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Leslie, she said laying her hand on her eldest girls arm, my news has to do with you; but, as we have no secrets in our family, I will tell it before the rest of the children.
Leslie looked eager and excited. Even Llewellyn dropped his despondent air and stood up, big and manly, five feet ten, on the hearthrug.
His mother glanced at him, noticed, without really noticing it, the marked look of power on his intellectual face, and then turned to her favorite child.
I was in my usual place at the office of the Grapho to-day, she began. I was busily engaged preparing copy for to-morrows issue when a gentleman, an old friend of your fathers, a certain Mr. Parker, came in.
Mr. Parker! A friend of fathers! I never heard of him before, said Leslie.
He has been in Australia for the last twelve years, but has just returned home. He sent in his card and begged to see me. As soon as ever I saw him I remembered that your dear father had constantly spoken of him. Well, he wishes to do something for for the sake of his old friend.
Mrs. Gilroys voice faltered.
He is quite a gentleman, she continued, though a little rough; but a capital good fellow at bottom. He spoke to me most frankly, and finally ended by making me an offer. The offer has to do with you, Leslie.
With me? said Leslie.
Yes, darling. He asked me all about our means. He was not at all prying; he was good and kind and oh! so generous at heart. I hated to tell him, and yet I felt obliged to. He was shocked; he thought your father would have left us better off.
He had no right to ask about our fathers means, grumbled Llewellyn. No one could have worked harder than our father did.
No one, truly, echoed Leslie.
And no one ever led a more upright, exemplary, splendid life, said the widow. Her voice trembled; she paused for a moment.
Kitty and Mabel laid down their needlework.
But, all the same, continued the mother, you must not blame Mr. Parker. He and your father had not met for many years, and in Australia they lead a different life. When a man is lucky there he is very lucky; and Mr. Parker has been one of
the lucky ones. He took shares in some gold-mines, and explained to me that he is now a man of great wealth.
He must have interrupted your work a good bit, began Llewellyn, then he checked himself. His mother glanced at him, took no notice of his speech, and continued with her story.
The result of our interview is this, she said, looking round at her children and laying her hand on Leslies arm. Leslie is to have a chance, a right good chance in life.
Mother, what do you mean? said Leslie. She opened her pretty eyes wide, and the color rushed into her face.
Mr. Parker is a man of peculiar views, said the mother. He does not want to help boys, he says; they must stand or fall on their own merits. But for girls he has a peculiar feeling, an unbounded pity. The fact is, poor fellow, he had a wife of his own, and a daughter, and if the daughter were alive she would be your age, Leslie. I have not the slightest doubt that accounts for his prejudice in favor of girls. Now, my darling, he has offered to pay all your expenses either at Newnham or at that other great college, St. Wodes, Wingfield. He wants you to give up your present employment immediately, and to go to either of these places at the beginning of term. You are to have every advantage that is possible. When you have completed your university education he will take further steps to insure your commanding an excellent living. The money is to be paid direct to me as required, and he has now given me a check for fifty pounds to buy the necessary outfit which you will require for your new life. I have taken the check and have accepted the offer. That is my news. It is a great chance for you, Leslie; it is a great chance. You go away from us, I know, my darling, and I shall miss you terribly; but it is a great chance.
And you have really accepted it, mother?
I have. I could not allow you to throw it away. Mr. Parker is such an old friend of your fathers that I am willing to put myself under this supreme obligation. He has even hinted that by and by he will do great things for Kitty and for Mabel.
And what about poor Hester? said that individual, dropping her stocking and looking with piteous eyes at her mother.
You are to be my home-bird, darling. Then Hester rose and knelt by her mother, and put her strong young arms round her waist and kissed her.
Yes; I for one would never leave you, mammy; and I dont care a pin about being learned. I want just to be useful, although I am afraid I am a bit of a failure all round. There always is a failure in every family, isnt there, mother; so its just as well that I should be the one.
We mean to have no failures in this family, said Mrs. Gilroy. Now, then, you young ones, it is time for bed; off you go at once. I have much to say to Leslie and to Llewellyn by themselves.
CHAPTER IX ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT
Come here, Lew, called out his sister; we want you to talk to us and give us your advice; you are always so wise. Come, what are you doing at the other end of the room? Are you not delighted? Are not you as glad as I am?