“Oh, it was not that,” cried Lilian, eagerly. “It was because in her simple life she had not been accustomed to the usages that obtained in the larger world. Often I did guide her a little. She was very timid.”
“And it seemed to me—of course I understand it now, that you held your head quite too high for your mother’s daughter. I was brought up to do my duty in that station of life to which it should please God to call me, and not try to get out of it. You seemed above it—somehow——”
“Oh, did I act that way? I was only trying to do my duty to the classes and to Mrs. Barrington. I did not mean to seem above my station,” and there was sob in her voice.
“My dear, don’t cry. My apology would not be worth half so much if I held back part of the price. I think I was a little jealous of Mrs. Barrington’s favor for you, as I had a curious suspicion that something not quite orthodox might come out about you, that you really were not her child. You see I was not so far out of the way after all, and that evening I accused you of having gone to the Clairvoyants—we had just heard the death was from malignant scarlet fever. It would have ruined the school for a long while to have it break out here, you know. If the person had come out in the open so that I could have seen, but her darting back, and I think there was more than one. It seems even now as if it did look like you, but it might have been because it was like the Tam you wore. And you appeared so embarrassed over it.”
“Oh, could you believe that I would have told such a falsehood?” she cried, hurt to the very quick.
“We thought it best to take precautions. Then Mrs. Boyd had her stroke and then came her confession and all that has happened since. Your devotion to that poor woman was enough to stamp the nobleness of your character, and it is not because you are Major Crawford’s daughter that I say this—that I am ashamed of my prejudices and beg you to forgive me. Mrs. Barrington was right from the beginning and you are worthy of the best of fortune.”
“Oh, Mrs. Dane—” and her voice broke.
“I should have felt myself contemptible if I had not made this amends, and now if you will shake hands with me——”
“Gladly. And I thank you for the kindliness towards my—yes, she was my mother all these years and the sympathy you showed me even before it was proved who my real father was.”
“And I wish you much joy and happiness, which you will surely have. And you will be fitted to grace any position. You will have one of the loveliest of women for a mother, and two brothers who, so far, have been most exemplary. And that darling, Zay—the whole town loves her.”