Mollie lifted the tray, and stood for a moment looking down with an air of triumph.
“I’m so glad! I talk a lot of nonsense, but I can be quite sensible if I like, and I did want to help you, Uncle Bernard; I’ll send mother in here, where you can have your talk in peace. It’s the only chance of being uninterrupted.”
Mr Farrell made no reply, and Mollie made haste to deposit the tray in the pantry, and rush for the dining-room door. The secret had been kept so long that she felt sore—absolutely sore with the strain. It seemed incredible that her mother and sisters should be sitting munching bread-and-butter as calmly as if it were an ordinary day, when nothing extraordinary had happened to break the monotonous routine. She leant against the lintel of the door and called her mother by name—“Muv! you are wanted at once in the Den. Somebody wants to speak to you!”
Mrs Connor’s brow furrowed into the usual anxious lines as she prepared to hear a story of fresh disaster from her husband’s lips; but at the doorway two magic words were whispered into her ear which brought the blood into the white cheeks, and sent her trotting down the hall on eager feet. Then came the delicious moment to which Mollie had looked forward ever since the meeting at the cross-roads. She walked back into the room, while Ruth looked up with weary curiosity, and Trix with unconcealed wrath.
“You might have let mother finish her tea in peace! She has been slaving all day, and was just enjoying a rest!”
“What is it, Mollie? Why did the pater come home so early? Is he ill?”
“It isn’t pater, my dear. Guess again! A friend of mine, whom I met in the park and brought home to tea. He was rather tired, so I, gave him a private little feed in the study, instead of bringing him straight in here. Considerate of me, wasn’t it? He was quite touched.”
“He?” repeated Ruth breathlessly. “Mollie, what are you talking about? Don’t make a mystery out of nothing! Why can’t you say at once who it is?”
“I’m afraid of your nerves, dear. I want to break it to you by degrees. Sudden shocks are dangerous for the young. My own heart is quite palpitating with all I have undergone to-day. I was walking along,—all innocent and unsuspicious,—gazing upon the fair spring scene, when suddenly, glancing ahead, I beheld a figure standing at the junction of the cross-roads. ’Tis ever thus, my love! Fate stands waiting for us where the paths diverge, to point out the way in which we should go. End of volume one ... Do you feel excited?”
Trix grinned broadly, Ruth looked tired and impatient.