*CHAPTER XVIII.*
*A GENEROUS COUSIN.*
Lewis was looking at the newspaper in the dining-room one morning whilstwaiting for his aunts and cousins to come down to breakfast. Thepostman had just left the letters when Maud entered. She looked verybright and pretty, and Lewis thought to himself what a pity it was hecould not feel towards her as he did for Toney. Everything would be soeasy as Maud was not an heiress. Aunt Delia's wishes were so carefullyhidden that happily Lewis did not recognise them, still he knew hisaunts would easily consent. Maud held a letter in her hand.
"Oh, Lewis, imagine what has happened! Mother always said it would!"
"I did not know Aunt Delia had the spirit of prophecy."
"She has! You know Cousin Seaton Hamilton lives in the Argentine?"
"I thought he found living rather a difficulty."
"Mother always said he would make a fortune and think of us, and he has!So nice, too, he won't say it's him. Just imagine a present of twohundred pounds for each of us, to go and study music in Germany!"
Lewis laughed heartily.
"Oh, Lewis, you don't believe it! Look for yourself!" She held out herletter which certainly contained a draft for two hundred pounds. Jeaniewalked in with a similar letter in her hand.
"Isn't it lovely? Imagine such a thing happening to us!"
"Seaton Hamilton must have found a gold mine! When was the last time hewrote to you?"
"It was just when--Jeanie was playing with----" Maud left off, she mustnot mention the discarded lover, but Jeanie blushed as she murmured,
"Mother is always right! She said he would remember us when he wasrich, and he has."
Mrs. Hamilton and Miss Honoria entered together, and there was a chorusfrom the girls whilst Lewis stood by the fire smiling.
"Really, Delia, this is the first time I have known your prophecy tocome true. And he puts it nicely," said Miss Honoria.
"I wonder he doesn't sign his name," said Lewis.
"So full of good feeling. He always admired you two girls so much,"said their mother.
"Poor Seaton, money was always like water in his hands."
"Nonsense, Lewis, he never had any, so your simile is quite wrong, but Ialways said he _would_ make money some day, and would remember thegirls."
"Let's eat our breakfast in his honour then," said Lewis, sitting down."Shall you accept it, Jeanie?"
"Of course. Mother, when can we start?"
"We must thank him first; but isn't it tiresome there is no addressexcept that of the Argentine lawyer?" said Maud.
"You must thank him then," said Lewis, "he'll pass it on."
"I think Lewis does not half believe," said Jeanie.
"I believe in the money as the cheque looks good enough; to me themiracle seems to be in Seaton. He never could make money, and wasn'tvery generous."
"How could he be on nothing? Poor Seaton! I always believed in him,"repeated Mrs. Hamilton, "but I don't think Maud can go to Germany justnow."
They discussed this some time when suddenly Lewis exclaimed,
"Why there is Toney cantering across the park! You must tell her of yourgood fortune." Lewis went to the front door to warn her. She ran upthe steps leaving Jim to hold the horses, and Lewis thought he had neverseen her looking so happy.
"Will you forgive me coming so early?"
"Forgive you? Why, it's a great pleasure to see you, Toney."
"Is it? Well, that is nice of you. I never know if people care----"
What an opportunity! Lewis nearly said, "I care more for you than foranybody in the world," but the fifty thousand a year popped up beforehis mental vision like a number on a music hall platform.
"Everybody does," he altered it to, "but I came to tell you that Maudand Jeanie are in the seventh heaven of delight over poor SeatonHamilton's gift of two hundred pounds each. You are too generous,Toney."
"You are glad, aren't you? You won't scold me? I know you like Maud tohave advantages. Keep the secret, won't you?"
"Of course, but what brings you? Has Lady Dove given you notice toquit?"
Toney laughed.
"Oh no, not yet; but she is very angry because--another _avant garde_came yesterday--such a quaint little old maid whose father was atBalaclava, and then finished up all his money before he died, and shehas kept her mother for years by working at a little school, and now sheis going blind."
"Did one little old maid rouse her anger?"
"Somehow it did, when it really was an honour to shake hands with MissPhipps; but I want to know if I may have the farm at once and rig it upfor interviews. I could put Miss Phipps and her mother there, and shecould be sort of interviewing secretary."
"But you say she can't see?"
"Her mother could see for her and they could do it between them. Mr.Staines is so slow about the lease, and he and your lawyer are having_chasse croise_ about everything, and--if you don't mind lending it tome straight off till it's paid for we could send an army of work-peopleand do it up from top to toe."
Lewis looked at her bright eager face, and he felt it was also an honourto shake hands with her, but he could say nothing but,
"Of course you shall have it, only it's giving in to Lady Dove'sselfishness."
"Pups said it was not seeing through other people's eyes that made usselfish. I read last night about Brother Leo's dream, and I did wishAunt Dove could hear it, but she would think it rubbish. He saw a lot ofbrothers with loads on their backs trying to cross a river, some gothalf-way and some nearly to the shore, but in the end all were drowned;and then he saw others with no loads and they got over easily, and St.Francis explained that the loads were the riches which they could notforsake."
"Lady Dove has a pretty good heavy load, I fancy!" said Lewis rathersavagely.
"I'm sure Pups hadn't any. That's why he got to the other side soeasily. Then I may see about the farm this very day, may I?"
"Yes, this very day, I'll come with you directly after breakfast; butcome in and hear about the Argentine cousin."
"You swear to keep the secret, won't you, Mr. Waycott?"
"Certainly, by the seven gods if you like."
As the two entered the dining-room, Miss Honoria thought she had neverseen two faces looking so perfectly happy.
