Harum Scarum's Fortune

  *CHAPTER XX.*

  *SHAPING A ROMANCE.*

  Jeanie and Maud Hamilton shared a bedroom at Waycott Hall, and out ofthis opened a pretty sitting-room where they practised their music andwrote their letters.

  The next morning Jeanie was reading an invitation written especially toher by Toney. Maud had brought it up to her. It ran thus:--

  "MY DEAR JEANIE,

  "Aunt Dove is giving a concert here next week. Will you come as you areso musical? A violinist is coming and perhaps you will like to play tooafterwards? Aunt Dove says she is very musical, so she likes the ideaof collecting the neighbourhood to hear really good music. I shan'tknow if it's good or bad. Will you and your sister come and help me,and stop the night here, as I don't know what to say to musical people,and as you are soon going to Germany you might like to discuss yourmasters with them. Please come. Aunt Dove says she loves Dvorak, butUncle Evas declares she has never heard anything by him. Anyhow, bringyour violin and you can play when the visitors have gone.

  "YOUR AFFECTIONATE TONEY."

  "What a long letter about this concert," said Jeanie. "Why can't Toneysend out proper cards of invitation like other people?"

  "She thinks you are a great player and sends you a special note. Itwill be nice to go and spend the night there, won't it?"

  Maud looked out of the window and not at her sister. She felt verynervous over Toney's new idea!

  "No, I don't think so. It will be very tiresome. Mr. Russell ismusical, but you know, Maud, the others have no music in them. It'sdreadful playing to people who only hear a noise, isn't it? Besides, Iexpect they have got hold of some second-rate fiddler. I would muchrather stay at home. You had better go."

  "I do think we ought both to go. Toney is so anxious to give youpleasure before you go away."

  "I hate Toney's ostentatious lavishness. Mother says she will ruin theneighbourhood." Maud blushed.

  "Oh, Jeanie, aren't we very horrid about Toney? I wish---- Well,anyhow, I shall go. Most likely they will have some great man, andyou'll be sorry afterwards."

  There was only one great man in Jeanie's estimation, and of course hewouldn't come to a private house.

  "I want to work hard till I go away, so inferior concerts are waste oftime."

  "What's the good of all your work if mother hates you earning money. Ifyou played at this concert it would do you good. I don't see why weshouldn't work like other poor people."

  "Mother expects us to marry," said Jeanie, "but _I_ never shall."

  "Oh, Jeanie, I really believe you--still love Frank Weston!" Maudexpected something dreadful to happen but only silence followed.

  "You were just made for each other and he worshipped you."

  "He's forgotten me now," said Jeanie bitterly.

  "Of course he can't forget the--the snubbing he got."

  "I want to practise," said Jeanie, and seizing her violin she drownedfurther remarks in wild melody. Her sore heart could find relief only inmusic. Yes, she knew well enough now she was fretting her life away inuseless regrets.

  Maud crept away with a smile on her lips. Would Toney succeed? FrankWeston did not know that the Hamiltons were staying near AldersfieldHouse, he could never guess he would meet face to face his old love whohad used him so ill. If he knew, Maud felt sure he would at once throwup the engagement, for he could afford to please himself.

  Maud seized her hat and went off to the Haven as she did every morningnow. It seemed the nicest hour of the day, for there it really was ahaven of peace. The Phipps were always cheerful, always so happy overevery little flower they found in their path.

  Most mornings also Toney met her there. She was arranging for three newinmates, the deaf Captain Grant and Mr. and Mrs. Harris, and the Phippswere full of plans for their comfort. Toney had indeed chosen well.To-day, when their business was done, Toney seized on Maud.

  "Come along and lunch with us, I want to show you all the arrangementsfor our romance. I do hope it will succeed, only you must help me,Maud."

  Then Maud related what had taken place that morning.

  "That is all on the right road. Aunt Dove is delighted because all 'ourcounty friends' are coming. Can't think why lords and ladies please herso much. I never can learn her table of degrees." "There is Lewis,"exclaimed Maud. "Oh, Toney, do tell him."

  Toney was not surprised. Of course Lewis Waycott knew Maud went everyday to the Haven, and of course he sort of happened to be often in theway. He shook hands as he said,

  "So, Toney, we are all booked for your concert to-morrow. Who is thestar you are preparing for us? Nobody knows!"

  "It's Aunt Dove's concert, please; she is so smiling to-day, and she andMr. Russell have been discussing all the musicians beginning with TubalCain. Maud has promised to pinch me at intervals in case I go to sleep.Only 'Sound the loud timbrel' sort of thing keeps me awake, but I guessI'll keep awake to-morrow because----"

  "Why, pray?"

  "You are safe I know, Mr. Waycott, and I want you both to know."

  "Both?" asked Lewis.

  "Yes, you and Maud of course, you will both be so pleased--if itsucceeds."

  "What is this surprise, Toney? I am a little nervous," and Lewislaughed.

  "It's a romance--about Jeanie. You know, Mr. Waycott, that she lovedsomeone once, but she chucked him up because his father kept a storesomewhere."

  "Oh! Jeanie's romance! You don't mean to say, Toney----"

  "Yes, I do. I've got him, and no one knows but you two."

  "Knows what?

  "Don't laugh please. He's coming, and all the musical people will be ina seventh heaven, and then Jeanie will come in looking beautiful andsad--and he will see her and she will see him--and----"

  "Good heavens! Toney! What do you think will happen then?"

  "He'll speak through his violin. Books always say that, though thatlanguage would be of no use to me!"

  "I don't think a musician could make you an offer, Toney," said Maudlaughing, "you would hurt his tenderest feelings."

  "Anyhow, I wouldn't chuck him up because his parents kept a store."

  "And what will happen next, Toney?" said Lewis, "pray tell us."

