“I am not so sure that he does know,” answered the still doubting lover. “He is always so frightfully absorbed in his business, I think it uses up all his faculties. We know we are in love with each other, but I doubt if the fact is so patent to everybody as you think, my darling.”
“Rubbish!” cried the girl pertly. “Don’t you make any mistake about Uncle Rupert being so wrapt up in business that he doesn’t observe anything outside. Why, those keen eyes of his never let the most trivial thing escape them. And I have often seen them resting on us with a very intelligent expression. Take my word for it, Dick, he knows what is going on, and he approves. You know how swiftly he puts his foot down when he has a mind to. If he disapproved, he would soon give me a very strong hint, or if he did not care to speak to me himself, I should soon have a serious warning from auntie.”
Young Croxton was greatly encouraged by these words. He had a firm belief in his sweetheart’s judgment and powers of penetration.
“That settles it then,” he said, speaking in a much more confident tone. “I will tackle him to-morrow. I want to get it settled before we go away to Mürren. Oh, my darling, if it is all right, as you think, shan’t we have a lovely holiday?”
She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. “And, as for all that nonsense about having no money, why, I have no money either to speak of. You have two hundred a year of your own, I have a hundred. Well, Dick, if we were very wilful, I daresay we might be brave enough to start on that, even if the worst were to happen. But there, don’t let us think of that; I tell you it is going to be all right.”
He returned the affectionate squeeze she had given him with interest. “By Jove, you do put courage into a fellow, little girl.”
“Not so little, if you please, Dick. I am rather above the average height, you know. And if he is going to make me his heiress, as you think, he doesn’t intend to leave you in the cold. He has treated you like a son from the day you first came into the house. Everybody knows how he worshipped your mother, and kept single all those years because of her. I do not say he is not fond of auntie in a steady, quiet way. But his other love was the sort that comes once in a lifetime, and never again.” She bent her head very close and whispered shyly in his ear. “He loved your mother, Dick, in the way that you and I love each other, and of course he loves her son for her sake.”
And after such a declaration, it is small wonder that these devoted young lovers, knowing they were safe from observation, testified their affection for each other in a long caress.
Later on, when the last car had rolled away, and the somewhat weary host and hostess were alone, a brief conversation took place between them on the subject of the young couple. It was begun by Mrs. Morrice.
“You still approve of it, Rupert?” It was evident from these words that the matter had been discussed between them before. “Remember that Rosabelle is a very pretty girl, as well as a charming one, and will have plenty of lovers in time.”