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Frank Melton's Luck, Or, Off to New Zealand

Chapter XXX. Harry's Experience an Unexpected Legacy

Chapter XXX. Harry's Experience an Unexpected Legacy.

On opening the note I had snatched from Miss Rosa's fat little fists, I found a ‘fiver’ carefully wrapped up in a piece of paper, on which were written the words: ‘A loan from a loving sister, which please use to extricate yourself from a situation in which it grieves her to see you, and must grieve you to occupy.’ I showed Rosa the words ‘loving sister,’ and she was satisfied I wasn't cramming her, and laid herself out for a grand time with me, for the people had nearly all cleared that day and we had nothing to do. However, to her intense disgust I wasn't on. I left her abruptly and went up to my room, and cried like a great baby over those few words, and made up my mind to leave next day.

Use that note! not much! I'll keep it as long as I live. By the next morning's post I received the lawyer's letter of which I told you, but I did not tell you it contained besides the news of my good luck, a welcome advance; but if it had not, and I hadn't another cent in the world, I would have swagged it before I would have spent a copper of that note. Of course I sent her back the amount of her kind loan, but not that identical note. I informed her of my good fortune, but I tell you, Frank, I would give up every ‘stiver’ of it if I could only by that means persuade that noble girl that she has all my love. To be her adopted brother is something, certainly, but it isn't good enough. To be her husband would he, I must confess, a greater happiness than I deserve.

‘Well, Harry, I daresay you are right, but, thank God, neither happiness nor punishment are meted out in this world exactly according to our deserts, so there is hope for you yet, my boy. But you say you want to make Miss Grave believe she has all your love. How about the spoon with the little chamber-maid?’

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‘Oh, that was only to pass the time, you know. Besides, I'll own I mean to give those little affairs best now. A fellow thinks they are grand till he once feels the right thing, then he sees what awful rot they are. My word, the little demon did give me beans, though, when she found I was clearing out.’

I doubted much whether Master Harry would stick to his new resolutions. He promised to pay us a visit at Wanganui when I returned. In the meantime he was amusing himself by a little speculation in mining scrip, though he appeared to be very much more cautions than I should have anticipated. The business that I had come up about took a peculiar turn, and, acting on my best judgment, I deemed it necessary to run down and consult uncle on some matter that had cropped up. I regretted the necessity, as I had just received another letter from Cecilia, stating that, shortly after sending her last, her husband had accepted a living near Auckland, and expected to be in that town in about three weeks or a month, when they hoped I would meet them there, so that, had I not been obliged to take this journey down the coast, I could have remained in town till they arrived. However, I should most likely be compelled to return to Auckland, so it did not really matter much.

My Bright Smiles had certainly risen in price the evening of the purchase as Harry had informed me, but only on a false report of a good reef being struck. When the truth of the matter was discovered next day, prices fell considerably below the figure at which I had bought. ‘Like many of their namesakes,’ I thought, ‘they are deceiving,’ and I wished I had not touched them. My hundred pounds' worth would now only fetch fifty or sixty pounds. I felt a sadder, but a wiser man.

We spent, as usual, the last evening before my departure together. On this occasion we visited the theatre, and were much entertained with the company performing there. Sometimes we used to take a pull round the harbour, or a walk round the town. I noticed particularly that Harry's thirst was not nearly so insatiable as I remembered it of old. An occasional call at the Occidental to inspect Perkin's latest curiosities, for in those days the hotel was quite a museum, and imbibe a glass of colonial ale would satisfy himi; whereas formerly he never liked to pass a bar without callng, and ardent spirits would be his ‘particular vanity’ instead of beer. The presiding Hebes at these places of resort had lost their influenc. Formerly, to be in their good graces would seem to have been the one aim of his existence. I ventured to remark on this improvement, and asked the cause of it.

‘A sister's prayers, dear boy. God for ever bless her,’ replied he, with a warmth of emotion very uncommon in him. ‘I know a change for the better has come over me since that girl took an interest in me, or rather, perhaps, since I discovered, which I have only very lately, the disinterestedness of her great kindness to me in the hospital by the light of her last act at the hotel. I have really tried to become more worthy of her. When once a fellow manages to get clear of the drink and folly in which he has become entangled, he wonders where the fun comes in, and gets disgusted with the thing altogether.’

