Part 46 (1/2)

”Oh, no, no!” breathed Una, with a sudden pallor. ”Perhaps I shall never go again.”

Mrs. Davenant looked at her curiously, and relapsed into silence until they reached home.

Then, as they entered the drawing-room, she said, with a little nervous smile:

”I have heard from my son Stephen, Una.”

”From your son?”

”Yes,” said Mrs. Davenant. ”It is good news. He has become very rich.

His uncle, Squire Davenant, has left him everything he possessed.”

Una started and turned pale. Then Jack had been left nothing! That was why he had looked so grave and troubled.

”Everything?” she asked.

”Everything,” said Mrs. Davenant, with a sigh: ”the Hurst and the estate, and all the money, and he is very rich--very rich indeed.”

Una looked before her dreamily. She could not say, ”I am very glad.”

Mrs. Davenant waited a moment.

”There is a message for you, my dear,” she said timidly, fingering the letter.

”For me!” said Una, looking up with a start.

”Yes; Stephen is so thoughtful! He never forgets others even in the midst of his great prosperity. He sends his kind regards, and trusts that you do not miss Warden, and that you will not find our quiet life too dull. He little thinks how we have plunged into gayety already. He would be surprised if he knew it.”

Indeed Stephen would, with a vengeance!

”It is very kind of him,” said Una, in a low voice.

Mrs. Davenant sighed.

”He is always kind and thoughtful. He tells me that he will not be able to come home just yet awhile. It seems that there is a great deal to see to. The estate was greatly neglected, and there's some business to be done with the lawyers; that keeps him there. But he says he will come as soon as he can, and, meanwhile, I am to make you as happy as I can. I hope I have done that already, dear,” she added, with simple affection.

Una rose and kissed her.

”Indeed, yes; I am very happy.”

Then she turned her face away to hide her tears.

”Come, you must go to bed,” said Mrs. Davenant, ”or you will lose all your fresh roses.”

And she put her candle in her hand, and kissed her tenderly.

It was some time before Una fell asleep. The events of the night flitted like phantom visions across her eyes, and Jack's face rose to haunt her, with its tender, troubled look in the dark eyes.

The squire had willed all to Stephen then, and Jack was poor and forgotten.