"I am afraid not," she said. "But, oh, I do wish you all the happiness in the world. Nothing has ever made me so glad. Oh, but you will be happy, I know. Both of you are so lovely." A sudden rush of tears filled the deep dark eyes as she shook hands with Jack in farewell. "But," she cried in sudden rapture, "why not come to us for a day on your wedding trip?""That's a splendid idea." For a moment or two Jack and Kathleen stood looking at each other.
"Jane, we shall surely come. You may count on us," said Jack.
In the afternoon Mrs. Gwynne sent Jane away for a ride with Larry.
"Just go quietly, Larry," said his mother. "Don't race and don't tire Jane.""I will take care of her," said Larry, "but I won't promise that we won't race. Jane would not stand for that, you know. Besides she is riding Ginger, and Ginger is not exactly like old Polly. But never fear, we shall have a good ride, Mother," he added, waving his hand gaily as they rode away, taking the coolee trail to the timber lot.
Larry was in high spirits. He talked of his work for the winter.
He was hoping great things from this his last year in college. For the first time in his university career he would be able to give the full term to study. He would be a couple of weeks late on account of Kathleen's marriage, but he would soon make that up. He had his work well in hand and this year he meant to do something worth while. "I should like to take that medal home to Mother," he said with a laugh. "I just fancy I see her face. She would try awfully hard not to seem proud, but she would just be running over with it." Jane gave, as ever, a sympathetic hearing but she had little to say, even less than was usual with her. Her smile, however, was as quick and as bright as ever, and Larry chattered on beside her apparently unaware of her silence. Up the coolee and through the woods and back by the dump their trail led them. On the way home they passed the Switzer house.
"Have you seen Mr. Switzer?" said Jane.
"No, by Jove, he hasn't been near us for a week, has he?" replied Larry.
"Poor man, I feel so sorry for him," said Jane.
"Oh, he will be all right. He is busy with his work. He is awfully keen about that mine of his, and once the thing is over--after Kathleen is married, I mean--it will be different."Jane rode on in silence for some distance. Then she said, "I wonder how much you know about it, Larry. I don't think you know the very least bit.""Well, perhaps not," said Larry cheerfully, "but they always get over it.""Oh, do they?" said Jane. "I wonder."
And again she rode on listening in silence to Larry's chatter.
"You will have a delightful visit at Banff, Jane. Do you know Wakeham is going to motor up? He is to meet his father there. He asked me to go with him," and as he spoke Larry glanced at her face.
"That would be splendid for you, Larry," she said, "but you couldn't leave them at home with all the work going on, could you?""No," said Larry gloomily, "I do not suppose I could. But I think you might have let me say that.""But it is true, isn't it, Larry?" said Jane.
"Yes, it's true, and there's no use talking about it, and so I told him. But," he said, cheering up again, "I have been having a holiday these two weeks since you have been here.""I know," said Jane remorsefully, "we must have cut into your work dreadfully.""Yes, I have loafed a bit, but it was worth while. What a jolly time we have had! At least, I hope you have had, Jane.""You don't need to ask me, do you, Larry?"
"I don't know. You are so dreadfully secretive as to your feelings, one never knows about you.""Now, you are talking nonsense," replied Jane hotly. "You know quite well that I have enjoyed every minute of my visit here."They rode in silence for some time, then Larry said, "Jane, you are the best chum a fellow ever had. You never expect a chap to pay you special attention or make love to you. There is none of that sort of nonsense about you, is there?""No, Larry," said Jane simply, but she kept her face turned away from him.
