"Indeed, I well may. There is no expressing how much I owe to dear Miss Alethea and Lady Merrifield, and it is such a delight to hear of them."

Accordingly, Gillian communicated the facts as she knew them, and offered to give any message.

"Only my dear love and congratulations," said Kalliope, with a little sigh. "I should like to have written, but--"

"But why don"t you, then?"

"Oh no; she would be too much engaged to think of us, and it would only worry her to be asked for her advice."

"I think I know what it is about," said Gillian.

"How? Oh, how do you know? Did Mr. Flight say anything?"

"Mr. Flight?" exclaimed Gillian. "What has he to do with it?"

"It was foolish, perhaps; but I did hope he might have helped Alexis, and now he seems only to care for his music."

"Helped him! How?"

"Perhaps it was unreasonable, but Alexis has always been to good schools. He was getting on beautifully at Leeds, and we thought he would have gained a scholarship and gone on to be a clergyman. That was what his mind has always been fixed upon. You cannot think how good and devoted he is," said Kalliope with a low trembling voice; "and my father wished it very much too. But when the break-up came, Mr. White made our not being too fine, as he said, to work, a sort of condition of doing anything for us. Mr. Moore did tell him what Alexis is, but I believe he thought it all nonsense, and there was nothing to be done. Alexis--dear fellow--took it so nicely, said he was thankful to be able to help mother, and if it was his duty and G.o.d"s will, it was sure to come right; and he has been plodding away at the marble works ever since, quite patiently and resolutely, but trying to keep up his studies in the evening, only now he has worked through all his old school-books."

"And does not Mr. Flight know that I will help him?"

"Well, Mr. Flight means to be kind, and sometimes seems to think much of him; but it is all for his music, I am afraid. He is always wanting new things to be learnt and practised, and those take up so much time; and though he does lend us books, they are of no use for study, though they only make the dear boy long and long the more to get on."

"Does not Mr. Flight know?"

"I am not sure. I think he does; but in his ardour for music he seems to forget all about it. It does seem such a pity that all Alexis"s time should be wasted in this drudgery. If I could only be sure of more extra work for my designs, I could set him free; and if Sir Jasper were only at home, I am sure he would put the boy in the way of earning his education. If it were only as a pupil teacher, he would be glad, but then he says he ought not to throw all on me."

"Oh, he must be very good!" exclaimed Gillian. "I am sure papa will help him! I wish I could. Oh!"--with a sudden recollection--"I wonder what books he wants most. I am going to Silverfold to-morrow, and there are lots of old school-books there of the boys", doing nothing, that I know he might have."

"Oh, Miss Gillian, how good of you! How delighted he would be!"

"Do you know what he wants most?"

"A Greek grammar and lexicon most of all," was the ready answer. "He has been trying to find them at the second-hand shop ever so long, but I am afraid there is no hope of a lexicon. They are so large and expensive."

"I think there is an old one of Jasper"s, if he would not mind its back being off, and lots of blots."

"He would mind nothing. Oh, Miss Gillian, you can"t think how happy he will be.

"If there is anything else he wants very much, how could he let me know?" mused Gillian. "Oh, I see! What time are you at the works?"

"Alex is there at seven; I don"t go till nine."

"I am to be at the station at 8.40. Could you or Maura meet me there and tell me?"

To this Kalliope agreed, for she said she could be sure of getting to her post in time afterwards, and she seemed quite overjoyed. No one could look at her without perceiving that Alexis was the prime thought of her heart, and Gillian delighted her by repeating Aunt Adeline"s admiration of his profile, and the general opinion of his singing.

"I am so sorry you have had to give it up," she added.

"It can"t be helped," Kalliope said; "and I really have no time."

"But that"s not all," said Gillian, beginning to blush herself.

"Oh! I hope there"s no gossip or nonsense about _that_," cried Kalliope, her cheeks flaming.

"Only--"

"Not Maura? Naughty little girl, I did not think she knew anything. Not that there is anything to tell," said Kalliope, much distressed; "but it is dreadful that there should be such talk."

"I thought it was _that_ you meant when you said you wanted advice."

