*CHAPTER XXIV.*
*LEWIS' DECISION.*
How did the secret come out? It was whispered, then murmured, theneverybody seemed to say at once, "Isn't it romantic! The great FrankWeston is just engaged to Miss Hamilton. Didn't they look a perfectpair as they played. What a sensation it will make--an old romance.Quite charming"--and so on.
And among these buzzing remarks Toney flitted about at the stand-upsupper, where everything was of the best, and where everybody seemed toenjoy themselves, but none so much as Toney herself. She had not dreamtof reward, but she certainly had it this evening. First came Maud withdewy eyes, she had not yet got over her fears.
"Oh, Toney, is it true? I have not seen her. It is all your doing.Tell me everything."
"Ouf!" said Toney, "I thought it was all white of egg at first, but--oh,Maud, it's just the most perfect romance there ever was, that is onlysecond to my dear Chum, who is here, and I haven't had a moment to talkto her, but of course you'll both sleep here to-night and see him offto-morrow. Hasn't he a face of--iron, will sort of prop her up all herlife. He hasn't a mean idea in his brain. I say, Maud, you'll be trueto me and not let it out, won't you?"
At this moment Mrs. Hamilton and Miss Honoria came up looking muchflustered.
"Antonia, there you are! My dear child, do you know anything aboutthis--report? Where is Jeanie? Maud, do you know? Toney, what ishappening?"
Toney shook her head.
"They are in the waiting-room; looks true, doesn't it, Mrs. Hamilton?Jim is keeping guard so I expect he let it out. Jim's got a young womanhimself, so he's rather cute over the subject."
"My dear, you are so amusing!" (she meant vulgar) "but of course FrankWeston is quite the rage, and Jeanie will help him so much--socially Imean."
Toney lifted her head and shook her curling hair in a sort of indignantmanner.
"Mr. Weston is a real genius, Mrs. Hamilton, and he doesn't care twopins for society, so I guess that word would just make him rage. It's agreat honour to--to know him, and a tremendous honour to be engaged tohim."
"Of course. I must find dear Jeanie, it's in everybody's mouth. Such asurprise, so clever of them, I knew nothing about it." She passed onnone too pleased with that terrible Antonia, but Miss Honoria thoughtdifferently.
"I am wondering, Toney, if this surprise hasn't something to do withyou?" she said, taking Toney's hand. "I've just seen Lewis and hesmiled when I suggested it."
"I couldn't have done it alone, they were both deeply in love, andwouldn't have married anyone else. But didn't she look lovely playing,I expect ever so many men wanted to ask her. There's Chum, she'll beawfully interested," and Toney flew off and Miss Honoria turned to Maud.
"It's true, Maud, isn't it, it is Toney's doing? But these dresses--Ihear a London man came down to measure you?"
"Aunt Honoria, don't say anything, it's Toney again, but she doesn'twant Jeanie to know, she's so proud. I think it's a lesson against suchodious pride about our ancestors, you know how nearly they both missedthis happiness."
"Of course _now_ he could marry anyone, but your mother thinks so muchof birth."
"If I fall in love with a grocer I shall not wait for mother's leave,"exclaimed Maud; the lesson had been burnt into her nature too deeply byknowing what her sister had gone through. Then suddenly there was alittle stir at the door as Frank Weston entered with Jeanie, who lookedvery shy and frightened, but also very happy. Maud flew to her.
"Jeanie, tell me, is it true?" Jeanie nodded and Frank answered forher,
"We are so glad now for the waiting time," he said with suppressed joy,"we understand each other much better than we could ever have donewithout it."
Like all people of big natures, when he gave in he gave in entirely.There was no looking back on time wasted, no more reproaches. "Butwhere is Miss Whitburn?" He lowered his voice, "We owe it all to her."
"Jeanie, you do look so beautiful! I am glad it was this evening.Toney says we are to sleep here, and mother is all right, and----" TheHonble. Edward interrupted her sentence.
"Miss Whitburn is asking for you, Miss Hamilton; she is at the top ofthe room."
Jeanie went off with Frank, but she reflected sadly there was no neednow of courage to follow him. She would never forgive herself the painshe had given him, whatever he might say.
Maud looked up at Edward Lang with a radiant face.
"You have heard, haven't you? It was an old romance gone wrong, whichToney set her mind to right, and she has succeeded. I wish_her_--romance could end as happily!"
The two remained talking together whilst Jeanie enjoyed a triumphalprocession. When they reached her Toney held out both her hands andwhispered,
"Mr. Weston, isn't she beautiful? You do look as if you had forgivenme!"
"Forgiven you! But for you we should have----"
There was no time to finish the sentence for Mrs. Hamilton had glided upto them.
"Jeanie, my darling! Oh--Mr. Weston--this is indeed delightful, butthis is too public a place to say more."
Jeanie kissed her mother in silence, then she had to move about in adream and answer questions and smile, and see that Frank had somesupper, repeating to herself, "But for Toney I think I should havedied." Remembering her little darts at Toney she was still morehumbled, and humility is good for such souls.
Toney was giving Lewis some supper and wondering why Maud left himalone.
"You are glad, aren't you?"
"Glad--yes--I think I'm even curious."
"Why! You couldn't be curious! I knew you could be so happy about itbecause of Maud."
"Yes, indeed, she has been so unselfish about her sister, and you havedone good to both."
"Good to myself. I do get pleasure out of it, and if it hadn't been forthe dear General I couldn't have bribed Mr. Weston to come."
"He gets huge sums I hear."
"But this concert money is all going to a poor musician whose music ismute---- Isn't that just noble? How could Jeanie have ever doubtedhim?"
