MR. CRAVEN'S RETURN.
Mr. Craven called the next day, as usual. Frank apologized again for
Pompey's rude treatment of the evening previous, and, as far as he
could, established friendly relations between the parties. Pompey, who
had nothing vicious about him, and was only anxious to do his duty,
looked meek and contrite, and Mr. Craven, to all appearance, had quite
forgiven him.
"Good dog!" he exclaimed, patting Pompey's head. "Say no more about it,
Frank," he said, in his usual soft voice; "it was only an accident. I
foresee that Pompey and I will be excellent friends in future."
"I hope your coat isn't much torn, sir."
"It can easily be repaired. It isn't worth mentioning. Is your mother
at home."
"Yes, sir. Walk in."
"He behaves very well about it," thought Frank. "He may be a better man
than I thought. I wish I could like him, as he is to be my step-father;
but I think there are some persons it is impossible to like."
So the time passed, and the wedding-day drew near. Frank did not
consider it honorable to make any further objection to the marriage,
though he often sighed as he thought of the stranger who was about to
be introduced into their small circle.
"Mother will seem different to me when she is that man's wife," he said
to himself. "I shall love her as much, but she won't seem to belong to
me as much as she did."
In due time the wedding was celebrated. Mrs. Hunter wished it to be
quiet, and Mr. Craven interposed no objection. Quiet or not, he felt
that the substantial advantages of the union would be his all the same.
Mrs. Hunter looked a little nervous during the ceremony, but Mr. Craven
was smiling and suave as ever. When he kissed his wife, saluting her as
Mrs. Craven, she shuddered a little, and with difficulty restrained her
tears, for it reminded her of her first marriage, so different from
this, in which she wedded a man to whom she was devoted in heart and
soul.
The ceremony took place at eleven o'clock, and the newly-wedded pair
started on a tour as previously arranged. So for two weeks Frank and
Katy O'Grady were left alone in the house. Katy was a privileged
character, having been in the family ever since Frank was a baby, and
she had no hesitation in declaring her opinion of Mr. Craven.
"What possessed the mistress to marry such a mane specimen of a man, I
can't tell," she said.
"I don't like him myself," said Frank; "but we must remember that he's
my mother's husband now, and make the best of him."
"And a mighty poor best it will be," said Katy.
"There you go again, Katy!"
"I can't help it, shure. It vexes me intirely that my dear mistress
should throw herself away on such a man."
"What can't be cured must be endured, you know. You mustn't talk that
way after Mr. Craven comes back."
"And what for will I not. Do you think I'm afraid of him?" asked Katy,
defiantly. "If he is a man, I could bate him in a square fight."
"I don't know but you could, Katy," said Frank, glancing at the
muscular arms and powerful frame of the handmaiden; "but I really hope
you won't get into a fight," he added, smiling. "It wouldn't look well,
you know."
"Then he'd better not interfare wid me," said Katy, shaking her head.
"You must remember that he will be master of the house, Katy."
"But he sha'n't be master of Katy O'Grady," said that lady, in a very
decided tone.
"I don't suppose you'll have much to do with him," said Frank.
He sympathized with Katy more than he was willing to acknowledge, and
wondered how far Mr. Craven would see fit to exercise the authority
of a step-father. He meant to treat him with the respect due to his
mother's husband, but to regard him as a father was very repugnant to
him. But he must be guided by circumstances, and he earnestly hoped
that he would be able to live peacefully and harmoniously with Mr.
Craven.
Days passed, and at length Frank received a dispatch, announcing the
return home.
"They will be home to-night, Katy," he said.
"I'll be glad to see your mother, shure," said Katy, "but I wish that
man wasn't comin' wid her."
"But we know he is, and we must treat him with respect."
"I don't feel no respect for him."
"You must not show your feelings, then, for my mother's sake."
At five o'clock the stage deposited Mr. and Mrs. Craven at the gate.
Frank ran to his mother, and was folded in her embrace. Then he turned
to Mr. Craven, who was standing by, with his usual smile, showing his
white teeth.
"I hope you have had a pleasant journey, sir," he said.
"Thank you, Frank, it has been very pleasant, but we are glad to get
home, are we not, my dear?"
"I am very glad," said Mrs. Craven, thankfully, and she spoke the
truth; for though Mr. Craven had been all attention (he had not yet
thought it prudent to show himself in his true colors), there being no
tie of affection between them, she had grown inexpressibly weary of the
soft voice and artificial smile of her new husband, and had yearned
for the companionship of Frank, and even her faithful handmaiden, Katy
O'Grady, who was standing on the lawn to welcome her, and only waiting
till Frank had finished his welcome.
"How do you do, Katy," said her mistress.
"I'm well, mum, thankin' you for askin', and I'm mighty glad to see you
back."
"I hope you are glad to see me also, Katy," said Mr. Craven, but his
soft voice and insinuating smile didn't melt the hostility of Miss
O'Grady.
"I'm glad you've brought the mistress home safe," she said, with a
low bow; "we've missed her from morning till night, sure; haven't we,
Master Frank?"
"I see she isn't my friend," thought Mr. Craven. "She'd better change
her tune, or she won't stay long in my house."
He had already begun to think of himself as the sole proprietor of the
establishment, and his wife as an unimportant appendage.
"I hope you have some supper for us, Katy," said he, not choosing at
present to betray his feelings, "for I am quite sure Mrs. Craven and
myself have a good appetite."
"Mrs. Craven!" repeated Katy, in pretended ignorance. "Oh, you mean the
mistress, sure."
"Of course I do," said Mr. Craven, with a frown, for once betraying
himself.
"Supper is all ready, ma'am," said Katy, turning to Mrs. Craven. "It'll
be ready as soon as you've took off your things."
When they sat down to the table, Frank made a little mistake. He had
always been accustomed to sit at the head of the table, opposite his
mother, and on the frequent occasions of Mr. Craven's taking a meal
there during the engagement, the latter had taken the visitor's place
at the side.
So to-night, without thinking of the latter's new relations to him,
Frank took his old place. Mr. Craven noticed it, and soft and compliant
as he was, he determined to assert his position at once. "I believe
that is my place," he said, with an unpleasant smile.
"Oh, I beg pardon," said Frank, his face flushing.
"You forgot, I suppose," said Mr. Craven, still smiling.
"Yes, sir."
"You'll soon get used to the change," said his step-father, as he
seated himself in the chair Frank had relinquished.
Mrs. Craven looked a little uncomfortable. She began to realize that
she had introduced a stranger into the family, and that this would
interfere to a considerable extent with their old pleasant way of
living.
No one seemed inclined to talk except Mr. Craven. He seemed disposed to
be sociable, and passed from one subject to another, regardless of the
brief answers he received.
"Well, Frank, and how have you got along since we were away?" he asked.
"Very well, sir."
"And you haven't missed us then?"
"I have missed my mother, and should have missed you," he added
politely, "if you had been accustomed to live here."
"And how is Pompey?" asked Mr. Craven, again showing his teeth.
"The same as usual. I wonder he was not out on the lawn to receive you
and my mother."
"I hope he wouldn't receive me in the same way as he did once," said
Mr. Craven, again displaying his teeth.
"No danger, sir. He didn't know you then."
"That's true, but I will take care that he knows me now," said Mr.
Craven, softly.
"I think he will remember you, sir; he is a good dog, and very
peaceable unless he thinks there are improper persons about."
"I hope he didn't think me an improper person," said Mr. Craven.
"No fear, sir."
Frank wondered why Mr. Craven should devote so much time to Pompey, but
he was destined to be enlightened very soon.