CHAPTER VI

ENGAGED

“My dear Trevor, do let me warn you against making yourself in any way responsible for Chris’s brothers.”

Mrs. Forest spoke impressively.  She was rather fond of warning people.  It was in a fashion her attitude towards life.

“You will find,” she continued, “that Chris herself will need a firm hand—­a very firm hand.  Though so young, she is not, I fear, very pliable.  I have known her do the most unheard-of things, chiefly, I must admit, from excess of spirits.  They all suffer from that upon occasion.  It is a most difficult thing to cope with.”

“But not a very serious failing,” said Mordaunt, with his tolerant smile.

“It leads to very serious complications sometimes,” said Mrs. Forest, in the tone of one who could reveal much were she so minded.

But Mordaunt did not seem to hear.  His eyes had wandered to a light figure in the doorway—­a girl with wonderful hair that shimmered like burnished copper, and eyes that were blue as a summer sea.  It was a Sunday afternoon, and several people had dropped in to tea.  The engagement had been announced the previous day, and Mordaunt had dropped in also to give his young fiancee the benefit of his support.  Chris, however, was not, to judge by appearances, needing any support.  She seemed, in fact, to be frankly enjoying herself.  The high spirits which her aunt deplored were very much in evidence at that moment.  Her gay laugh reached him where he sat.  Being engaged was evidently the greatest fun.

“They are all like that,” continued Mrs. Forest, with her air of one fulfilling an unpleasant duty—­“all except Max, who is frankly objectionable.  Gay, debonnaire, fascinating, I grant you, but so deplorably unstable.  Those boys—­well, I have never dared to encourage them here, for I know too well what it would mean.  If you are really thinking of buying their old home for yourself and Chris, do be on your guard or you will never keep them at arms’ length.”

“Kellerton Old Park will be Chris’s property exclusively,” Mordaunt replied gravely.  “If she cares to have her brothers there, she will be quite at liberty to do so.”

“My dear Trevor, you are far too kind,” protested Mrs. Forest.  “I see you are going to spoil them right and left.  They will simply live on you if you do that.  You won’t find yourself master in your own house.”

“No?” said Mordaunt, with a smile.

Chris was coming towards him.  He rose to meet her.

“Oh, Trevor,” she said eagerly, “I can go down to Kellerton with you to-morrow, and Max has written to say he will join us there.  I am so glad he can get away.  I haven’t seen him since Christmas.”

“Isn’t he coming to your birthday party?” asked Jack Forest, strolling up at that moment.

He addressed Chris, but he looked at his mother, who, after the briefest pause, made reply, “Of course Chris can ask whom she likes.”