CHAPTER XVII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 353, 23 March 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XVII.

808 DISCLOSES HIS PLAXS, As be uttered these words. Bob Morninglooked so strong and confident and manly that Dulcio felt certain of his ultimate success. All he required, she told herself, was a start. ' And what does your uncle Bockwith propose doing ?' she asked. ' Has he made any definite proposition ?' Somehow, his future seemed so inextricably mixed up with her own that it came quite naturally to ask for details. ' There is nothing settled at present. Still, I once more begin to hope. Uncle Beckwith is full of some large cattle-ranchc out in the Pcocky Mountains, which the sanguine believe will pay between twenty and thirty per cent. It appears the original proprietors wish to enlarge the affair, and want to turn it into a limited liability company. They have consequently applied to Uncle Beckwith. 1 don't understand all the ins and oucs of the business, and I don't suppose you would either, Dulcie, even if I were capable of explaining them, which I'm not ; but the long and the short of the whole matter is this : Uncle Beckwith seems to think there are handsome profits to be made if tho thing is properly taken up. and he hopes to be able to get me a situation as sub-manager, or some such post.' Bob had been speaking very cheerfully up to this moment, but the conflicting emotions warring in Dulcie's expressive' countenance suddenly made him hesitate and ask tentatively : ' I hope you don't dislike the idea ? You will be glad for me to have something to do, won't you, Dulcie?' For a brief second she remained silent. When she thought of all his absence meant to her, how dull, how lonely, and uncared-, for, it would leave her, how dreadfully she should miss him, and how wearily sheshould long for a sight of his honest face and a sound of his cheery voice, the tears welied up unbidden to her eyes, and a choky sensation arose in her thi-oat. ■ Shan't you be glad, Dulcie dear V he repeated, ( gently. '.Won't you appiwe of my trying to gain a livelihood, and no longer buidening my poor old paient.s ?' She caught eagerly at the last question as a loop-hole of escape. It at least she could answer conscientiously, without doing ! violence to her innermost sentiments. 'Yes, Bob,' she said, softly, though the dark eyes looked suspiciously dewy. ' You , are quite right in wishing to work.' I His face brightened instantaneously. ' You see, Dulcie, we have got to look forwards. -The present is very nice, and if it could always remain exactly as it is, and we might meet every day, I for one should be tolerably content ; but circumstances change, and in course of time it is just possible I might grow harder to please. What satisfies me now might not satisfy me then, and I should get to want something more : whereas, perhaps, if Igo away for a bit, and work very hard, and contrive to lay up some money, the day may come,' looking steadily 'at her, 'when that something may be granted me after all.' He did not enter into explanations, or say what was the precise object he longed so eagerly to obtain, "but years ago, in his own mind, he had settled it as consisting of a home, a wife, and Dulcie. All his l,iopee^.' desires, and ambitions were centred in the thought of one day gaining her. Neither did she ask him what he meant ; but her lip quivered as she replied, almost in a whisper : ' Bob, dear, I hopeeverything will happen just as you wish, and you are certain to get on. But,' turning her liquid eyes full upon him, and grasping at a forlorn chance as a drowning man grasps at a straw, ' you say that nothing: is settled as yet, therefore you must not be very disappointed if the whole thing falls through ;' and oh, Bob !' with a little hysterical catching of the breath, 'promise, solemnly, to— to — let me know directly any decision is arrived at. ' He litted up the small hand, lying caressingly all this while on Nipper's back, and pressed it in his. ' You shall hear at once,' he said. 'In fact, I will go further, and promise to enter into no engagement without first consulting you. And then,' lowering his voice, ' why, then,' speaking slowly, but steadily, as one whoso mind is made up, 'if you disapprove of my projects — I— I — will— give — them — up.' ' Oh, Bob !' she cried, "with a sudden rush of loving emotion, ' how good you are to me ! Let me tell the truth, and admit that I cannot bear the thought of your going so far away ; bub I must nob be selfish. On the contrary, I intend to be \ cry brave, and think only of your welfare, not my own.' 'Bless you, little woman !' he murmured, huskily, squeezing the small fingers in his till she could almost have screamed with the pain ; ' a year or two will soon go, and after that — ' But Bob's concluding observation, however interesting it might have been, remained unspoken, for at that moment the conversation was abruptly interrupted by another tapping at the schoolroom door, followed by the prompt and somewhat unwelcome introduction of Betty the parlour-raaid's'neatly-capped head. ' Please, Miss Dulcie, you are to come down this minit. Your mar wants you very partiklar in the d roving-room.' • Wants me !' exclaimed the girl in tones of annoyance. ' What can she possibly want m for ?' 'Mr Denver is downstairs, miss. He has ridden over, and said as 'ow he should like to see you, so you are to make 'aste, as he is in a 'urry and can't stay very long. ' ' Thank goodness for that !' muttered Dulcie, sotto voce. Then turning instinctivoly to her nompanion for advice, she said aloud : ' Bob, what am I to do ?' • Under the circumstancos, there's nothing for it, Dulcie, but compliance.' 'Bother take the man! He's always coming exactly when ho's not wanted.' ' How aboub yesterday V said Bob, in tones of mild repioof. * Upon my soul,

Dulcie, whatever the fellow's faults may be, you are a bit too hard upon him. He did us both a good turn, remember.' She coloured. He was right as usual. ' Very well !' rising with a submissive sigh, 'I'll go.' ' Bravo !' laughed Bob. 'Go and complete your conquest. It seems to me, Dulcie, that you have created an impression, and are eminantly ungrateiul.' ' I detest my admirer, if he be one, which 1 1 doubb. 3 | ' Look sharp, Dulcie, and I'll wait here and improve my mind" with some of Mademoiselle Virginie'a French verbs, until you come back.' 1 Will you, Bob?' brightening up, 'then I'm oft' at once ; but alack • alack !' peeping at her own reflection through the glass with mock despair, ' what a head ot hair ! Isn't it awful ? Won't mamma be horrified, that's all !' When Dulcie had gone, Bob .settled himself in the arm-chair she had just vacated, and took up the book she had been makingbelieve to read. But he, too, became a prey to meditation. ■ He would make money somehow — he did not exactly know how, but he would make it, and when he was earning a few hundreds a year he would come back from America and ask the only girl he ever cared lor to be his wife. Bob smiled, for at that moment he entertained a strong idea that the young lady would say yes.