’I am sure Maggie will be glad to get away from Inver-Mudal,’ she was saying, ’for she will not find anywhere a schoolmistress as hard as I have been. But maybe she will not have to go to school at all, if she has to keep house for you?’
’But she’ll no have to keep house for me,’ Ronald said at once. ’If she goes to Glasgow, she’ll be much better with my brother’s family, for that will be a home for her.’
’And where will you go, Ronald?’ she said.
’Oh, into a lodging—I can fend for myself.’
At this she looked grave—nay, she did not care to conceal her disapproval. For had she not been instructing Maggie in the mysteries of housekeeping in a town—as far as these were known to herself: and had not the little girl showed great courage; and declared there was nothing she would not attempt rather than be separated from her brother Ronald?
’It would never do,’ said he, ’to leave the lass alone in the house all day in a big town. It’s very well here, where she has neighbours and people to look after her from time to time; but among strangers——’
’But where’s the tea ye said ye would ask Miss Douglas in to?’
’We were so busy with the Glasgow housekeeping,’ Meenie said, laughing, ’that we forgot all about it.’
’I’ll go and get it ready now,’ the little Maggie said, and she went from the room, leaving these two alone.
He was a little embarrassed; and she was also. There had been no _amantium irae_ of any kind; but all the same the _integratio amoris_ was just a trifle difficult; for she on her side was anxious to have their old relations re-established during the brief period that would elapse ere he left the neighbourhood, and yet she was hesitating and uncertain; while he on his side maintained a strictly respectful reserve. He ’knew his place;’ his respect towards her was part of his own self-respect; and if it did not occur to him that it was rather hard upon Meenie that all the advances towards a complete rehabilitation of their friendship should come from her, that was because he did not know that she was moved by any such wish, and also because he was completely ignorant of a good deal else that had happened of late. Of course, certain things were obvious enough. Clearly the half-frightened, distant, and yet regretful look with which she had recently met and parted from him when by chance they passed each other in the road was no longer in her eyes; there was a kind of appeal for friendliness in her manner towards him; she seemed to say, ’Well, you are going away; don’t let us forget the old terms on which we used to meet.’ And not only did he quickly respond to that feeling, but also he was abundantly grateful to her; did not he wish to carry away with him the pleasantest memories of this beautiful, sweet-natured friend, who had made all the world magical to him for a while, who had shown him the grace and dignity and honour of true womanhood, and made him wonder no less at the charm of her clear-shining simplicity and naturalness? The very name of ’Love Meenie’ would be as the scent of a rose—as the song of a lark—for him through all the long coming years.