Then Antony turned upon his heel and strode briskly off.
CHAPTER X.
A LETTER AND A PROPOSAL.
NEVER a week passed that Antony did not receive a nice long letter from his sister Aggie. The two had been all and all to each other, and he never had a secret that he did not tell her. And the same may be said for Aggie. However, as neither he nor she ever had any secrets, this statement loses half its value.
Sometimes his father also wrote, but this was seldom. He was a magistrate, and a man belonging to one of the best old county families, and gave himself quite up to the management of his large estate. So his letters were somewhat stilted in style and very brief and business-like.
Aggie had, however, recently communicated to her brother the fact that their father was none too well pleased at his staying so long in one place. 'And among a gang of gipsies too,' the letter went on. 'These are father's own words, dear brother. As for myself, I think you must be enjoying yourself in a way that is most idyllic. I only wish I could join you for a few weeks. But, mind you, Anty, when you fairly set off in your own "Gipsy Queen" in the sweet summer-time you must get a sweet little caravan for me and my maid, and we will join you. That is settled, so don't you forget.
'By-the-by, dear brother, I had almost forgotten to tell you that our big, handsome, man-of-the-world cousin Gustie Robb has been here nearly all the time you have been away. Father seems very much struck over him; told me the other day he was a young man after his own heart, and bound to be a power in Parliament when returned on the Conservative ticket for South S——
'But father has a dream that I will marry Gustie some day. It will be like all other dreams, dear, for your sister Aggie is too fond of her liberty to give her hand to anybody to lead her through life. She thinks she knows the way without a guide.'
There was a postscript to this particular letter, which ran as follows:
'P.S.—I rather think, Anty, that Gustie is doing his best to win father's favour in every way. For goodness' sake, dear, start travelling, or do something. You know how headstrong and quick to act dear daddy is; and oh, if you love me, do nothing to displease him. Why don't you come and stand for South S—— when old B—— resigns? Old B—— is going abroad, you know.
'Ta, ta, again. Think over it.