the Squire and Mrs. Carmichael mastered courage, and
took Coristine's pale-faced nurse away from him with gentle force, the
mother taking the daughter's place for a time. After this, Miss
Carmichael was allowed no night duty, Wilkinson and the Squire, the
clergymen, Mr. Terry, and Mr. Douglas attending to it in turns, while
all the ladies, in the same way, relieved her during part of each day.
Very slowly, but silently and patiently, the invalid regained his lost
strength. He was grateful, sometimes with a few words of thanks, but
oftener mutely, with a deprecating look, to all who ministered to his
comfort. One day Marjorie was allowed in, and, among other wise remarks,
informed her Eugene that "cousin Marjorie wasn't you know what any
more." "My little love," he answered, "she's an angel, and always was";
Marjorie was not at all sure of this, but did not like to cross a sick
man. During his progress towards health, there were walks and drives,
picnics to Tillycot and the Beaver River, expeditions to town, fishing
expeditions with Mr. Bigglethorpe, for whom the lawyer had brought a
bundle of new flies, which in his anxious state of mind he had forgotten
to deliver, and a four days' trip on the _Susan Thomas_, which pleased
Miss Graves and Mr. Douglas immensely. Only two days were actually spent
on the water, but, as Tryphena was there in the capacity of cook, and a
coloured lady of Maguffin's acquaintance was temporarily engaged for
Mrs. Du Plessis, the crew and the manservant were in the seventh heaven
of delight. Marjorie, of course, was present, and shared the command of
the schooner with her father. She also attached herself a good deal to
Jim, and, although resenting the attentions he bestowed upon the big
girl, carefully abstained from porcine epithets, a result of Eugene's
epistolary instructions. The great Mr. Tylor came up to Bridesdale in
person to see his junior, and was duly informed of the engagement
between him and the heiress, Miss Carmichael, "Ah, Coristine, my dear
fellow, we shall be losing you for the law, now, and, the first thing we
know, you will be in Parliament. If not, I may say White is going out of
the firm, and Woodruff and I had resolved on Tylor, Woodruff and
Coristine for the new style. Your servant, Miss Carmichael! I
congratulate my friend and partner on a friend and prospective partner,
in life as well as law, so infinitely superior, and I trust you will
allow an oldish man to congratula