  "That's what I can't quite settle in my own mind. They are both goingto stay in the house to-morrow, and I think there must be sort ofopportunities----"

  "It's too delicious, but I think they will both send for a carriage anddepart."

  "Together?" said Toney laughing. "Oh, I hope they will do that."

  "No, on opposite sides!" answered Lewis.

  "I shall work hard and see. Chum is coming with her Henry as they areboth musical, and I want to introduce her to some nice people. Clergyfolk want rubbing up."

  "Poor Mrs. Faber, she goes through a good deal for your sake, Toney!"

  "But you'll just both help me, won't you, and make people talk andintroduce anybody to anybody. It takes too much time to remember whomay speak to who, according to Aunt Dove, that it's better to forget itall."

  "Poor county! You are going against its most cherished ideas," saidLewis, secretly glorying in Toney's courage.

  "I can't help it. Mr. Russell is studying the Peerage this morning andhe'll cover up my mistakes. Anyhow, I may count on you two? Now I'moff as there are several things to think out for the great romance!First I am going to meet _him_ at the station and drive him home alone.Good-bye. You'll have a nice walk home."

  Toney disappeared swiftly as usual, and Lewis walked a few minutes insilence by his cousin, considering why Toney classed them together sopointedly. Maud had not noticed it, her mind was full of another idea.

  "Oh, Lewis, I believe Mr. Lang is in love with Toney! Wouldn't it belovely if she became chief lady in the county!"

  "Edward Lang! What nonsense! Who said it?" Lewis dug his stick intothe ground rather savagely.

  "I put two and two together."

  "Do you think To
ney would--marry him?"

  "If she could be persuaded he cared about her and not her money."

  "But does he?"

  "I think you are prejudiced against him. He is rather a nice fellow."

  "I wish you girls wouldn't use the word nice for everything," said Lewissomewhat crossly; but Maud's answer was cut short by the appearance ofher mother as they walked up on to the terrace of Waycott Hall.

  "I've just persuaded Jeanie to accept Antonia's invitation. I hear thecounty is coming and they expect something good, but no one knows. Doyou, Maud?"

  "Toney wants it to be a secret," said Maud.

  "Ah, I see, you two always take Toney's side. Maud, what a colour youhave. Morning walks agree with you, don't you think so, Lewis?"

  Lewis looked up and noticed how pretty Maud was looking.

  "Maud is developing into a beauty, aunt!"

  "You silly boy! I don't want my girls to be beauties."

  "Then you must find out some way of stopping it! Jeanie's pensive airis most becoming, and Maud----"

  "Ah! poor Jeanie, I think Germany will cure her low spirits."

  Lewis remarked he had to go to town on business that afternoon but hecould be back for the concert. He wanted to get rid of his ill-temper.Maud's unfortunate remark had been the cause of it. Would someone elseseize the prize he was too proud to win--and would that someone else beEdward Lang? Certainly fine feelings would not stop him trying to graspat wealth.

  Maud was dreadfully restless that afternoon and insisted on Jeanieturning out her wardrobe to see what suitable dress she should wear.

  "Your pale blue dress is pretty," remarked Maud. "Oh, we have both wornthose pale blue dresses till people must know them."

  "There is no time to get a new dress, I'm afraid."

  "I shan't waste a penny of my money on dress and mother says she can'tafford it."

  "Then your white muslin, Jeanie dear."

  "I don't feel like white muslin. I shall wear my black dress. No onewill notice us, Maud."

  The sisters stood rather sadly looking over the beautiful park from theElizabethan windows. Nothing is more depressing than to be surrounded bywealthy friends and yet to be too poor to take the position you areentitled to. Suddenly the butler entered.

  "A gentleman to see you, Miss Hamilton."

  Their Aunt Honoria and their mother had gone out to pay calls; they werealone.

  Jeanie flushed. "A gentleman to see her" made her heart beat, but thegentleman that entered was quite unknown. He bowed very politely andlooked at the sisters critically.

  "Excuse me, ladies, but five minutes will suffice."

  Five minutes! The sisters looked at each other in dismay. Had Mileslet in a lunatic?

  The stranger looked at a letter he held in his hand.

  "Surely I am not mistaken. Two Miss Hamiltons at Waycott Hall. Theorder to be executed immediately. I shall take the next train back totown and twenty individuals are put on at once on each dress; byto-morrow at ten o'clock you will have two creations. If you willpermit me." A yard measure came swiftly out of the gentleman's pocket,and before the astonished girls could speak, their measures were takenand the gentleman bowed low and retired.

  "Oh!" exclaimed Jeanie, "it's Aunt Honoria! She heard me say I hadnothing to wear! But she might have asked us what colour we wanted."

  "As she didn't, we had better say nothing about it. Perhaps she sentthe measures and the gentleman wanted to make sure," said Maud. A faintidea had entered her head, but she would not for the world have toldJeanie.

  "Yes, you are right--I must say it's nice of her. I should have beenashamed to play in that old blue or white muslin!--Not that it mattersmuch."

  When Aunt Honoria came in she found Maud waiting for her.

  "Did you--order a dress to be sent to us, Aunt Honoria?"

  "A dress? No, dear. Your mother said you had some that would donicely, as there will be such a crowd, she hears."

  "Would you mind if some dresses come not saying anything--I'll tell youwhy another day. It's a surprise for Jeanie."

  "Oh! indeed! But I can't accept the credit--who is the donor?"

  "Please, please, accept thanks if--you don't mind just for one day----"

  Maud retired to solitude thinking to herself.

  "I'm sure it's Toney, it's part of her plan! She's ordered somethinglovely for Jeanie and couldn't leave me out! It would break her heartif Jeanie refused her gift. Dear Toney's romance must not be spoilt."