"But the way is plain now--and I--I am thinking of going abroad, Toney."
"Going abroad, oh, why? What will--your aunt and Maud say?"
"I shall leave them in possession--I don't think----" He paused.
"Well, that is queer, I am sorry, I thought you----" Toney did notoften flounder, but she found herself in a bog. How _could_ he leaveMaud and go abroad?
"Not for long?"
"Oh, I don't know--till things get clearer."
"Is there a hitch, Mr. Waycott? Can't I make it straight, is the oldpussy cat---- Oh, I beg your pardon, she is your aunt!" Lewis laughed.
"You mean my aunt won't want to turn out because of this wedding comingon." Toney didn't mean that, but she nodded.
"I really can't stand a wedding--but they are welcome to use my house."
"But what about the Stone House? It will want you awfully." Toneyclasped her hands and looked really distressed.
"I think you will find another--many other helpers."
Toney was called for, but she felt a little lump in her chest; then witha great effort she said to herself, "The old pussy thinks Mr. Waycottisn't rich enough for Maud, or that he must be tested like poor FrankWeston! If it's only money, perhaps I could square it--but oh, I don'tthink Aldersfield would be anything without him!"
Now the rest of the acts of the lovers can be easily imagined thisevening, and how, when the last guests were gone, they retired to thesmall drawing-room, and Toney, as she passed the door with Mrs. Faber,heard some wondrous soft music coming out of it.
"Listen, Chum, he's talking to her, I wish I was a musician; words arepoor things for telling people you love them tremendously."
"I wish it were _your_ romance, dear Toney!"
"That's a vain wish, I'm going to be a real match-making old maid. Doyou know, Chum, Mr. Waycott is in love with Maud, and something has gonewrong, I can tell by his fac
e, he's bothered about it, I wish I couldmake it smooth, for he and Uncle Evas are, and always have been, my twoprops, and I should feel halt and blind without them. But he says he'sgoing to travel. Maud will sort of go to nothing like Jeanie if hedoes; it's Mrs. Hamilton's fault--I'm sure. She is a pussy." Mrs.Faber laughed.
"As to Mr. Waycott, it does seem strange. Are you sure, Toney?"
"Oh, yes, quite sure. He so often comes and meets her on her way homefrom the Haven and---- But things must have gone very wrong with him;he looks so glum. Never mind, I'll have a good think, and see if Ican't make things come right. There is Maud. Doesn't she look like achina shepherdess, and won't he have a sweet wife at Waycott Hall?She'll fit in exactly when she leaves her mother. I never could cottonto her. Isn't it funny, Chum, Miss Grossman won't be bullied, and AuntDove says she has no sympathy."
Mrs. Faber was puzzled, so she waylaid Maud on her way to bed, for Toneyhad declared she was too sleepy to wait another minute, and only SirEvas and Mr. Russell were left to look after the genius. Maud gatheredup her rose creation and waited for Mrs. Faber.
"Forgive me for stopping you, but--I do want to say how glad I am aboutyour sister's engagement, though I don't quite understand what Toneydid!"
"Nor anyone else quite! She went to meet him at the station andprepared the way, but they were both taken by surprise, and then----Oh! Toney did it!"
"I wish one of Arthur's knights could come and claim Toney!"
"Indeed, so do I! She hasn't told you, but Mr. Edward Lang wants tomarry her, and she--won't hear of it. I had a long talk to-night withhim, and he is really a good fellow, only rather extravagant. He was soopen, and told me about it."
"Mr. Lang! Oh! Toney would seem very far away if she married him."
"But Lady Dove wants it, she told me so to-night---- I wish I couldhelp it on." Mrs. Faber shook her head.
"Toney would never be happy as a grand lady--and her money----"
"Of course he knows people will think he wants the money."
"I suppose that is true," said Mrs. Faber simply. "Good night, MissHamilton. Toney is so glad about the success of her plot."
Maud went on to her sister's room.
"We have talked it all over," said the radiant Jeanie. "He won't stopmy going to Germany, but he will be there too, and--in fact he wants usto be married at once. He says he has waited long enough, and of courseit must be just as he likes."
"Mother won't like it at once," said Maud.
Jeanie raised her head defiantly, she belonged to Frank now.
"Mother is my mother, so I won't say anything except to you, Maud, butshe was the cause of all my great misery, and nothing will make me goagainst Frank again. Is there another man on earth who would haveforgiven me as he has done? The least I can do is to----"
"Let him have his own way entirely," laughed Maud. "Edward Lang sayshis wife shall do exactly as she likes! How I wish Toney would sayyes!"
"Toney!--Edward Lang!" said Jeanie astonished. "Oh, that would be odd,almost ridiculous, besides, he's so extravagant everybody says."
"Everybody says it and that helps him on. I told him he could marrynobody if he went on as he is doing."
"_You_ told him that, Maud?"
"Yes; I do want to help Toney, and of course she has too much sense tomarry a man like that, though I believe he _could_ make a woman happy!"
"No, not Toney, they have nothing in common."
"Except riding."
"But you can't ride all the time when you are married! Just look at us,music will always be a link, we couldn't ever get bored with each other!Oh, Maud, to-night he played me one of his own compositions which no oneelse has heard----"
"I'm tired and sleepy, Jeanie darling, so don't go off again onFrank!--but all the same Toney has worked a miracle!"
"Yes, a miracle. Frank told me how angry he was at a stranger daring totalk to him about--me, and then, somehow, she got over him and he felthe simply couldn't say _no_ to her!"
"Or to you!" and then at last the happy girls fell asleep from sheerweariness.