page 254

Chapter XIII. Only Eighteen.

"Mamma, dear!—how old were you when you were married to papa?"

"What a singular question, Mabel!—Why do you ask me?"

"I thought I should like to know. That is all."

"Curious child," said Mrs. Grey. "I was only eighteen at the time. Your brother Philip is nearly twenty-three, so that I am becoming quite a venerable personage."

Mabel did not seem greatly interested by the latter remarks.—"Well, mamma," she said, very demurely, "you know I shall be eighteen in May."

Mrs. Grey's mild eyes sought those of her daughter with a new interest. "Do you mean," she cried, "that you wish"—

The question was never finished. For, for all answer, Mabel, blushing scarlet over face and neck, threw herself into her mother's arms, and hid her sweet confusion in the maternal breast.

There was a solemn conference that night between Mabel Grey's mother and Will Enderby's uncle. And the result was, that next morning, as John Grey arose page 255from the breakfast table he went round to Mabel, and pinching her cheek caressingly, said to her,—

"So you will be eighteen next May, will you? Bless my heart! What a little old woman it is! And mamma was married when she was eighteen, was she? Well, May, if you will, May, you may have Will on May-day. Dear! dear! I don't think I was ever guilty of a pun before in all my life. It's a most unbusiness-like thing to do. 'Pon my word I'm quite ashamed of myself."

Will jumped up in a great hurry to thank his uncle.

"Chut! chut! Don't make a fuss," cried that gentleman deprecatingly. "There's many a slip, you know—many a slip. Get away to the run at once, and behave yourself properly, or I'll never give you my bonnie May. Never, Sir, never!"

And he bustled off to the train.

And as Philip prepared to follow him, that sagacious young man said to Will:—

"Take the governor at his word. You hold trumps now, but trumps don't always win. Much depends on the way they are played."

And thus was Will's term of probation abbreviated.