“It was neither your place nor mine to say anything. Your father has always said he would not ask a man his intentions—either he was fit to be in his daughter’s company or he was not. Either he must get rid of him or leave his daughter to manage her own affairs. He is quite American in his way of looking at such matters.”

“Don’t you think he is right, mother? If I let Lord Gartley come, surely he is not to blame for coming!”

“Only if you became fond of him and it were to come to nothing.”

“Well, I don’t even know myself exactly what I think. I am afraid you must think me very cool. But all I can do is try to do right as things come up, and leave my understanding of things to follow in time. But of one thing you may be sure, mother. I will try to do what is right.”

“I am sure of that, my dear—quite sure. And I won’t trouble you more about it.”

21. Corney’s Holiday

—Twenty-One —

Corney’s Holiday

Major Marvel was in no haste to leave, but he spent most of his time with Mark, and was in nobody’s way. Mark was very happy with the major. The nature of the man was so childlike that, although he knew little of the deep things in which Mark was at home, his presence was never an interruption to the child’s thoughts. When the boy made a remark in the upward direction, he would look so grave and hold such a peace that the child never missed the lacking words of response. Who knows what the man may have gained even from silent communication with the child?

One day he was telling the boy how he had been out alone on a desolate hill all night, how he heard the beasts roaring round him, and not one of them came near him. “Did you see him?” asked Mark.

“See who, sonny?” returned the major.

“The one between you and them,” answered Mark, in a subdued tone. From his tone the major understood.

“No,” he answered, and taking into his the spirit of the child, went on. “I don’t think anyone sees him nowadays.”

“Isn’t it a pity?” said Mark. “But I fancy sometimes I must have seen him with my eyes when I was young, and that’s why I keep always expecting to see him again—some day, you know. I wish God would call me. I know he calls some children, for he said, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’”

“What would you say?” asked the major.

“I would say, ‘Here I am, God! What is it?’ We mustn’t keep God waiting, you know!”