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The Story of Wild Will Enderby

Chapter XI. What Philip Thought of It

page 247

Chapter XI. What Philip Thought of It.

"Tell me, Mabel, have you quite forgiven me?"

Mabel turned upon him her innocent young face, and frank honest eyes.

"I have done more than that, Will," she said. "I have quite forgotten that there was anything to forgive."

"Bless you, my darling!" cried Will; and in his impetuous way, he took her in his arms, and rained kisses on her lips, eyes, and forehead.

These osculatory performances were not entirely concluded, when the door opened, and Philip presented himself.

"Very pretty, indeed!" said Philip. "Am I to understand that all your iniquities have been condoned? Is the entente cordiale fully restored?"

"Yes, cousin Philip; that is so, as my late partner would say. You imprudently entered just as the treaty between the allies was being signed and sealed."

"Sealed? Humph! very pretty sealing. Rather Mormonish, I fancy."

"Don't be impertinent, Phil!" cried Miss Mabel from the verandah.

"Oh! you are there, are you? Well then, I think the best thing you can do is to go to papa, and curtsey page 248like a good little girl and fold your hands and say,—'Please papa, I want to get married.'"

Mabel flew into the room, with her cheeks very red, her eyes very bright, her hair very tangled, and altogether prettily disarranged.

"I shall not do anything so silly, you rude boy." And half in sport, half in earnest, she boxed Philip's ears.

Then she vanished again.

"Now Will," said Philip, "let us be serious for a few minutes. Of course I am glad to find everything pleasant between you and Mabel. But this cannot be allowed to go on without some definite arrangement. Don't jump up in that furious manner. I'm not going to call you out. It is a very simple matter. If you and Mabel are to be married, the sooner it is settled the better. If that is not to be, you must see that you cannot possibly remain under the same roof with her another day."

From which sensible little speech you will observe that Master Philip Grey was a very business-like young man.

"What on earth are you driving at?" cries Will. "Why are you badgering a fellow in this way? What do you want me to do?"

"Merely to see my father—your uncle—and explain to him the present state of affairs."

"Oh, hang it, Phil! there's no need to hurry about that. It's all right, you know."

"No, my dear coz, it is not 'all right,' and there is need for hurry. I don't forget that May's peace of mind has been nearly shipwrecked already; and I don't page 249think it right for her to incur more risks of that sort. So you had better see the governor—or shall I do so?"

Will did 'see the governor about it.' And the governor looked very grave. He saw things in a light somewhat different from the rosy hues wherewith Will regarded the situation. His mind, moreover, was busied at the time with a cargo of sugar, just arrived from Mauritius; a bad debt, which promised to largely add to the comfort and prosperity of the insolvent; a promising new Company, of which he was Provisional Director; and a few other 'unconsidered trifles.' So he said;—

"This is a very serious matter, Will. Mabel's happiness has to be considered, you know; and really I'm afraid that you are not sufficiently steady yet to undertake the responsibility. And you are both very young, you know—very young indeed. There's no hurry!—no hurry! Marry in haste, and repent at leisure—repent at leisure, you know.

"Just what I said myself, uncle. But Philip would insist on my speaking to you at once."

"Humph! Ah! Well! Philip is a sensible young fellow. Bless my heart, I don't know what to think of it. I must talk to your aunt about it. Yes, that's the best thing. I can't give you an answer just now. Besides I'm very busy—very busy indeed."

The good sense of Mrs. Grey, aided perhaps by natural reluctance to part with her daughter, suggested a period of probation.

"Exactly my own opinion," said John Grey, "that will give us time to see how he behaves."

page 250

And he explained to Will that there must be a little delay.

"Of course," assented Will, "I always intended that. Christmas will be quite soon enough."

"Christmas?" echoed his uncle. "Christmas indeed? Chut! chut! Christmas is only a month off. No, Will; say Christmas twelvemonths. That's much better."

"What Sir? Twelve months? A whole year? How do you suppose we are to wait so long?"

"With patience, Will—with patience. Finest thing in the world. And between you and me, you want it sadly."

Will fumed, and stormed, and raved. But this only convinced John Grey of the wisdom of his wife's suggestively conveyed advice.

So Will was relegated to the station, to bear, as best he might, the tortures of absence and delay for twelve weary months.