It was perhaps just as well for everybody that the two guests were still there, and the fun and frolic at high-water mark; the best intentions thereto, or even the justest cause, could not make anybody look grave or stiff or anxious. Therefore Mr. Erskine had time to study up his hard question unnoticed.
"Question," indeed, it hardly was. Mr. Erskine knew, without thinking, that he loved Magnus Kindred like his own son; and it took very little awakened observation to show him that, on Cherry's part, the old childish affection had passed into the deepest and strongest that a woman can know. Reserved and self-contained as she always was, her father could see a hundred little tokens which he marvelled he had never noticed before. He watched Magnus, too, with very keen-set eyes, studied him, weighed him in all sorts of scales, and, on the whole, was well content. Just about as much of a boy as ever, only more of a man; gay, saucy, absurd, and sensible; but through it all now, in whatever touched Cherry, there was an indescribable tone of reverence which became him well, as it does any man who has won for himself the priceless trust of a true woman's love. His own love and devotion were patent enough. Magnus had certainly "taken it hard," as people say. The father noted it well, and judged it all of a quality that would wear.
Once making up his mind to the situation, it was amusing enough; and the two elders of the party had many a quiet laugh at the skill with which Messrs. Twinkle and Rig were headed off, and never allowed to improve their acquaintance with Cherry. It was always somebody else with whom they were fated to walk, and to whom they might make pretty speeches; and with all a man's recklessness about possible damage to other hearts, and lest his tactics should be found out, Magnus hunted up other girls—old acquaintances of the neighbourhood—to share the burden which at first Violet and Rose had borne alone.
"But, Magnus!" Mrs. Kindred protested one day, "you go on like crazy boys, you three. Girls about here aren't used to young fellows who say everything they do not mean. My dear, I fear you are sowing mischief. Jenny Mott went home last night with her head more than half turned."
"Easy job for Rig to finish, then," said Magnus. "Never mind, mammy; keep up your spirits. We're not so unlike other boys as you seem to think. It is getting to be rather serious with Twinkle and Viola."
"Now, my dear!" Mrs. Kindred said, with her hand on his arm; "now, Magnus! you must not put any nonsense into that child's head!"
"Couldn't if I would," said Magnus; "not an inch of room. You couldn't get a grain in sideways after Twinkle's been talking to her. He's a right good fellow, mammy; don't drink, don't smoke, don't flirt—much; and if his light isn't of the very biggest, it's always there, which is better. She might do worse."
"But, Magnus, Violet is hardly grown up."
"Why don't you tell Twinkle so, and ask him to wait?" said Magnus, with a very grave face. But then he laughed.
"Oh, mammy!" he said, "when cadets are about, it's 'all luggage at the risk of the owners.' I had picked out somebody else for Vio, if only he's not gone before she gets there. What a thing it is to have me well settled in life before your anxieties over the girls come on!" And then Magnus kissed her, and set his face towards the other house.