TILL WEDNESDAY.
"WE only wanted to see you before we went home," said Rose, when
Gertrude, having taken off her hat, had settled herself into one of the
luxurious arm-chairs, with Lester on her lap. "I am very anxious to get
home, to say nothing of telling all to dear mother."
"I shall see them off to-morrow morning, and then go down to Dr.
Blank's country house," said Otto. "He says I am to be introduced to
the invalid boy, and am to spend Sunday with them."
"Them?" echoed Gertrude.
"I did not tell you that it is his brother and sister who are going for
this long sailing voyage, for the sake of their only son, who is heir
to their fortune."
"And what will you have to do with the boy?"
"He needs constant care and watching, and yet bright companionship. I
don't know that I shall suit in that latter respect. Perhaps I shall
now."
He smiled archly at Gertrude, but went on with his explanations, which
were intensely interesting to her, as she had heard hardly anything
that day at Kensington.
"Then, when I have spent a year in going round the world, he says I am
to come back and finish my studies. He says I shall have a good deal
of time on board ship, for the boy's parents take his education upon
themselves, and take infinite pains with him."
"Is he mentally afflicted, then?" asked Gertrude.
"It is of that nature; he is improving, and they have hopes that he
will be quite restored eventually."
"How sad it must be for them!" said Gertrude.
"Yes, very. They do little else than go about with him from place to
place. But they have boundless confidence in Dr. Blank."
"No one who has been to him for advice could feel anything else," said
Rose. "Gertrude, I should like you to have seen how he took to Otto
from the first. His eyes seem to see everything."
"Did he give any reason for his fancy?" asked Gertrude.
"Only his treatment of little Lester. He said directly he saw his way
with Lester, he knew that he was worth training in his special branch
of the profession. Fritz says Otto's fortune is made."
"It was made to-day," said Otto, smiling; at which all the others could
not help smiling too.
"When do they sail?" asked Gertrude, partly because she was very
desirous of knowing, and partly to turn the subject.
"Ah," said Otto, "I have not told you that! The fact is, I can hardly
bear to think of it. Yet it must be said."
"And it is—" said Gertrude, while her heart sank at the long parting.
Her life had seemed nothing but partings lately.
"On Wednesday."
"We can bear it!" she said, looking up. "We have so much now."
Otto did not answer. He had turned to the window, but after a moment he
came back.
"When must you go, dear Gertrude?"
"I ought to be at home by seven, I thought. They did not name a time,
but as Mrs. Shaddock is ill, and little Randall very poorly too—"
"And shall I be able to see you again? Gertrude, do not shake your
head—surely when they hear all they will spare you?"
"They have been so kind already," said Gertrude, "but, Otto—"
"No 'buts,'" said Otto. "I must call on Mr. Shaddock on Monday before
I go down to Lanriffe to get some of my belongings. I shall ask him to
allow you to come to Gravesend to see us off."
"I can ask—" said Gertrude, hesitating. Her wishes pulled her one way,
her objection to be further troublesome another.
"That will be best," said Fritz, turning to Otto. "Nobody with any
consideration would refuse such a request as that. A whole year!"
The afternoon passed all too quickly. Gertrude sat and caressed little
Lester, feeling as if she could never part with him. Rose hovered over
the two as if too full of joy and sympathy to say much. Fritz paced up
and down the room watching them all, and joining in whatever was said.
Otto sat near Gertrude, content to be in her company, and to hear her
talk to her sister.
At six o'clock, Gertrude said she must go, and Otto prepared to
accompany her to Hampstead.
Rose did not know how to part from her. She clung to her and whispered
words of thanks and blessing, for had not Gertrude been the means of
restoring her child?
"Look here, sister Gertrude," said Fritz, taking her hand, when at last
she really was going. "You tell those people that Rose and I want you
with Lester! Rose will have to have somebody to be out all day with
him, why not you? She will slave herself to death else. You tell them
so, and come home to us! I never thought of it before!"
"And you must not now, dear Fritz," she answered gratefully, "indeed
you must not. I could not leave them with my work half done. It is bad
enough to think of only a year."
"Well, that you will have to tell them," interposed Otto.
"Yes," she said, "but not the other. I must stay with them a year, at
any rate, if they want me. I have Randall to win yet!"
An hour after, Gertrude walked into the house, having said good-bye
to Otto; good-bye till the Wednesday which he assured her he should
arrange for, and then a long good-bye such as they did not like to
think of.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]