Mrs. Faber was puzzled, so she waylaid Maud on her way to bed, for Toney had declared she was too sleepy to wait another minute, and only Sir Evas and Mr. Russell were left to look after the genius. Maud gathered up her rose creation and waited for Mrs. Faber.
"Forgive me for stopping you, but--I do want to say how glad I am about your sister's engagement, though I don't quite understand what Toney did!"
"Nor anyone else quite! She went to meet him at the station and prepared the way, but they were both taken by surprise, and then---- Oh! Toney did it!"
"I wish one of Arthur's knights could come and claim Toney!"
"Indeed, so do I! She hasn't told you, but Mr. Edward Lang wants to marry her, and she--won't hear of it. I had a long talk to-night with him, and he is really a good fellow, only rather extravagant. He was so open, and told me about it."
"Mr. Lang! Oh! Toney would seem very far away if she married him."
"But Lady Dove wants it, she told me so to-night---- I wish I could help it on." Mrs. Faber shook her head.
"Toney would never be happy as a grand lady--and her money----"
"Of course he knows people will think he wants the money."
"I suppose that is true," said Mrs. Faber simply. "Good night, Miss Hamilton. Toney is so glad about the success of her plot."
"We have talked it all over," said the radiant Jeanie. "He won't stop my going to Germany, but he will be there too, and--in fact he wants us to be married at once. He says he has waited long enough, and of course it must be just as he likes."
"Mother won't like it at once," said Maud.
Jeanie raised her head defiantly, she belonged to Frank now.
"Mother is my mother, so I won't say anything except to you, Maud, but she was the cause of all my great misery, and nothing will make me go against Frank again. Is there another man on earth who would have forgiven me as he has done? The least I can do is to----"
"Let him have his own way entirely," laughed Maud. "Edward Lang says his wife shall do exactly as she likes! How I wish Toney would say yes!"
"Toney!--Edward Lang!" said Jeanie astonished. "Oh, that would be odd, almost ridiculous, besides, he's so extravagant everybody says."
"Everybody says it and that helps him on. I told him he could marry nobody if he went on as he is doing."