"No one could advise me, I am afraid," said the girl. "If we could only go away from this place! But that"s impossible, and I dare say the fancy will soon go off!"

"Then you don"t care for him?"

"My dear Miss Gillian, when I have seen _gentlemen_!" said Kalliope, in a tone that might have cured her admirer.

They had, however, talked longer than usual, and the notes of the warning bell came up, just when Gillian had many more questions to ask, and she had to run down the garden all in a glow with eagerness and excitement, so that Aunt Ada asked if she had been standing in the sea wind. Her affirmative was true enough, and yet she was almost ashamed of it, as not the whole truth, and there was a consciousness about her all the afternoon which made her soon regret that conversation was chiefly absorbed by the younger one"s lamentations that they were not to accompany her to Silverfold, and by their commissions. Fergus wanted a formidable amount of precious tools, and inchoate machines, which Mrs.

Halfpenny had regarded as "mess," and utterly refused to let his aunts be "fashed" with; while Valetta"s orders were chiefly for the visiting all the creatures, so as to bring an exact account of the health and spirits of Rigdum Funnidos, etc., also for some favourite story-books which she wished to lend to Kitty Varley and Maura White.

"For do you know, Gill, Maura has never had a new story-book since mamma gave her Little Alice and her Sister, when she was seven years old! Do bring her Stories They Tell Me, and On Angel"s Wings."

"But is not that Mysie"s?"

"Oh yes, but I know Mysie would let her have it. Mysie always let Maura have everything of hers, because the boys teased her."

"I will bring it; but I think Mysie ought to be written to before it is lent."

"That is right, Gillian," said Miss Mohun; "it is always wiser to be above-board when dealing with other people"s things, even in trifles."

Why did this sound like a reproach, and as if it implied suspicion that Gillian was not acting on that principle? She resented the feeling. She knew she might do as she liked with the boys" old books, for which they certainly had no affection, and which indeed her mother had talked of offering to some of those charities which have a miscellaneous appet.i.te, and wonderful power of adaptation of the disused. Besides, though no one could have the least objection to their being bestowed on the Whites, the very fact of this being her third secret meeting with Kalliope was beginning to occasion an awkwardness in accounting for her knowledge of their needs. It was obvious to ask why she had not mentioned the first meeting, and this her pride would not endure. She had told her parents by letter. What more could be desired?

Again, when she would not promise to see either Miss Vincent or the Miss Hackets, because "she did not want to have a fuss," Aunt Jane said she thought it a pity, with regard at least to the governess, who might feel herself hurt at the neglect, "and needless secrets are always unadvisable."

Gillian could hardly repress a wriggle, but her Aunt Ada laughed, saying, "Especially with you about, Jenny, for you always find them out."

At present, however, Miss Mohun certainly had no suspicion. Gillian was very much afraid she would think proper to come to the station in the morning; but she was far too busy, and Gillian started off in the omnibus alone with Mrs. Mount in handsome black silk trim, to be presented to Mr. Macrae, and much enjoying the trip, having been well instructed by Fergus and Valetta in air that she was to see.

Kalliope was descried as the omnibus stopped, and in a few seconds Gillian had shaken hands with her, received the note, and heard the ardent thanks sent from Alexis, and which the tattered books--even if they proved to be right--would scarcely deserve. He would come with his sister to receive the parcel at the station on Gillian"s return--at 5.29, an offer which obviated any further difficulties as to conveyance.

Mrs. Mount was intent upon the right moment to run the gauntlet for the tickets; and had it been otherwise, would have seen nothing remarkable in her charge being accosted by a nice-looking ladylike girl. So on they rushed upon their way, Gillian"s spirits rising in a curious sense of liberty and holiday-making.

In due time they arrived, and were received by Macrae with the pony carriage, while the trees of Silverfold looked exquisite in their autumn red, gold, and brown.

But the dreariness of the deserted house, with no one on the steps but Quiz, and all the furniture m.u.f.fled in sheets, struck Gillian more than she had expected, though the schoolroom had been wakened up for her, a bright fire on the hearth, and the c.o.c.katoo highly conversational, the cats so affectionate that it was difficult to take a step without stumbling over one of them.