At last her curiosity or interest rose to such a pitch, that it is to be feared that Agatha in her independent spirit, and ignorance of, or indifference to the world, might have committed the terrific impropriety of making a good-natured inquiry at the door of this bachelor-establishment. She certainly would, had it consisted only of the harmless youth Nathanael; but then Major Harper, at the mention of whose name Mrs. Ianson now began to smile aside, and the invalid Jane to dart towards Agatha quick, inquisitive looks--No; she felt an invincible repugnance to knocking, on any pretence, at Major Harper's door.

However, having nothing to do and little to think of, and, moreover, being under the unwholesome necessity of keeping all her thoughts to herself, her conjectures grew into such a mountain of discomfort--partly selfish, partly generous, out of the hearty grat.i.tude which had been awakened in her towards the younger brother since the adventure with the bear--that Miss Bowen set off one fine morning, hoping to gain intelligence of her neighbours by the round-about medium of Emma Th.o.r.n.ycroft.

But that excellent matron had had two of her children ill with some infantine disease, and had in consequence not a thought to spare for any one out of her own household. The name of Harper never crossed her lips until Agatha, using a safe plural, boldly asked the question, "Had Emma seen anything of them?"

Mrs. Th.o.r.n.y croft could not remember.--Yes, she fancied some one had called--Mr. Harper, perhaps; or no, it must have been the Major, for somebody had said something about Mr. Nathanael's being ill or out of town. But the very day after that the measles came out on James, and poor little Missy had just been moved out of the night-nursery into the spare bed-room, etc. etc. etc.

The rest of Emma's information concerning her babies was, as they say in the advertis.e.m.e.nts of lost property, "of no value to anybody but the original owner."

Agatha bestowed a pa.s.sing regret on young Nathanael, whether he were ill or out of town; she would have liked to have seen more of him. But that Major Harper should contrive to saunter up to the Regent's Park to visit the Th.o.r.n.ycrofts, and never find time to turn a street-corner to say "How d'ye do" to _her_! she thought neither courteous nor kind.

There was little inducement to spend the day with Emma, who, in her present mood and the state of her household, was a mere conversational Dr. Buchan--a walking epitome of domestic medicine. So Miss Bowen extended her progress; took an early dinner with Mrs. Hill, and stayed all the afternoon at that good old lady's silent and quiet lodgings, where there was neither piano nor books, save one, which Agatha patiently read aloud for two whole hours--"The life of Elizabeth Fry."

A volume uninteresting enough to a young creature like herself, yet sometimes smiting her with involuntary reflections, as she contrasted her own aimless, useless existence with the life of that worthy Quakeress--the prison-angel.

Having tired herself out, first with reading and then with singing--very prosy and lengthy ballads of the old school, which were the ditties Mrs.

Hill always chose--Agatha departed much more cheerful than she came.

So great strength and comfort is there in having something to do, especially if that something happens to be, according to the old nursery-rhyme--

Not for ourself, but our neighbour.

Another day pa.s.sed--which being rainy, made the Doctor's dull house seem more inane than ever to the girl's restless humour. In the evening, at his old-accustomed hour, Major Harper "dropped in," and Agatha forgot his sins of omission in her cordial welcome. Very cordial it was, and unaffected, such as a young girl of nineteen may give to a man of forty, without her meaning being ill-construed. But under it Major Harper looked pathetically sentimental and uncomfortable. Very soon he moved away and became absorbed in delicate attentions towards the sick and suffering Jane Ianson.

Agatha thought his behaviour rather odd, but generously put upon it the best construction possible--viz. his known kind-heartedness. So she herself went to the other side of the invalid couch, and tried to make mirth likewise.

Asking after Mr. Harper, she learnt that her friend had been acting as sick-nurse, to his brother for some days.

"Poor fellow--he will not confess that he is ill, or what made him so.

But I hope he will be about again soon, for they are anxiously expecting him in Dorsetshire. Nathanael is the 'good boy' of our family, and as worthy a creature as ever breathed."

Agatha smiled with pleasure to see the elder brother waxing so generously warm; but when she smiled, Major Harper sighed, and cast his handsome eyes another way. All the evening he scarcely talked to her at all, but to Mrs. and Miss Ianson. Agatha was quite puzzled by this pointed avoidance, not to say incivility, and had some thoughts of plainly asking him if he were vexed with her; but womanly pride conquered girlish frankness, and she was silent.

After tea their quartett was broken by a visitor, whom all seemed astonished to see, and none more so than Major Harper.

"Why, Nathanael, I thought you were safely disposed of with your sofa and book. What madness makes you come out to-night?"

