Chapter Thirty One.
“And I will come again, my love,
Though ’twere ten thousand mile.”
A year and a day Mr Rainy had given to Allison Bain, in which to reconsider her decision as to her refusal to be benefited by the provisions of Brownrig’s will, and now the year was drawing to a close. “The next of kin” had signified his intention of returning to Scotland immediately, and as he was an officer in the army, who might be sent on short notice to any part of the empire, it was desirable that he should know as soon as might be, what chance there was of his inheriting the property which his uncle had left.
Mr Rainy had written cautiously to this man at first. He had had little doubt that Brownrig’s widow, as he always called Allison in his thoughts, would be brought to her senses and hear reason, before the year was out. So he had not given the next of kin much encouragement to believe that more than his five hundred pounds would fall to his share.
It was a matter of conscience with Mr Rainy. Whatever any one else might think or say, or whatever his own private opinion might be, it was clearly his duty to use all diligence in carrying out the expressed wishes of the testator. In the meantime he left Allison to herself, believing that frequent discussion would only make her—womanlike—hold the more firmly to her first determination.
But after all was said and done, this “troublesome business,” which had caused care and anxiety to several people besides Allison, was brought to a happy end. Mr Rainy’s house was the place appointed for the meeting of all those who had anything to do with the matter, either officially or otherwise; and on the day named, shy and anxious, but quite determined as to what she was to say and do, Allison took her way thither. She told herself that she would have at least one friend there. Doctor Fleming had promised not to fail her, and though he had never spoken many words to her about the will, she knew that he would stand by her in the decision to which she had come. She had confidence in his kindness and consideration. No word to deride her foolishness would fall from his lips, and even Mr Rainy’s half-contemptuous expostulations would be restrained by the good doctor’s presence.
She reached the house at the appointed hour, and found all who had a right to be present on the occasion, already there. It was her friend Doctor Fleming who came forward to the door, and led her into the room.
“Mrs Esselmont!” said Allison, as the lady advanced to meet her.
“Yes, Allison, I am here,” said she gravely.
There were a number of gentlemen present, and voices were heard also, in the room beyond. Mrs Esselmont’s presence and support were just what Allison needed to help her self-possession, as Mr Rainy brought one after another to greet her; and she went through the ceremony of introduction with a gentle dignity which surprised only those to whom she was a stranger. The last hand that was held out to her was that of “the next of kin,” as Mr Rainy announced gravely.