‘And how about being the “architects of their own fortunes,” as the phrase goes? Is that honourable occupation to be taken away from them—the men of the family, of course, I mean. Who is to found New Englands and Greater Britains if every young man in the old country is left comfortably off?’
‘There’s a good deal to be said on both sides, sir,’ said Reggie. ‘Personally, I should prefer to go forth, like the prince in the fairy tale, to “seek my fortune.”’
. . . . . . . . .
Melrose having ‘been viewed aright,’ studied, and discussed from every possible point of view, the trend of public opinion set strongly towards a visit to Abbotsford, as the central point of attraction. To be personally conducted would, of course, be most desirable, the family being absent in Switzerland. The housekeeper would, doubtless, have instructions to permit such personages and pilgrims of distinction to have, at any rate, a limited permission to view the apartments with which they had been familiar by description, and in which the interest of well-informed visitors chiefly centred.
Here, again, fortune favoured them, and a delightful surprise was sprung upon the leaders of the party.
To their great joy Mrs. Banneret received a note from an Australian compatriot (whom they [400] ]had first met near the Pink and White Terraces of Te Tarata, New Zealand), as fair, as graceful, as blue-eyed, as truly compounded of the air and fire of the Scottish Highlands, as ever was a Princess of Thule, though grown to woman’s estate ere ever she saw the ancestral hills.
She was now ‘a woman grown and wed,’ though still too fairylike and youthful-seeming for the matronly estate. Her husband was away on his usual summer excursion, which she was sure he would deeply regret, but as their home was within a few miles of Abbotsford she would only be too delighted to supply his place, as far as guide and chaperon duties could be united. Fortunately for the interests of the pilgrimage she had been prevented from accompanying him.
‘We are being watched over by the genius loci, that is very certain,’ said Reggie. ‘How it comes to pass that these delightful, interesting personages seem to turn up at critical junctures, beats me. May I ask if this Mrs. Maclean is above the average in point of good looks?’
‘She is one of the sweetest, prettiest, most charming young women I ever encountered,’ declared Mrs. Banneret.
‘And Dad met her on board ship, I think I gathered?’