Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-05
CHAPTER v.
Questions,

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Questions.
| The Prodlgal had spent a long morning
with his mother In the study at Holland
Abbey. for Lady Holland had insisted. She
wanted to show the record OF her twelve
years of work. She was proud of 1t, but
she wanted to shift the burden as soon as
possible now on to her sons broad shout
ders; for In the last ten days she had dis
covered that her own shoulders would sup
port 1t no longer. AS he listened to her
business-like explanations. and ran his eye
over the summaries of figures which she
showed him, he realized something of what
the toll and sacrifice of the last twelve
years had meant. The secret OF the ever
increasing growth of the quarterly remit
lance was laid bare before him In the neat
ly kept books, and he ceased to wonder at
the shabbiness which he saw around him.
If the carpet of the study was threadDare,
these books told why; II Susan LAZY Hol-
lands black gown showed brown shades In
the morning light, these books explained
that. too.
Curiousiy enough, his main feeling was
one of anger.
He came out of the study and went into
the garden to smoke. Presently Mary
found him there.
Had a busy morning." she asked
"A very busy morning, he said Rather
an Interesting one too. I've been learning
things, you see.
What sort of things?
oh uncomfortable things. of course; the
sort of things a prodigal always ought 10
learn when he comes home.
She looked at him with smile, half or
questioning, half of amusement Repent
ance is the emotion which one looks TOT
in a prodigal, so it was natural that TINS
one should repent. He evidently did "A
doubt rose in her mind-was the repentance
anything more than a passing emotion. or
would it last? Would it translate itself in
TO action. and in what form?
II see." she said. you have been reading
mothers figures-and you understand them
perhaps much better than she thinks.
He nodded.
You and she haven't spared yourselves
In the last twelve years. he said with
frown which suggested that it was still
anger that he felt.
She laughed.
you have understood them she said
You have put two and two together-what
do you find they maker
-Four, suppose
No not in mothers book" said the sirl
graveiy "A fraction more than four. we
have lived the fraction; the four has al
ways gone
TO Portugal in the shape of quarterly
remittance he said angriiy. Yes, sa"
that"
She laughed again.
He put his hand into his pocket and pull
ed out an envelope, which he handed TO
her. she ODtEcu IL anu loohSu oI eAiS -
closure. 1t was a check drawn by her
mother and payable to Mary Holland; the
amount was the exact amount or the remit
lance which Lady Holland had been about
to send to her son on the day when the
news came of his death.
Mary looked up in question.
Il don't understand" she said. why is
this made out to me?"
Because you are to spend 1t.
ON what?''
He glanced at her swiftly. She showed
curiousy little surprise. he thought Had
she expected him to do something OF the
sort? 1t was hardly likely.
Oh he said, you know better than
do. New carpets, l suppose, and curtains
all the things you have not spent money on
lately Perhaps I might suggest black
silk dress to begin with. good, heavy, rus
thy one, don't you Think
For mother? Yes, she shall have that.
said Mary. She gave him a grave look OF
approval. and added: Mother has alwys
told me that a boy you were open-hand-
ed and generous. I didn't believe her. be-
cause-well. you know. for twelve years 1t
has been rather-diferent."
He said nothing, but he looked uncom-
Portable. The girl went on:
Until yesterday l thought l understood
you thoroughly. and that mother was your
dupe. | thought that you were merely a
black sheep. and that that accounted for
everything"
You are frank. at any rate
ooh. l promised Harvey that you should
hear some home truths from me- Harvey
prophesied that you would talk me into
forgiying you. because you had a persua-
sYe tongue with women. | reminded him
that l your sister. and he withdrew
his prophecy.
That was foolish of him..
Why"
Because you have forgiven me already"
Mary started. Her brother had spoken
quietly. but there was no question in his
words. no hint OF doubt in his tone. The
words statement of fact. and
she realized suddenly that they were true.
She had forgiven him, and that even before
he had explained anything. or so much as
confessed that there was anything to ex-
plain.
Yes" she said after a pause, Il think
have
He turned to her with sudden move
ment which reminded her that his appear
ance of alertness had been her first i'm
preston of him. There IL look In his
eyes now that seemed to her almost eager,
as he said quietly:
Then Ii is my turn to ask why?
Il don't think I know that myself
Then give me your theory" he insisted,
still with the curious look of eagerness.
She answered lightly:
1T doesn't amount to a theory yet. It's
only an intuition. If you care to know, /
don't believe row that you are merely a
black sheep
Perhaps not black sheep at all?"
Perhaps not black sheep at ALL she
answered slowly.
"Ah!' he said. Something that was per-
haps satisfaction with her verdict seemed
to have frightened his eyes, but the next
moment they clouded again, he went on
in level voice:
Don't go to the other extreme. Perhaps
I'm not very black but I'm not unnaturally
white, you know. l daresay I have done
plenty Of things in the past that you
wouldn't approve Of at all
''Oh. no doubt Since you are man."
she said. laughing
And" he went on steadily. II am doing
a thing now that I know you could not by
any possible chance approve Of, IL you
knew 1t. don't even approve of 1t myself,
but I've made up my mind to do it,
That sounds wrong said the girl
gravely.
1T Is wrong. But I'm not good at ex-
plantations. and even If were l couldn't
explain this thing to you. Shall we change
the subject? My only reason for mention
Ing II at all was that since you say I'm
not at all black. don't want you to paint
me too white"
For fear / should be disappointed when
l come to see the darker hues? But per-
haps you will be able to hide them from
me?''
1T Is one OF the conditions of my con-
tempiated wrong-doing that In the end l
shall not he able Tn bn said ..stt