The next morning saw me on board, bound for Wanganui. I had not advised them of my intention to return, for, as my resolve was a hasty one, I should have arrived at the same time as the letter. On page 128 reaching home, I found the house in a state of discomfort, which clearly foretold that a dance was intended. As it happened to be Fanny's birthday, I was not surprised. Everyone seemed busy at the back of the house, although evidences of previous efforts in the front were everywhere visible. The drawing-room furniture was collected in the hall, and the room tastefully decorated with flowers and ferns. As no one had yet noticed my arrival, I sat down in the only remaining chair in the room. It was standing in a corner, evidently for the purpose of being used to elevate the fair decorator, whom from former experience, I rightly judged would be Fanny, to enable her to put some finishing touches on the mass of verdant drapery in that particular locality. I remember vividly the delicious sensations which I experienced as I sat in the corner of that empty room, the fresh, cool breeze from the open window stirring and waving about the filmy fern leaves over my head. Already I could see in anticipation Fanny's look of pleased surprise at my unexpected return; already I had prepared the few effective and graceful sentences with which I intended to show her I had not forgotten her birthday, and beg her acceptance of a handsome locket I had brought with me; already I could feel, in anticipation, the thrill of delirious delight which would possess me at the pressure of her ruby lips, as she gae me her warm kiss of cousinly welcome. Though I had been glad to get away from the object of my unrequited devotion, yet with the ever-changing restless humour of a young man under the influence of the tender passion, I was in an ecstacy of happiness at the idea of meeting her again. How long to remain so I neither knew nor cared. It was sufficient for the time to feel that perfection of blissful expectancy; let the future take care of itself. It did, but how? I heard her tuneful voice singing a favourite song in the direction of a bit of native bush left untouched by the woodman's axe. Should I rush forth and meet her? No, I would remain where I was to prolong the pleasurable anticipation, and make her surprise more complete.

The longed-for moment came. I heard her approaching footsteps. She bounded into the room, a fit representation of the goddess Flora, her cheeks glowing with health and pleasant exerccise, her hat off, a wreath of the lovely native convolvus wound round her wealth of brilliant black hair, stray locks of which floated in the breeze, having been disarranged by rude contact with a mass of the same material which she carried in her arms, and which, in its turn, made the semblance more complete as its pure white blossoms and green leaves trailed over her pretty pink dress. But there were other footsteps, and almost at the same moment Grosvenor followed her in. Alas! for my anticipations. They were not to be realized. She started suddenly, then came slowly forward, offering me—not her lovely lips, as usual—but only her hand, which she would have offered the merest acquaintance. ‘Oh, Frank, is that you? We didn't expect you for another month at least. How are you?’ No pleasant surprise in her tone. Not much! It sounded vastly more like badly-concealed annoyance.

My feelings may be very much easier imagined than described. I answered her question, however, and also returned Grosvenor's cold, clammy handshake with a very bad grace, I admit. The locket, which I had in my hand ready for presentation, was returned surreptitiously to my pocket, and remained there. Grosvenor appeared to be almost as annoyed at seeing me as I was at his presence. I went round to the page 129 stables on the pretence of finding Charlie, but, in reality, to try and calm my troubled feelings. I tried questioning myself to endeavour to reason away my misery. I might as well have tried to fly. Why should I be so disconcerted at meeting my rival? Was not I aware that he would soon be here? Why should I have been so elated at meeting Fanny again? Why have expected so much pleasure from the meeting? Why not take things easy that are bound to happen? Ah, yes, why? why? For the simple reason that I was in love. Vain questions! vainly answered—at least as far as their attempts at reason and comfort were concerned.

