“I give you hope too,” said Caroline, “though I don’t know how it might have been if she had come down just now!”

“Don’t!” entreated Cecil.  “Babie is as good as my sister.  Why, where is she?”

“Fled, and no wonder!”

“And won’t she, Esther, come?”

“She is far too much frightened and overcome.  She says you may go to her father, and I think that is all you can expect her to say.”

“Is it?  Won’t she see me?  I don’t want it to be obedience.”

“I don’t think you need have any fears on that score.”

“You don’t?  Really now?  You think she likes me just a little?  How soon can I get down?  Have you a train-bill?”

Then during the quest into trains came a fit of humility.  “Do you think they will listen to me?  You are not the sort who would think me a catch, and I know I am a very poor stick compared with any of you, and should have gone to the dogs long ago but for Jock, ungrateful ass as I was to him last year.  But if I had such a creature as that to take care of, why it would be like having an angel about one.  I would-—indeed I would—-reverence, yes, and worship her all my life long.”

“I am sure you would.  I think it would be a very happy and blessed thing for you both, and I have no doubt that her father will think so too.  Now, here are the others coming home, and you must behave like a rational being, even though you don’t see Essie at tea.”

Mother Carey managed to catch Jock, give a hint of the situation, and bid him take care of his friend.  He looked grave.  “I thought it was coming,” he said.  “I wish they would have done it out of our way.”

“So do I, but I didn’t take measures in time.”

“Well, it is all right as regards them both, but poor Bobus will hardly get over it.”

“We must do our best to soften the shock, and, as it can’t be helped, we must put our feelings in our pocket.”

“As one has to do most times,” said Jock.  “Well, I suppose it is better for one in the end than having it all one’s own way.  And Evelyn is a generous fellow, who deserves anything!”

“So, Jock, as we can do Bobus no good, and know besides that nothing could make it right for his hopes to be fulfilled, we must throw ourselves into this present affair as Cecil and Essie deserve.”

“All right, mother,” he said.  “There’s not stuff in her to be of much use to Bobus if he had her, besides the other objection.  It is the hope that he will sorely miss, poor old fellow!”

“Ah! if he had a better hope lighted as his guiding star!  But we must not stand talking now, Jock; I must take her to Church quietly with me.”

To Cecil’s consternation, his military duties would detain him all the forenoon of the next day; and before he could have started, the train that brought John back also brought his father and mother, the latter far more eager and effusive than her sister-in-law had ever seen her.  “My dear Caroline, I thought you’d excuse my coming, I was so anxious to see about my little girl, and we’ll go to an hotel.”