But Bell stopped his wife; he knew of old that this was only the commencement of a long, wordy harangue, which would develop into a lecture upon his own many supposed shortcomings and slights, from which she had suffered in former times. Thus the argument would become purely personal; so he said shortly,—
“Enough. It’s no good further discussing the question until Annie gives us a bit of her mind; so we’ll drop it.”
Bell walked away, and thought, weakly enough, that he had had the last word. But his wife called after him,—
“I forbid Mat to speak on the subject to Annie.”
The next time the squire saw Mat he told him of the interview that he had had with Mrs. Bell, and of her reasons for opposing an engagement between Mat and his daughter.
“She says she forbids you to speak on the subject to Annie. But one thing I’ll tell you, my boy,” said Bell, in conclusion, “I have generally noticed that these things right themselves; so keep up a good heart.”
Mat replied, “I have often thought of what Mrs. Bell has now mentioned, and as I expected that that would be her argument, I have been thinking the matter over deeply since I spoke to you. I would not for the world stand in the way of Miss Annie’s future prospects, therefore, I propose this: Dromoora and Terebare have told me several times lately that they would like to return to their country. I will take them there, and return here. The journey there and back will take weeks—months. During that time Miss Annie will have opportunities of seeing a great number of families and people in Sydney, and will have a lot of gaiety and pleasure, which she deserves. I will not say a word on the subject to her now, but when I return, why perhaps I may.”
“Mat, my lad,” said the squire, “your sentiments are noble ones, and worthy of your nature. We will now let events work themselves out.”
Our forester occupied himself for the next day or two in getting Tim’s traps packed and settling his brother’s affairs and his own generally with the squire. The wound in his brother’s side had healed outwardly, though he could feel the bullet within him every now and then. Still, he was able to get about now unassisted, and was anxious to be off, in a ship which sailed shortly.
And how had our new chum, the Honourable Lionel, been “shaping”?