Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/314

 It was quite true. Various zephyrs and divers little birds had whispered the romantic fact in their ears long ago. But what did it matter? It was but one plume more in the cap of the Magician, a mere detail in that pageant of which Mystery itself is the last expression.

There may have been wisdom in their laughter. At any rate it seemed to give them a kind of Dutch courage for the ordeal that was now so near. But a rather forced gayety did not long continue; it was soon merged in a further piece of news which Jack suddenly remembered.

"By the way," he announced, "there's more trouble at Bridport House. My cousins, I hear, are going to live with Aunt Charlotte."

She was obliged to ask why, but he had to own that it was beyond his power to answer her question. All that he knew was that his cousins were "at serious outs" with their father, and that according to recent information they were on the point of leaving the paternal roof.

The Tenderfoot, however, in professing a diplomatic ignorance of a matter to which he had indiscreetly referred, had only pulled up in the nick of time. He knew rather more than he said. "There's a violent quarrel about Mrs. Sanderson," was at the tip of his tongue, but happily he saw in time that such words in such circumstances would be pure folly. Nay, it was folly to have drifted into these perilous waters at all; and in the face of a suddenly awakened curiosity, he proceeded at once to steer the talk into a safer channel.

After all, that was not very difficult. As they sat under the whispering leaves, gazing a little wistfully at the pomp of a summer's day, heaven was so near that it