Very carefully Marjorie began the task. She started at the left end of the top shelf of the case, gently pulling out the well-worn bindings with reverent fingers. Brooke Hamilton had ranged literature in search of the best was her thought as she continued to explore his treasures.
“You are welcome to the key to the case at any time, Marjorie,” Miss Susanna’s bright, bird-like eyes had not missed the warm, interested light upon Marjorie’s lovely features as her willing hands moved among the dusty bindings, restoring them once more to something of their original pristine brightness.
“How dear in you, Goldendede. I was just wishing that I might go browsing among these books.” Marjorie’s childlike delight at the unexpected concession was the old lady’s pleasure. “This bookcase seems a little library in itself, representative of Mr. Brooke and his broad-mindedness.”
“It is just that. Uncle Brooke’s books were his best friends. They were dear to him because of the particular message each had for him.” The mistress of the Arms dropped into one of her not infrequent intervals of silence which Marjorie had early come to know and respect. She continued with her work, content to let the little old lady shatter it at will.
“What is the latest news from the campus, child?” Miss Susanna came suddenly out of her brief spell of silent abstraction. “‘I have nerve,’ as Jerry would say, to ask you that, since I’ve been the means of keeping you away from it for the past week.”
“Then, further to quote Jerry, ‘I like your nerve,’” Marjorie replied laughingly. “I’ve loved to be here. Not that I love the campus less, but Goldendede more. I’m going over to Wayland Hall tomorrow evening to see the girls. Hal has a business appointment in the town of Hamilton. I haven’t the least idea of what it’s all about. He’s been very mysterious over it. He’s going to stop for me on his way home.”
“A business appointment! That sounds interesting.” Miss Susanna exhibited affectionate curiosity. Hal’s one cross since he and Marjorie had taken up their residence at Hamilton Estates had been his inability to decide upon some definite plan of business occupation. Possessed of a comparatively large fortune, inherited from his grandfather, his youthful energy rebelled against settling down at Travelers’ Rest as a country gentleman. Marjorie had found her work at Hamilton College, the work which had all but parted them forever. Hal hoped that he might also find a work in their new home, satisfying to heart and brain. Only lately an idea had come to him as the result of a prospecting tour about the staid, self-centered town of Hamilton. Pursuant of his idea he had got into action. The result had been his appointment with John Saxe, the real estate agent who had formerly figured in the business ventures of the steady little firm of “Page & Dean.” The outcome of his appointment with Mr. Saxe would, he fondly hoped, furnish a happy surprise for Marjorie.
“Of course it sounds interesting. That’s precisely what I said to Hal when he mentioned the appointment to me. He laughed, but wouldn’t volunteer any further information. I didn’t ask for any, either. He has some sort of delightful surprise in store for me. I know he has,” was Marjorie’s smilingly confident assertion.
Miss Susanna nodded smiling content of the happiness of the two young people upon whom her affections were so firmly centered.
“There’s the bell.” She suddenly held up a hand in a listening attitude. “Now who can that be? Not callers, I hope. If it should be, I shall receive them just as I am; pinafore, dusty hands, and all.”