“When you are perfectly happy it is impossible to be happier, and I honestly don’t care very much. I should like Uncle Bernard to leave me a nice message, and I shouldn’t at all object to a legacy, which would provide my trousseau; but the Court itself would be a white elephant to me now. Donald adores his work, and would not give it up for any consideration, so we could never live there ourselves.”
“You might lend it to a poor but deserving family! Astonishing as it may appear, there are a few other people in the world beside yourself and Donald, and they are not all going to be married and live happily ever after!”
This time Ruth did, indeed, look contrite, and that without an effort.
“Oh, Mollie, I am horribly selfish! Forgive me, darling! I honestly do forget everybody but ourselves sometimes; and it is hateful of me, for when I am so happy I ought to be more sympathetic, instead of less. I am, when I remember! I am so bubbling over with happiness and good-will that I feel inclined to kiss everyone I meet. But there is so much to be thought about, and every time we meet there seems to be more, and I get lost in dreams.”
“Bless your heart, don’t apologise to me. I like it!” cried Mollie heartily. “I know your heart is right; and it’s a poor thing if lovers can’t live in a world of their own for a few weeks of their life. I’m thankful beyond words that your future is settled. But oh, what a help a few hundreds would be to the rest of us just now! I feel as if I could hardly live until Friday morning, I am so anxious to hear the news! And the mysterious condition, Ruth! Do you realise that we shall know all about it in three more days?”
“I wonder!” sighed Ruth dreamily. Then, with sudden animation, “If it is good news,—if either of us came in for something really big, Mrs Thornton would wire! She simply could not wait. She is far too impulsive!”
It was an unfortunate suggestion, as it added tenfold to the strain of waiting. The minutes seemed to drag on Thursday afternoon and evening; but no telegram appeared, and Mollie’s heart sank heavily. She knew better than her sister how difficult it was to make both ends meet, and what a long and arduous task it would be to pay off the loans which had tided the family through their time of need, and she was tired—as any natural, high-spirited young thing would be—of all work and no play, and eagerly longing for a respite. Mr Farrell had expressly stated that he would not divide his property; but that did not prohibit small legacies, and when he knew that his nearest relations were in straits, surely—surely...
Mollie was up and dressed even before her usual early hour the next morning, for sleep was impossible in such a whirl of nervous anxiety. Ruth kissed her before departing to her work, and said—
“Rush down to me, dear, if there is anything good to tell. I shall look out for you about eleven.”
Mollie set about her household duties with great fervour, so as to make the long hour pass by more quickly. At last ten o’clock struck, and almost at the same time came the sound of the postman’s rat-tat. She flew to the door, arriving at the very moment that three letters fell into the box.