Poor old Rowdy came bounding up to me, having recognized his master, and in the exuberance of his joy almost knocked me over. I fear he was repulsed with a cruel kick in the irritation and disquiet of mind consequent on the manner in which my own anticipations had been crushed. When I saw the look of mute reproach on his simple, honest face, I felt what a brute I was to trample on the affections of a dumb animal just because mine had been cast into the dust. A pat or two on his stupid old head put matters right in a twinkling, and he was again bounding about me as if nothing had happened. Happy dog! Would that my memory for trouble was as short.

Uncle at this moment came in from his usual ride round the place. I at once explained to him the reason of my return, and also informed him of my wish to meet my sister and her husband on their arrival in Auckland. He was very vexed at my considering it necessary to see him, and said that the matter could have been easily delayed until my return after meeting my relatives.

‘But, uncle, I acted for the best. I really thought it most important to consult you myself on this point, and the lawyer said the same.’

‘Oh, bosh! what did it matter for a few weeks? Only too glad of an excuse I expect. Sneaking after Fanny again. That's about the truth of it, you young idiot. First you say you want to get away, then back you come before you can say “knife.” A nice boy to send on business, truly! Comes back with paltry excuse before it's half done. You'll just go back by next boat. That's all about it!

I had great difficulty in keeping my temper, yet I knew that no thing was to be gained by losing it, so, again reiterating that I had acted on my best judgment, and also on advice, I left him muttering and grumbling to himself in about as bad a temper as I had ever seen him. Aunt, who was engaged nursing Melton Minimus, and superintending the preparations for the evening, welcomed me more warmly, although I could see also in her manner something of disappointment at my return, mingled with pity for me.

‘Mr Grosvenor came up last evening, Frank,’ she said. ‘He is just back from England. He wanted to have the wedding at once, but we have persuaded him to wait for three weeks to give time for proper preparations. We had hoped you would have remained away till the ceremony was over, as we think it would be so much better for you, and save you much pain.’

‘I think otherwise, aunt. I have already suffered as much as it is possible to suffer in the way you mean, and I think I can stand the rest. It would not look well if I was absent from my cousin's wedding, so I will be there, for I fear now nothing can prevent it. Who are coming to your party to-night?’

‘I think the only people besides the usual lot will be the Robinsons, who have just returned. We called on them the other day, and page 130 Fanny took rather a fancy to Julia. She was once a great friend of yours, wasn't she?’

‘Oh, yes, I know them all,’ I replied wearily.

‘Fanny appears to have exchanged confidences with her, and it appears she is also engaged to be married, and is waiting for her adored one to return from England, just as Fanny was at the time we called. A curious coincidence, wasn't it? I don't think she told Fanny his name. It is quite probable he came in the same ship with Augustus.’

‘Why, aunt, surely you remember? oh, no, I don't think I told you; but didn't Fanny tell you what I had heard in Auckland—that Grosvenor was also engaged to Julia Robinson; that the sneak was playing a double game, engaged to both to make sure of getting the one with the most money, when he could find out which that was? I don't suppose, bad as he is, that he would commit bigamy.

‘Told me: no! I never heard a word about it till now, nor do I believe it. People are always saying young men of property are engaged to every young lady to whom they speak. I would not spread the report if I were you; it would not be kind to Miss Robinson.’

The same old story; I was not believed. All put down to my spite against Grosvenor. I would say no more, but await the course of events. The complication, which the cute old doctor had advised me to try and bring about, appeared to be approaching without any assistance on my part. It gave me another gleam of hope.

Our guests on this occasion were not to arrive till after tea, so we had that meal to ourselves. It was the quietest I had ever sat down to in that house. Even Charlie's usual exuberance of spirits was absent. Uncle, who had not recovered from his annoyance, gave very brief replies to Grosvenor's remarks. Aunt endeavoured to get up a lively conversation with me, but she might almost as well have addressed the tea-urn, for I felt as dull as ditchwater, and could only reply ‘yes or no’ to her questions, and often gave one of these minute answers when the other should have been given.

After tea I overheard Grosvenor warning Fanny against dancing too much with that gloomy cousin of hers. ‘He looks as if he would like to eat me,’ he added.

‘Oh, does he,’ I exclaimed aloud, in a tone and with a look which made him regard me with terror for the rest of the evening.