Thus she could freely leave their gains to Armine and Babie, for the latter declared the sum was alike due to both, since if she had the readiest wit, her brother had the most discrimination, and the best choice of language. The story was only signed A. B., and their mother made a point of the authorship being kept a secret; but little notices of the story in the papers highly gratified the young authors.
Armine, who had returned from a round of visits to St. Cradocke’s, Fordham, Kenminster, and Woodside, confirmed the report of Elvira’s intended voyage; but till the yacht was ready, the party had gone abroad, leaving the management of the farm, and agency of the estate, to a very worthy man named Whiteside, who had long been a suitor to Mary Gould, and whom she was at last allowed to marry. He had at once made the Kencroft party free of the park and gardens, and indeed John and Armine came laden with gifts in poultry, fruit, and flowers from the dependants on the estate to Mrs. Brownlow.
Armine really looked quite healthy, nothing remaining of his former ethereal air, but a certain expansiveness of brow and dreaminess of eye.
He greatly scrupled at halving the £15 when it was paid, but Barbara insisted that he must take his share, and he then said—
“After all it does not signify, for we can do things together with it, as we have always done.”
“What things?”
“Well, I am afraid I do want a few books.”
“So do I, terribly.”
“And there are some Christmas gifts I want to send to Woodside.”
“Woodside! oh!”