn't," Millicent answered in confusion.
Challoner looked hard at Blake, and then his eyes twinkled.
"Well," he laughed, "perhaps it wasn't to be expected."
There was a moment's silence. Millicent looked down with the color inher face; Blake stood very straight, smiling at the others.
"We are all friends here," he said, "and I'm proud to announce thatMillicent has promised to marry me as soon as I return from Canada."He bowed to Mrs. Keith and the Colonel. "As you have taken herguardian's place, madam, and you, sir, are the head of the house, Ishould like to think we have your approval."
"How formal, Dick!" Mrs. Keith laughed. "I imagine that my consent isvery much a matter of form, but I give it with the greatestsatisfaction."
Challoner put one arm round Millicent.
"My dear, I am very glad, and I think Dick has shown great wisdom. Iwish you both all happiness."
Mrs. Foster and her husband offered their congratulations, and for thenext hour they discussed Blake's future plans. Then they wereinterrupted by the entrance of a servant with a small silver tray.
"Cablegram, sir, for Mr. Blake," he said. "Hopkins was at thepost-office, and they gave it to him."
Blake took the envelope and looked at Miss Challoner for permission toopen it. When he had read it, he started, and gave the cablegram toMillicent.
"Oh, Dick!" she cried with sparkling eyes. "How splendid!"
Blake explained to the others.
"It's from my partner in Canada, and I'm sure you'll be interested tobear it." He read the message aloud: "'_Come. Struck it. TellChalloner._'"
He folded the paper and replaced it in its envelope. "I don'tunderstand the last part of it," he said to Challoner. "Why does hewish you to know?"
The Colonel chuckled.
"I sent Mr. Harding five hundred pounds to buy anything he needed forhis prospecting, and told him to give me an option on a good block ofshares in the new syndicate at par. You're very independent, Dick, butI can't see why you should object to your relatives putting money intowhat looks like a promising thing."
"I've no doubt it was mainly through your help that Harding found theoil," Blake said gratefully.
Soon afterward the Fosters rose to go, but they waited a few moments inthe hall while Millicent lingered with Blake in the drawing-room.
"Dick," she said, blushing in a way that he thought quite charming,"you made a rash statement. I didn't really promise to marry you assoon as you came back."
"Then it was understood," Blake answered firmly. "And I shan't let youoff."
"Well, if it
will bring you home any quicker, dear! But how long mustyou stay?"
"I can't tell; there may be much to do. If Harding needs me, I mustsee him out. But I won't delay a minute more than's needful, you maybe sure! You know we may have to live in Canada?"
"I won't object. Where you are will be home," she said shyly; and oncemore he gathered her to him.
Blake sailed the next day, and he found, on reaching the timber belt,that there was much to be done. After some months of hard work,Harding left him in charge while he set off for the cities to arrangeabout pipes and plant and the raising of capital. It was early winterwhen he returned, satisfied with what he had accomplished and confidentthat the oil would pay handsomely, and Blake saw that he would be ableto visit England in a few weeks.
He was sitting in their office shack one bitter day when a sled arrivedwith supplies, and the teamster brought him a cablegram. His face grewgrave as he read it aloud to Harding:
"'_Bertram killed in action. Challoner._'"
"That sets you free, doesn't it?" Harding asked after expressing hissympathy.
"I can't tell," Blake answered. "I haven't thought of it in thatlight. I was very fond of my cousin."
When Blake reached England, Millicent met him at the station. Mrs.Keith, she told him, had taken a house near Sandymere. She lookedgrave when he asked about his uncle.
"I'm afraid you will see a marked change in him, Dick. He has not beenwell since you left, and the news of Bertram's death was a shock."
She was with him when he met Challoner, who looked very frail andforlorn.
"It's a comfort to see you back, Dick; you are all I have now," hesaid, and went on with a break in his voice: "After all, it was a goodend my boy made--a very daring thing! The place was supposed to beunassailable by such a force as he had, but he stormed it. In spite ofhis fondness for painting, he was true to the strain!"
When Blake was alone with Millicent in the dimly lighted drawing-room,he took her into his arms very gently.
"My secret must still be kept, dear," he said; "I can't speak."
"No," she agreed, "not while your uncle lives. It's hard, when I wanteverybody to know what you are!"
He kissed her.
"Perhaps it's natural for you to be prejudiced in my favor--but I likeit."
"One reason for my loving you, Dick," she said softly, with her faceclose against his, "is that you are brave enough to take this generouspart!"
THE END
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