Miss Letty said nothing. She sat down and clasped her hands together to control their nervous trembling.
“An English school,” went on Desmond, “might have been the saving of Boy. He would have been taught there that death is preferable to dishonour. But at a foreign school he’ll learn that to tell lies prettily, and to cheat with elegance, are cardinal points in a gentleman’s conduct. And there are other things besides,—No, Letty!—no—it’s no good you fretting yourself! Say good-bye to Boy—and say it for ever!”
He came and bent over her, and took one of the delicate trembling hands in his own.
“You have said good-bye to so many hopes and joys, Letty!” he said, with deep tenderness in his kind voice—“and said it so bravely and unrepiningly, that you must not lose courage now. It’s just one more disappointment—that’s all. Think of Boy as a child—the coaxing little rascal who used to call you ‘Kiss-Letty’”—he paused a moment—then went on—“And you will get accustomed after a bit to believe he has gone to Heaven. You know you’ll never see that little winsome child again,—there was hardly anything of him left in the boy who came to visit you in Scotland. But you had the last of his childhood there, Letty,—be satisfied! Say good-bye!”
Miss Letty looked up at the honest sympathising face of her staunch old friend, and tried to smile.
“No, Dick, I don’t think I’ll do that,” she said gently—“I don’t think I can. You see I may perhaps be able to help Boy in some way later on——”
“There’s no doubt you will if you’re inclined to, and that he’ll need help,” said the Major somewhat grimly—“But what I mean, Letty, is that you must put away all your fancies about him. Don’t idealize him any more. Don’t think that he will be an exceptional sort of fellow, or turn out brilliantly as a noble example to the world in general,—because he won’t. There’s no hope in that quarter. And—if you take my advice, you’ll stop thinking about him for the present, and make up your mind to join me and a few friends who are going out to the States. Come to America, Letty,—come along! And I’ll try and find another Boy for you!”
Miss Leslie shook her head.
“That’s impossible!” she said sorrowfully,—“I’m very conservative in my affections.”
“I know that!” said the Major dolefully—“By Jove! I know that!”