HE IS NOT OF MY KIND
The story of the riot in which Ranald played so important a part filled the town and stirred society to its innermost circles--those circles, namely, in which the De Lacys lived and moved. The whole town began talking of the Glengarry men, and especially of their young leader who had, with such singular ability and pluck, rescued the Ottawas with Harry and Lieutenant De Lacy, from their perilous position.
The girls had the story from Harry's lips, and in his telling of it, Ranald's courage and skill certainly lost nothing; but to Maimie, while it was pleasant enough for her to hear of Ranald's prowess, and while she enjoyed the reflected glory that came to her as his friend, the whole incident became altogether hateful and distressing.
She found herself suddenly famous in her social world; every one was talking of her, but to her horror, was connecting Ranald's name with her's in a most significant way. It was too awful, and if her Aunt Frances should hear of it, the consequences would be quite too terrible for her to imagine. She must stop the talk at once. Of course she meant to be kind to Ranald; he had done her great service, and he was her Aunt Murray's friend, and besides, she liked him; how much she hardly cared to say to herself. She had liked him in Glengarry. There was no doubt of that, but that was two years ago, and in Glengarry everything was different! There every one was just as good as another, and these people were all her Aunt Murray's friends. Here the relations were changed. She could not help feeling that however nice he might be, and however much she might like him, Ranald was not of her world.
"Well, tell him so; let him see that," said Kate, with whom Maimie was discussing her difficulty.
"Yes, and then he would fly off and I--we would never see him again," said Maimie. "He's as proud as--any one!""Strange, too," said Kate, "when he has no money to speak of!""You know I don't mean that, and I don't think it's very nice of you. You have no sympathy with me!""In what way?"
"Well, in this very unpleasant affair; every one is talking about Ranald and me, as if I--as if we had some understanding.""And have you not? I thought--" Kate hesitated to remind Maimie of certain confidences she had received two years ago after her friend had returned from Glengarry.
"Oh, absurd--just a girl and boy affair," said Maimie, impatiently.
"Then there's nothing at all," said Kate, with a suspicion of eagerness in her voice.
"No, of course not--that is, nothing really serious.""Serious? You mean you don't care for him at all?" Kate looked straight at her friend.
"Oh, you are so awfully direct. I don't know. I do care; he's nice in many ways, and he's--I know he likes me and--I would hate to wound him, but then you know he's not just one of us. You know what I mean!""Not exactly," said Kate, quietly. "Do you mean he is not educated?""Oh, no, I don't mean education altogether. How very tiresome you are! He has no culture, and manners, and that sort of thing.""I think he has very fine manners. He is a little quaint, but you can't call him rude.""Oh, no, he's never rude; rather abrupt, but oh, dear, don't you know? What would Aunt Frank say to him?"Kate's lip curled a little. "I'm very sure I can't say, but I can imagine how she would look.""Well, that's it--"
"But," went on Kate, "I can imagine, too, how Ranald would look back at her if he caught her meaning.""Well, perhaps," said Maimie, with a little laugh, "and that's just it. Oh, I wish he were--""A lieutenant?" suggested Kate.
"Well, yes, I do," said Maimie, desperately.
"And if he were, you would marry him," said Kate, a shade of contempt in her tone that Maimie failed to notice.
"Yes, I would."
Kate remained silent.
"There now, you think I am horrid, I know," said Maimie. "I suppose you would marry him if he were a mere nobody!""If I loved him," said Kate, with slow deliberation, and a slight tremor in her voice, "I'd marry him if he were--a shantyman!""I believe you would," said Maimie, with a touch of regret in her voice; "but then, you've no Aunt Frank!""Thank Providence," replied Kate, under her breath.
"And I'm sure I don't want to offend her. Just listen to this."Maimie pulled out a letter, and turning over the pages, found the place and began to read: "'I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying your stay in Quebec'--um-um-um--'fine old city'--um-um-um--'gates and streets,' 'old days'--um-um-um--'noble citadel,'
'glorious view'--um-um-um-um--'finest in the world'--No, that isn't it--Oh, yes, here it is: 'The De Lacys are a very highly connected English family and very old friends of my friends, the Lord Archers, with whom I visited in England, you know. The mother is a dear old lady--so stately and so very particular--with old-fashioned ideas of breeding and manners, and of course, very wealthy. Her house in Quebec is said to be the finest in the Province, and there are some English estates, I believe, in their line. Lieutenant De Lacy is her only son, and from what you say, he seems to be a very charming young man. He will occupy a very high place someday. I suppose Kate will'--um-um-um--'Oh yes, and if Mrs. De Lacy wishes you to visit her you might accept'--um-um- um--'and tell Kate that I should be delighted if she could accompany me on a little jaunt through the Eastern States. I have asked permission of her father, but she wrote you herself about that, didn't she?--um-um-um--And then listen to this! 'How very odd you should have come across the young man from Glengarry again--Mac Lennon, is it? Mac-something-or-other!
Your Aunt Murray seems to consider him a very steady and worthy young man. I hope he may not degenerate in his present circumstances and calling, as so many of his class do. I am glad your father was able to do something for him. These people ought to be encouraged.'
Now you see!" Maimie's tone was quite triumphant.
