The Merivale banks

by Mary Jane Holmes

It was Fred who encouraged Miss Percy to insist upon Louie’s coming abroad as soon as possible, and then went to meet the ship in which she was to sail. He had not expected to find Mrs. Grey so ill, and at first all his care was given to her. Now, however, as she was sleeping quietly, he had a little time for Louie, and when she told him of her poverty, and asked if he knew of her father’s failure and death, he said to her:

“Yes, I think I know everything. Mr. Blake has kept us posted. I know what you did to save your father, and what you have done to pay his debts. You have been a brave girl, and I want to help you, and that is why I came to meet you, knowing as I did how forlorn it would be for you to land alone in a foreign country and encounter those sharks at the Custom House. Miss Percy thought of coming with me, but that was not necessary. This is the Northwestern, and these rooms are perhaps a trifle more expensive than you would have chosen. But for the present you are my guests. We are old acquaintances, and Herbert will be glad to know you are comfortable. You and he are good friends still?”

Fred had not hinted a word of the engagement, but he felt that he must know something from which to draw a conclusion, and said what he did to Louie, who, without thinking what his question implied, answered at once:

“Oh, yes, good friends still and always will be. We agreed to that. He came to the boat to see us off, which was very kind of him. Do you hear from him often?”

Fred could scarcely answer for the gladness beating in his heart. Surely Louie’s words meant that whatever had been between herself and Herbert was over now, and they were only good friends. Still, he would go slowly and bide his time. She was young and he was not very old. She had that idea of paying her father’s debts in her mind, and until that was given up he must watch over and help her without her knowing it. She told him of the stranger who had bought their house for ten thousand dollars, which had gone far toward paying the smaller debts.

“We had to keep some to live on. Mr. Blake said we could as it was ours to do with as we pleased, but I shall pay it back. It was very kind in the stranger to let us stay in the house and I shall pay him the rent. Mr. Blake would not tell his name, nor where he lived, but I wrote to him just before I left home, and I hope he will answer me.”

“You wrote to him?” Fred asked, with a glad light in his eyes. “I am sure he will be pleased to get your letter. Perhaps he had heard what a heroic little girl you were and wanted to help you; but here comes Brown, and now for that dinner—your first on English soil. I hope you will like it.”

She could not help liking it, and felt her strength and life coming back to her, while Fred saw the change in her face and eyes, and thought how fair she was, and thought, too, of a time in the future when she would be fairer still, because of the great love with which he would encircle her, taking every care away and making her life all a holiday.

They had hoped Mrs. Grey would rally the next day sufficiently to sit up a little, but she didn’t; nor did she seem to realize where she was, but talked of Merivale and her old home and her husband, who seemed to be with her. Still the physician said there was no danger in moving her after a little, they were so near the train, and she would have every possible comfort in the special car in which the journey to London was finally accomplished, easily and quickly.

Once when they stopped at a station, a dispatch was handed to Fred, who, after reading it, seemed very happy and almost gay, until London was reached.