"Hilda, Hilda, here I am! How do you do, dear? Welcome home, and she was about to seal her welcome with a kiss, when her eye fell upon Philip standing by.
"Oh, Philip! she cried with a blush, "dont you know me? Have I changed much? I should have known you anywhere; and I am glad to see you, awfully glad (excuse the slang, but it is such a relief to be able to say awful without being pulled up by Aunt Chambers). Just think, it is three years since we met. Do you remember Grumps? How do I look? Do you think you will like me as much as you used to?
"I think that you are looking the same dear girl that you always used to look, only you have grown very pretty, and it is not possible that I shall like you more than I used to.
"I think they must teach you to pay compliments at Oxford, Philip, she answered, flushing with pleasure, "but it is all rubbish for you to say that I am pretty, because I know I am notand then, confidentially, glancing round to see that there was nobody within hearing (Hilda was engaged with a porter in looking after her things): "Just look at my nose, and you will soon change your mind. Its broader, and flatter, and snubbier than ever. I consider that I have got a bone to pick with Providence about that nose. Ah! here comes Hilda. Isnt she lovely! Theres beauty for you if you like. She hasnt got a nose. Come and show us to the carriage. You will come and lunch with us to- morrow, wont you? I am so glad to get back to the old house again; and I mean to have such a garden! Life is short, and joys are fleeting, as Aunt Chambers always says, so I mean to make the best of it whilst it lasts. I saw your father yesterday. He is a dear old man, though he has such awful eyes. I never felt so happy in my life as I do now. Good-bye. One oclock. And she was gone, leaving Philip with something to think about.
Philips reception at home was cordial and reassuring. He found his father considerably aged in appearance, but as handsome and upright as ever, and to all appearance heartily glad to see him.
"I am glad to see you back, my boy, he said. "You come to take your proper place. If you look at me, you will see that you wont have long to wait before you take mine. I cant last much longer, Philip, I feel that. Eighty-two is a good age to have reached. I have had my time, and put the property in order, and now I suppose I must make room. I went with the clerk, old Jakes, and marked out my grave yesterday. Theres a nice little spot the other side of the stone that they say marks where old yeoman Caresfoot, who planted Caresfoots Staff, laid his bones, and thats where I wish to be put, in his good company. Dont forget that when the time comes, Philip. Theres room for another if you care to keep it for yourself, but perhaps you will prefer the vault.
"You must not talk of dying yet, father. You will live many years yet.
"No, Philip; perhaps one, perhaps two, not more than two, perhaps a month, perhaps not a day. My life hangs on a thread now. And he pointed to his heart. "It may snap any day, if it gets a strain. By the way, Philip, you see that cupboard? Open it! Now, you see that stoppered bottle with the red label? Good. Well now, if ever you see me taken with an attack of the heart (I have had one since you were away, you know, and it nearly carried me off), you run for that as hard as you can go, and give it me to drink, half at a time. It is a tremendous restorative of some sort, and old Caley says that, if I do not take it when the next attack comes, therell be an end of Devil Caresfoot; and he rapped his cane energetically on the oak floor.
"And so, Philip, I want you to go about and make yourself thoroughly acquainted with the property, so that you may be able to take things over when I die without any hitch. I hope that you will be careful and do well by the land. Remember that a big property like this is a sacred trust.
"And now there are two more things that I will take this opportunity to say a word to you about. First, I see that you and your cousin George dont get on well, and it grieves me. You have always had a false idea of George, always, and thought that he was underhand. Nothing could be more mistaken than such a notion. George is a most estimable young man, and my dear brothers only son. I wish you would try to remember that, Philipblood is thicker than water, you knowand you will be the only two Caresfoots left when I am gone. Now, perhaps you may think that I intend enriching George at your expense, but that is not so. Take this key and open the top drawer of that secretaire, and give me that bundle. This is my will. If you care to look over it, and can understand itwhich is more than I canyou will see that everything is left to you, with the exception of that outlying farm at Holston, those three Essex farms that I bought two years ago, and twelve thousand pounds in cash. Of course, as you know, the Abbey House, and the lands immediately round, are entailedit has always been the custom to entail them for many generations. There, put it back. And now the last thing is, I want you to get married, Philip. I should like to see a grandchild in the house before I die. I want you to marry Maria Lee. I like the girl. She comes of a good old Marlshire stockour family married into hers in the year 1703. Besides, her property would put yours into a ring-fence. She is a sharp girl too, and quite pretty enough for a wife. I hope you will think it over, Philip.
"Yes, father; but perhaps she will not have me. I am going to lunch there to-morrow.
"I dont think you need be afraid, Philip; but I wont keep you any longer. Shake hands, my boy. Youll perhaps think of your old father kindly when you come to stand in his shoes. I hope you will, Philip. We have had many a quarrel, and sometimes I have been wrong, but I have always wished to do my duty by you, my boy. Dont forget to make the best of your time at lunch to- morrow.
Philip went out of his fathers study considerably touched by the kindness and consideration with which he had been treated, and not a little relieved to find his position with reference to his succession to the estate so much better than he had anticipated, and his cousin Georges so much worse.
"That red-haired fox has plotted in vain, he thought, with secret exultation. And then he set himself to consider the desirability of falling in with his fathers wishes as regards marriage. Of Maria he was, as the reader is aware, very fond; indeed, a few years before he had been in love with her, or something very like it; he knew too that she would make him a very good wife, and the match was one that in every way commended itself to his common sense and his interests. Yes, he would certainly take his fathers advice. But every time he said this to himselfand he said it pretty often that evening there would arise before his minds eye a vision of the sweet blue eyes of Miss Lees stately companion. What eyes they were, to be sure! It made Philips blood run warm and quick merely to think of them; indeed, he could almost find it in his heart to wish that Hilda was Maria and Maria was in Hildas shoes.
What between thoughts of the young lady he had set himself to marry, and of the young lady he did not mean to marry, but whose eyes he admired, Philip did not sleep so well as usual that night.
Chapter V
Philip did not neglect to go to luncheon at Rewtham house, and a very pleasant luncheon it was; indeed, it would have been difficult for him to have said which he found the pleasantest: Marias cheerful chatter and flattering preference, or Hildas sweet and gracious presence.
After luncheon, at Marias invitation he gave Fraulein von Holtzhausen her first lesson in writing in English character; and to speak truth he found the task of guiding her fair hand through the mysteries of the English alphabet a by no means uncongenial occupation. When he came away his admiration of Hildas blue eyes was more pronounced than ever; but, on the other hand, so was his conviction that he would be very foolish if he allowed it to interfere with his intention of making Maria Lee his wife.