66

"You have won her, Réné!" said Lady de Renegil, clasping his hand in both of hers. As you have persevered to claim her, I know you will persevere to keep her! And if I oughtn't to approve of such a match— well, I do!"

"Thank you, Aunt Maud," and he kissed her affectionately. "May I be worthy of your trust—that is all!” And then Mrs. Denton had her congratulations to give, which she did, with unaffected pleasure.

Of course the whole business came about because I wanted a legal right to call you Aunt Margaret,” said he, with smiling ceremony.

Mrs. Denton acknowledged the compliment so insinuated, but retorted, "You really did it, Réné, out of sheer obstinate self-will!"

"I did it," said Joan, "because I knew that Réné would be a rank failure without me!"

"And you are all wrong!" quoth Sir Bobbie. "For Joan and Cousin Réné did it just so that they might go off larking together whenever they wanted! Never mind, mummy, we'll stick together!"

Then they fell to discussing the day's program, which occupied them until a shadow across the window announced that Francis Purcell had arrived from over the sands.

"Hullo!" cried Bobbie, leaping up to welcome him, and take his horse. "Now the fun's really beginning!' Purcell laughed, and gave his birthday greeting.

As the accepted lover of Bridget, he had drawn upon himself some amount of responsibility for the day, and, full of enterprise and energy, had undertaken the whole organization of the illuminations and fireworks, so he refused to dismount, being in a hurry to press forward to his work.

66

And how are you feeling?" asked Réné. "It is awfully good of you to fag as you are doing!"

"Monstrous responsibility! But we'll pull through all right. I saw my stock up from the station last night, and I'll soon get the business in order!"

"It's going to be the jolliest thing I ever saw in all my life!" announced Bobbie, capering round.

"And what's this youngster going to do!" asked Purcell, laughing.

"My duty!" said Bobbie, solemnly.

"And that is?"

"To take care of my mother!" His sudden gravity was droll.

"Until the fireworks begin, eh?" laughed his mother. "Good intentions, Bobbie, but I won't worry you to keep them when the time comes!"

"Of course I could give you a hand any time, Mr. Purcell!" he said. "And I say, need I call you Mr. Purcell, now? If Joan marries Cousin Réné, and you marry Cousin Bridget, we shall be brothers, sha'n't we?"

"Have another try, Sir Bobbie!" laughed Réné.

And shortly afterward, Réné, riding Joan's Gray Jock, went off with his friend, after a hot argument, in which he scored, as to Joan's picture being sent up to the Hall for exhibition among the other presents.

CHAPTER XXXVI

BRIDGET had succeeded. She was engaged to Francis Purcell, and they were to be married in the summer.

That she should have misled a man so astute as Francis Purcell was strong evidence of her surpassing ability; yet that she should have cared to masquerade in a character conceived of as likely to hold the love of this man, was proof of a passion on her part which stood as her only excuse for the consummate deception.

Bridget was not one to let herself drift. She had always definitely done what she intended to do. Her eyes were very wide open just now, as alone with herself she argued and probed deep down into her nature to discover what was the real Bridget that this man loved, and whether, after all, this new development was pure masquerading, or whether it was an instinctive reaching forth of some hitherto unrealized better self.

Yet as he poured forth all his manly devotion to her on Christmas Eve, with a force and magnificent abandonment which awed her, Bridget was never more honest than when she gave him what he wanted, and acknowledged in an agony of trepidation that he was the love of her life—adoring his simple belief in her-vowing in her heart to change herself into that which he thought her to be.

From that hour, with a desire born of her great love, she had been struggling to live up to this new strangely developing self.

Yet the battle was fierce, and Purcell had no idea of the self-tortures he inflicted by his simple trust in her truth and unselfishness.

"Don't idealize me like that!" she had burst forth one day. And that was the first outward sign of a possible regeneration.

In his presence she was ashamed to show her intolerable self-seeking, and the sarcastic cuts died on her lips. Her jealousy was now concentrated round her lover. She watched him feverishly, and he yielded to her demands with a surprised bonhomie; viewing every exaction in the rosy light of devoted affection, and supposing that the chain this beautiful woman was weaving around him was part of the process he was now in for.

Never before had any woman devoted herself to him as this woman did. Never before had he known the exquisite delight of being the one object in life of such a being. The situation humbled him, and he went on his knees daily, praying that he might be worthy of this great trust.

Naturally the result of Bridget's absorption in Francis Purcell was that the old warfare against Joan became less acute.

Joan could have Réné now if she wanted him. In the light of her own brilliant future, all these petty domestic worries dwindled into insignificance.

It must be confessed that Joan and Réné watched Bridget's "conversion" with exceeding interest; and when Francis held forth to his friend on the value of the prize he had won, Réné carefully abstained from destroying the illusion.

Only the first time he was alone with his sister after the engagement was announced, he had felt it his duty to say his say.

66

I need hardly tell you, dear, how awfully pleased I am for you.'

66 Of course, you think me lucky," she returned. "You will be good to him?"

Perhaps a boyish remembrance of his father's disappointed life was present with him at the moment.

She had flushed hotly, and looked him straight in the eyes-silently-knowing that he knew.

"Yet under

"I think I understand," he continued. standing, I have been true to you. You will be the girl he thinks he is engaged to-won't you?"

66

"You are very brotherly, as usual!" she had returned with all her characteristic scorn. It is not many elder sisters who would let their younger brothers speak to them as you are doing!"

"I know! But I am the only brother you have, Bridget. Mamma has pressed the match because of the position, and once I thought perhaps that weighed with you, too

"It never did!" she cried, fiercely.

"No; and I want you to forgive me for ever thinking so. You have brought me into suspense so often, and I have been so anxious lest you should make a mess of your life. I know now that you love him."

The intense solicitude of his manner nearly broke her down. She would like to have unburdened herself then and there. She would like to have cried out, "Réné, help me to be good!" But her pride fought within her. She rose from her seat, and from that hour kept him at arm's length.

Yet it was decided in the neighborhood that Miss de Renegil was very much improved by her engagement. Secure in her position, she had dropped all her inde