“No; we sometimes wish he would choose a good wife for himself. Since he came into that nice little property and income from their eccentric old uncle who died two years ago, he could very well afford a comfortable establishment. But he lets his house on a yearly tenancy and stays on here to be with Guy; and what we should have done without him this past year I cannot imagine. Still, if Guy gets back his health again, and can take up his own work for himself, it would really be better for Ronald to marry and settle down on his own property. But he has never shown any disposition to fall in love.”
“He would have no difficulty in getting a wife,” said Miss Adene with a little laugh. “He is a fascinating boy, and very good company, as well as so good-looking.”
“I’m afraid that’s partly it,” said Lady Dumaresq, laughing. “The girls are all too willing and ready. He is quite the catch of the county; and perhaps they court him a little too much. It bores him, and, though he always makes himself universally agreeable and popular, he takes very good care not to be ‘hooked,’ or ‘booked,’ or whatever you call it. He treats all the girls alike in a provoking sort of way—provokingly equal and friendly. It would do him good, I think, to fall in love and feel a little qualm of anxiety as to his fate. He’s wonderfully unspoiled, all things considering; but it’s never quite good for a young man to feel he has only to throw the handkerchief.”
Miss Adene nodded sagely.
“That’s quite true. It is a wonder he has kept from growing conceited and affected. But he’s a thoroughly nice boy, and a good one too, I think. He does not speak lightly or sneeringly of women. I always think that is a good test. In these days it is such a fashion to sneer at everything.”
“That is not Ronald’s way,” answered Lady Dumaresq thoughtfully. “Aunt Mary, I was quite touched by what I found out about Ronald when Guy was so ill. You know he was prayed for in the little church here close by the park gates? Well, Ronald used to go there regularly every morning all through that time, to the little short eight o’clock service. I never heard about it till long afterwards; but he never missed unless he were taking my place just then in Guy’s room. I don’t think it would be many young men who would do that. He has never said a word, and I don’t think he knows we know. But there he was.”
“That is very nice,” said Miss Adene softly. “I sometimes think, my dear, that, if we had more real lively faith, there would be less sickness and trouble in the world.”
“Do you know, I have thought so myself often?” said the young wife earnestly. “I always thought Guy’s life was given back as an answer to prayer. You know, there was a time when all the doctors had given him up. That is why I feel a sort of confidence that he will be fully restored. I think God would not have given him back only to linger on in more or less suffering, and then be taken away again.”
“God sometimes tries us in ways which we cannot understand,” said Miss Adene in a low voice, “but I think He wishes us to put our full faith and confidence in Him. We must use every means which He puts into our hands, and then leave the rest to Him, and wait calmly and hopefully for the result.”
Lady Dumaresq took Miss Adene’s hand and kissed it.