Never had Jeanie Hamilton appeared so much excited as she did now asboth sisters recounted their good fortune, to which Toney listened witha smile on her lips.
"It will pay for a whole course of Herr Ludowic. Imagine such luck!"
"Jeanie is really worth the lessons, but I'm not," said Maud humbly. "Ithink she had better have it all and then she can become aprofessional."
"Cousin Seaton wouldn't like that," said Mrs. Hamilton; "you can keep itand see what you really want. I always said he would make money andthat he had a generous heart," and Toney put in,
"If he has made a lot I expect he finds it just a great pleasure to giveit away. Now I'll go on to the farm and take notes."
The farm was a most picturesque place with old black woodwork outside,and within panelled rooms with lattice windows, but it all neededrepainting and papering. Toney was in her element, as pencil in hand,she planned out something very pretty. She had not done before Lewisappeared, and with his help she put down the names of the tradesmen sheshould apply to to transform the old farm into something that would bevery pretty and attractive, and where some of the future dwellers inToney's palace should lodge.
"I am going to call the palace 'Stone House' after my General," shesaid, "and you must name the farm, as it is really your gift."
"My gift when I am selling it for a handsome sum! It will be a chapelof ease I think."
Toney laughed.
"Indeed it won't. Everybody connected with it will work hard. Pupssaid hard work was like salt to dried herrings! But I do wish we couldget on with the palace. It's going to be built of stone of course, withmullion windows and airy room
s, and very hygienic and--oh, I must ridehome, for Mr. Russell will be wanting me. He takes Aunt Dove's part,and she is really quite nice to him."
At that moment Maud made her appearance. Her mother had sent her toinvite Toney to lunch, but in the back of her mind it was to report howLewis conducted himself with the heiress. Maud found them only busyover the names of many tradesmen.
"I'm glad you came," exclaimed Toney, but not laughing. "I want you tohelp Mr. Waycott to choose a name for the farm. It will be nice if youboth help."
Maud was beginning to admire Toney very much; ever since the birthdayparty she always took her part when her mother and Jeanie abused her,and now here was Toney saying something so nice. At that moment,however, the Squire's agent came to call him away on business.
"Oh, Toney, it will be lovely to have your palace so near to Lewis,because he does take so much interest in it."
"It is very good of him and you. If you both care it will get on."
Maud wondered why Toney put it like that; happily, Mrs. Hamilton had notlet Maud become acquainted with her plans, and as she herself had neverseen any attention, other than cousinly, on Lewis' side, the idea ofmarrying him had not entered her head. In this Mrs. Hamilton had shownher talent. She knew Lewis would resent the idea of having his wifechosen for him, but some day he would fall in with the idea and allwould be well, but it did no harm to prepare the matrimonial path bytelling other people about it.
"Toney, dear, I want to make a confession to you," said Maud, leaningagainst the gate whilst Toney sat on the top of it.
"Confession to me! I'm the worst person, for if I were a Roman Catholicpriest I would never listen to confessions, but absolve them all. Ishould feel rather mean to hear people's bad thoughts, wouldn't you?"
"Well, you must listen. I think we were all horrid about you, I don'tknow why, at least I think when you first came I was rather jealous ofyou."
"Jealous of me when I first came! Why, I was only a poor relation."
"Yes, but you could ride and play tennis, and you always said thingsstraight out, which I never, never can!"
"It was only Pups' teaching."
"But I want to say I've changed my mind, Toney, and I do like you verymuch now, and will you let me help you in your work? Jeanie and I doseem to lead such useless lives. Of course now with Cousin Seaton'spresent it will be better. Jeanie will go and get really good lessonsand be a success, and I shall give her my share, as it will be muchbetter for her, and then I thought that perhaps you would let me helpwith your poor people."
"Well, now that is scrumptious of you, Maud; you're the first woman thatever wanted to help except Crumpet, and she's got her Henry. If youreally mean it, you could come and help Miss Phipps here. Mr. Waycottlaughs because she's nearly blind--and there'll be so much to do atfirst about accounts and other things."
"Let's call it 'The Haven.'"
"Yes, and you shall visit the Haven every day. That will be beautiful,and you won't mind being a paid official, will you, as I think paid workis more satisfactory. I'll give you one hundred pounds a year, and itwill be a real, real help."
"Oh, Toney! but---- Yes, I won't be proud because the money will be souseful to me. It is silly our being afraid of saying we are poor. SinceI've known you, Toney, I see how foolish we are."
Toney took her hand and clasped it
"That's a token of our agreement. The Kanakas did that when I tried tomake them promise to leave off a bad habit; but I think they likedclasping hands, as they so often forgot and had to begin again!" Theyboth laughed, and Maud's eyes began to shine with new hope and pleasure.She was going to be useful.
"And there's another thing I want to ask you about. You know Jeaniealways looks so miserable; well, it's because she is constantly thinkingof Frank Weston. She rejected him because he wasn't a gentleman born, Iused to think she was right, but now--I begin to feel it's we that weresilly and foolish. How can it matter what a man is by birth so that he's_really nice_. You don't know what a wonderful musician he is, and whata very, very nice man. I think Jeanie broke his heart, or nearly, and Ibelieve she is breaking hers, as she is so cross if I mention him. Oh,Toney, can you help her? You got Miss Crump married. Lewis says it wasall your doing."
"Gracious stars! but I do love a real, real romance. Of course I'd marrya pig-sticker if he was real nice, but I'm not a Hamilton--I'm only justToney Whitburn. But, Maud, let's think out a solution, and thank youvery, very much for being so nice to me! I'll never be jealous of you!"
"Jealous of me!--how could you be, Toney?"