Chapter XXXII: A Large Family

LEFT alone, Ruth sat down in a luxurious arm chair by the window, and looked out over the green meadows.

Mary had told her how their windows at home had a view of Mr. Brown's house, but she little thought then that before long she would be sitting there herself, and that the mistress of the house was to become her own sister!

But she must not spend time in day-dreams, for her father would miss her, and had not Alice told her that tea was just ready?

She hastened her toilet, and soon was finding her way down. A maid came forward from one of the rooms and conducted her to the drawing-room, where Mr. Brown was talking to her father, and Alice was pouring out tea from a lovely old china teapot into cups such as Ruth had never seen. Her busy father had had other things to think about than old china, she thought!

There was much to tell between the two cousins, and Ruth and Alice were left to entertain each other.

Ruth found she had to tell all about Norman's recovery, and Alice and Willie Brown were full of interest in everything she could tell them, so that the time slipped by very fast. And just as Alice was proposing a walk round the grounds, Vincent's step was heard, and his smiling face appeared at the door.

"So you could not stay away long!" said Alice in a fond teasing tone. "Come along, we have not been complete without you!"

"Nor I," he said, "but Alice, mother and father cannot wait until to-morrow to see Ruth, so I have come to fetch her!"

"Not till after dinner?" asked Alice. "Just as you like about that."

So it was arranged. And visitors happening to come in, Vincent was told to show Ruth the beauties of the grounds, and the two went out together to the shady lawn, where seats and arbours and summer-houses seemed to abound, and they found themselves for the first time with opportunity to talk together over their plans, and of the new life that was opening before them.

It seemed all too short when Vincent exclaimed, "There is the first dinner gong! I declare it seems no time since Alice sent us out. It was jolly of her, was it not?"

"We must go now, though," smiled Ruth. "How long do they give us, Vincent?"

"Half an hour," said Vincent, grudgingly. "Does it take you all that time to make yourself smart. You look just right as you are!"

With which compliment, Ruth ran off laughing.

After dinner, Vincent came up to her as they stood about in the drawing-room.

"Shall we go now?" he asked. And when she turned rather pale, he added softly, "You need not be nervous, they will love you dearly!"

So they set forth in the sweet evening light. There were only two or three fields to cross, and soon they were walking up the garden at Vincent's home.

Mrs. Linthorpe had been watching for them, and met them at the garden door.

One glance at her face, and Ruth knew that she had nothing to fear.

She found two loving arms round her, and a very soft voice saying "Welcome, my dear!"

Her first thought was that this was Mary's mother, her next that she was Vincent's mother, and would be her own.

Lovingly the gentle eyes scanned the new daughter's face:

"We shall get to know each other, and love each other soon," said Mrs. Linthorpe, "though I do love you already, for my boy's sake. Now I am going to take you to Mr. Linthorpe at once, or you will be dreading the interview all the time! Come in, dear!"

She led the way into a shaded drawing-room, and there Ruth saw the invalid father of whom Mary had often told her.

He held out his thin hand, and she bent to receive his kiss.

"You seem like a little piece of my Molly!" he said, smiling. "How was she when you left, and my little grandson?"

Ruth smiled brightly; how thankful she felt to him that he spared her any further greetings and congratulations.

She gladly told him how she had been privileged to see both Mary and the grandson yesterday, and how well both were, and what happy messages Mary had sent to her father. And then Ruth's cheeks began to cool, and she could bear now the thought of the family of future brothers and sisters who would come in presently to be introduced.

When that ordeal was over, and at length it was time to go home, Vincent took her across the fields once more in the moonlight, and the rest gathered round Mr. Linthorpe's chair to compare notes.

"She looks very young," said Flora.

"That will improve," said their mother.

"She's pretty," said Harry.

"That's nothing," exclaimed Archie bluntly, "She's a regular brick, that's what I call her; there's lots of stuff in her, I'm certain."

"What do 'you' think, father?" asked Rose, bending over him.

"I like all I have seen and all I have heard, exceedingly."

"Father is such a judge of character," said Flora.

"Now mother! It is your turn," said Harry, laughing. "I say! A poor daughter-in-law has a lot of people to please!"

The rest laughed too, till Harry quite blushed.

"He's thinking of his turn," said Archie.

"Well—mother?" Harry urged.

"Mothers have to be very quiet over their different children!" smiled Mrs. Linthorpe, "But I think she will make Vincent happy!"