When Mrs. Bell saw that her daughter was really grieved, and that her last words were spoken in a choking tone, she said,—
“They can’t write, dear, of course, there’s no post up there, but we will try to forget for the time; and you will have plenty to amuse you, I’m sure. Just think of the engagements we have; why, as you know, I’ve a tray full of minor invitations. Then, look at the grander ones; there’s—where shall I begin? Let me see; first, the trip to the ‘Heads’ with the Governor in his special steamer; his nephew, of course, will be there, that will be a picnic; then there’s another grand picnic at ‘Rose Bay’ with the Gilletts—Lord Roulette is a great friend of theirs, you know—‘Manly Beach’ afterwards, and a ball at—”
“Oh; yes, I know,” interrupted Annie impatiently, “how you can remember it all I can’t think, I’m tired of all those people and places, and prefer home life, riding with my father and—my garden.”
“That garden again! why, I declare you have gone gardening mad, Annie, at least lately you have; since Mat has been interfering in it you have thought of nothing but flower-raising.”
“Perhaps now he has made it tidier I take more interest in it,” replied her daughter, and feeling that she was reddening slightly under the solid stare of her mother, added, “And I’m going there now to put in some seeds.” And so escaped further questions for the time.
Matters were dreary enough at the station now. Bell without “his boys;” Annie having no one to confide in, for she saw plainly that in one sense, in her sense, Mat was not now in her mother’s good graces.
Parson Tabor was the only one to cheer up the spirits of the little party.
As an outsider, he had for some time been conversant with the feelings of all parties, and though he had so far been made a confidant of Mat’s secret, that he guessed the state of our hero’s feelings, yet he followed his fast rule of making it no business of his, unless specially appealed to by the elders. Yet somehow he was always taking Mat’s part when the conversation happened to bring in his name, or touch upon the absent ones, and it was wonderful to see how both Bell and his daughter brightened up on hearing the good man speak in this strain.
Annie had always been fond of horses, and was an accomplished horsewoman, and to help pass the days, which seemed long to her now, she took regular rides with her father.
She, mounted on her favourite, Robin Hood, which Mat had broken in as a colt, and left behind for her special use; and Bell bestriding his own especial fancy, a confidential weight-carrier, sure and steady.