"Inclination, and weariness," returned the other, indifferently, as, without making more excuses or apologies, he dragged himself to the arm-chair, which Miss Bowen good-naturedly drew out for him, and slipped into the circle, quite naturally.

"Well, wilful lads must have their way," cried his brother, "and I am only too glad to see you so much better."

With that the flow of the Major's winning conversation recommenced; in which current all the rest of the company lay like silent pebbles, only too happy to be bubbled round by such a pleasant and refreshing stream.

The younger Harper sat in his arm-chair, leaning his forehead on his hand, and from under that curve now and then looking at them all, especially Agatha.

At a late hour the brothers went away, leaving Mrs. and Miss Ianson in a state of extreme delight, and Miss Bowen in a mood that, to say the least, was thoughtful--more thoughtful than usual.

After that lively evening followed three dull days, consisting of a solitary forenoon, an afternoon walk through the squares, dinner, backgammon, and bed; the next morning, _de capo al fine_, and so on; a dance of existence as monotonous as that of the spheres, and not half so musical. On the fourth day, while Miss Bowen was out walking, Nathanael Harper called to take leave before his journey to Dorsetshire. He stayed some time, waiting Agatha's return, Mrs. Ianson thought; but finally changed his mind, and made an abrupt departure, for which that young lady was rather sorry than otherwise.

The fifth day, Emma Th.o.r.n.ycroft appeared, and, strange to say, without any of her little ones; still stranger, without many references to them on her lips, except the general information that they were all getting well now.

The busy woman evidently had something on her mind, and plunged at once _in medias res_.

"Agatha, dear, I came to have a little talk with you."

"Very well," said Agatha smiling; calmly and prepared to give up her morning to the discussion of some knotty point in dress or infantile education. But she soon perceived that Emma's pretty face was too ominously important for anything short of that gravest interest of feminine life--matrimony; or more properly in this case--match-making.

"Agatha, love," repeated Emma, with the affectionate accent that was always quite real, but which now deepened under the circ.u.mstances of the case, "do you know that young Northen has been speaking to Mr.

Th.o.r.n.ycroft about you again."

"I am very sorry for it," was the short answer.

"But, my dear,'isn't it a great pity that you could not like the young man? Such a good young man too, and with such a nice establishment already. If you could only see his house in c.u.mberland Terrace--the real Turkey carpets, inlaid tables, and damask chairs."

"But I can't marry carpets, tables, and chairs."

"Agatha, you are _so_ funny! Certainly not, without the poor man himself. But there is no harm in him, and I am sure he would make an excellent husband."

"I sincerely hope so, provided he is not mine. Come, t.i.ttens, tell Mrs.

Th.o.r.n.ycroft what _you_ think on the matter," cried the wilful girl, trying to turn the question off by catching her little favourite. But Emma would not thus be set aside. She was evidently well primed with a stronger and steadier motive than what usually occupied and sufficed her easy mind.

"Ah, how can you be so childish! But when you come to my age"---

"I shall, in a few more years. I wonder if I shall be as young-looking as you, Emma?" This was a very adroit thrust on the part of Miss Agatha, but for once it failed.

"I hope and trust so, dear. That is, if you have as good a husband as I have. Only, be he what he may, he cannot be such another as my dear James."

Agatha internally hoped he might not; for, much as she liked and respected Emma's good spouse, her ideal of a husband was certainly not Mr. James Th.o.r.n.ycroft.

"Tell me," continued the anxious matron, keeping up the charge--"tell me, Agatha, do you ever intend to marry at all?

"Perhaps so; I can't say. Ask t.i.ttens!"

"Did you ever think in earnest of marrying? And"--here with an air of real concern Emma stole her arm round her friend's waist--"did you ever see anybody whom you fancied you could like, if he asked you?"

Agatha laughed, but the colour was rising in her brown cheek. "Tut, tut, what nonsense!"

"Look at me, dear, and answer seriously."

Agatha, thus hemmed in, turned her face full round, and said, with some dignity, "I do not know, Emma, what right you have to ask me that question."

"Ah, it is so; I feared it was," sighed Emma, not in the least offended.

"I often thought so, even before he hinted"------

"Who hinted--and what?"

"I can't tell you; I promised not. And of course you ought not to know.

Oh, dear, what am I letting out!" added poor Mrs. Th.o.r.n.ycroft, in much discomfiture.

"Emma, you will make me angry. What ridiculous notion have you got into your head? What on earth do you mean?" cried Miss Bowen, speaking quicker than her usual quick fashion, and dashing the kitten off her knee as she rose.