CHAPTER THIRTY.
FRESH TRIALS FOR RUTH AND MOLLIE.
Meanwhile, Ruth and Mollie were crying in each other's arms in theprivacy of their bedroom--that is to say, Ruth was crying and Mollie wasstorming and shedding an occasional tear more of anger than distress.
"I've never been so insulted in my life, and I won't stand it from fiftythousand Uncle Bernards! I'll tell him so, and make him beg my pardonand yours too, darling! Don't cry! It makes your nose so red, and youhate to look a fright!"
"Oh, Mollie, we were far happier at home when we thought we were sobadly off! What was the use of coming here to have our hearts broken?I loved that man, I thought he loved me, and now I can only despise him.He deliberately tried to fasten suspicion upon me this afternoon, and Ican never prove my innocence, for I _was_ in the library, and alone forquite a long time, on and off. What can I do, or say, if they won'ttake my word?"
"Everybody will, whose opinion is worth having Victor Druce thinks ofnothing but his own advantage; and I won't allow you to say you caredfor him."
"It's easier said than done! Can you practise what you preach? Youdon't say anything, but I know,--I can see! When Jack goes away, willyou find it easy to forget all about him?"
Mollie's face changed. Excitement disappeared, to be replaced by asweet and serious dignity.
"I shall never forget him," she said quietly; "but he is in love withanother girl--he told me about her the other day--so our lives must bespent apart. I shall never be as happy as I might have been, but I'mgoing to be as happy as I can. I _won't_ mope! We were happy enoughjust to be together a few weeks ago; let's go back to where we were, andforget all about the tiresome men!"
"It's easier said than done," sighed Ruth once more. She sank down in achair by the window, and, leaning her head on her hand, gazed drearilyacross the park, beautiful in the changing light of late afternoon.With what joy and confidence had she regarded the same scene a few weeksago, her heart expanding in the happy certainty that some day it wouldbe her own, and with it unlimited powers of helping those she loved.Now, between Victor's faithlessness and her own fall from favour, hopehad gradually died away, and the future seemed to hold nothing butbitterness and regret.
Ruth's heart turned homewards with yearning affection. The love of thelittle mother was a certainty which could be depended upon through goodreport and ill; nothing that could be said against her child would shakeher trust and faith, she would be even more tender in failure thansuccess.
The dear old pater, too--how good he had been all these years, making nodistinction between his step-daughters and his own children, exceptperhaps to show a more anxious care for their needs! He worked so hard,and was so absolutely self-denying and uncomplaining; it was not hisfault if he did not possess the power of money-making. When she was athome again she would be more thoughtful of his comfort, moreaffectionate and sympathetic. She recalled all the step-brothers andsisters whose very existence she had grudged at times, each namebringing with it some kindly, humorous recollection. How truly lovablethey were, despite their faults!
Then Ruth's thoughts roamed a little further afield to the few intimatefriends of the family, foremost among whom came Eleanor Maclure and herbrother. What would Eleanor say if the grand expedition ended inignominious failure? A good many words of sympathy, of cheer, and a fewsimple heart-to-heart truths, pointing out the spiritual side of thepuzzle, spoken in that soft Scotch voice which was so good to hear. Ahyes, it would be a help to meet Eleanor again. And the--the doctor!
During the first weeks of her stay at the Court, Ruth had been so muchabsorbed in the present that she had had no leisure to think of oldfriends; but during the last few days the vision of Dr Maclure's facehad risen before her not once but many times--strong, earnest, resolute,with steady glance and square-built chin, such a contrast from thatother face with the veiled eyes, which seemed to hide rather than revealthe soul within.
In the midst of soreness and humiliation it had been a comfort toremember that such a man had loved her enough to wish to make her hiswife. She recalled the conversation in the brougham with new sympathyand understanding. Had he suffered as she was suffering now? Did hislife also stretch ahead blank and grey because of that little word fromher lips? Her heart yearned over him, yet felt mysteriously lightenedat the thought.
"There's the postman's collie!" cried Mollie's voice, interrupting herreverie. "That means that the evening post is in. I'll run down andsee what there is for us."
She disappeared for a few minutes, then reappeared carrying one letterin her hand.
"From mother, to you. Open it quickly, dear! It is an age since shehas written. I only hope and pray it is good news!" But, alas! thataspiration was shattered at the sight of the first few sentences.
"My darling girls,--I have delayed writing as I could not bear to cloudyour pleasure, but I can keep back the truth no longer. You must bebrave, dears, and help me to be brave, for it is no half and halftrouble this time. We are quite, quite ruined, and Heaven only knowswhat is to become of us!
"It is not the pater's fault in any one way. For the last two years hehas been doing a good deal of business for a man who appeared to be invery good circumstances. At first he paid up his accounts mostregularly, but lately they have sometimes been allowed to run on frommonth to month. I don't understand business, but it seems that this isoften allowed, and as he had been such a good client, and had met hispayments regularly before, the pater felt safe in trusting him, and paidout all his own little capital to finance the business of the last fewmonths, which was unusually large.
"He expected to make such a handsome commission as would set us on ourfeet again; but it was all a deliberate fraud. Other poor men have beentaken in in the same way, and that scoundrel has disappeared, leaving usto bear the brunt. I hope I may be able to forgive him some day; justnow, when I see the pater's broken heart and think of you, and all thosechildren, it's too difficult.
"Everything that we have or can raise in any way will not pay what weowe, and the pater cannot carry on his business without some capital.The future is very dark; but God has helped me through many dark days,and He will help us still. Trix is splendid! She went of her ownaccord to the headmistress and offered to teach one of the juniorclasses in exchange for Betty's education, and a few finishing classesfor herself. Miss Bean came to see me, and it is all arranged, for shesays Trix has a genius for managing children, and will be a valuablehelp. She is a good woman, and is glad of the opportunity of helpingus, so that difficulty is overcome; but there are oh, so many others tobe faced!
"What is to be done about the house--the boys--yourselves? Pater and Ihave talked until we are too tired and puzzled to talk any more, but, sofar, no light has dawned.
"Write to the pater as well as to me, for he has been good to you, andwill value your sympathy. Oh, my darlings, it is hard that this shouldhave happened just now to spoil your happy visit! My heart aches foryour trouble, for these things are so hard when one is young. I hope, Itrust, I pray that the future may be so bright for you as to make up forall the anxieties you have had to bear. Tell Uncle Bernard our trouble;you and he must decide what you had better do.
"I long for your help and comfort, but leave the decision entirely inyour hands. Every one is good and sympathetic, and the pater has hadmost kind letters from his friends in town. We have this great comfortthat his good name is untarnished, and that there is no shadow ofdisgrace in our misfortune. God bless you, my darlings! If we are richin nothing else, we are rich in our love for one another.--Your devotedMother."
The girls looked at each other in a long, breathless silence. Ruth laidher hand across her heart with a little gasp of pain.
"Oh, mother! Poor little mother! And we are away, we who should be herbest comforters! There is only one thing to do,--we must go home atonce!"
"Yes," assented Mollie firmly, "we must go home to-morrow."