Big Game - A Story for Girls

Margot's recovery was somewhat tedious, so that it was quite three weeks

after the departure of the brothers Elgood before she was strong enough

to face the journey home. In the meantime Edith remained in charge as

nurse, while Mr Vane and Ron varied the monotony of life in the Glen by

making short excursions of two or three days' duration to places of

interest in the neighbourhood.

Notwithstanding the unchanged position of affairs, they appeared to be

on unusually good terms, a fact which would have delighted Margot if she

had been in her usual health and spirits; but she had become of late so

languid and preoccupied as to appear almost unconscious of her

surroundings. Once a day she did, indeed, rouse herself sufficiently to

show some interest in passing events, that is to say, when the post

arrived in the morning; but the revival was but momentary, and on each

occasion was followed by a still deeper depression.

The elder sister was very tender during those days of waiting; very

tactful and patient with little outbursts of temper and unreasonable

changes of mind. She knew that it was not so much physical as mental

suffering which was retarding the girl's progress, and yearned over her

with a sympathy that was almost maternal in its depth.

The little sister had proved herself such a true friend during the

trials of the last few years, that she would have gone through fire and

water to save her from pain; but there are some things which even the

most devoted relative cannot do.

Edith could not, for instance, write to George Elgood and question him

concerning his silence: could not ask how it came to pass that while his

brother had written to Margot, to Ronald, even to herself, he remained

silent, content to send commonplace messages through a third person. As

for Margot herself, she never mentioned the younger of the two brothers,

but was always ready to talk about the elder, and seemed unaffectedly

pleased at her sister's appreciation of the kindly, genial little man.

"But why was he so sweet to me?" Edith would ask, with puzzled

wonderment. "From the moment I arrived he seemed to be on the outlook

to see how he could help. And he took an interest in Jack, and asked

all about him and his affairs. The astonishing thing is that I told

him, too! Though he was a stranger, his interest was so real and deep

that I could confide in him more easily than in many old friends. Had

you been talking about us to him, by any chance?"