"the 'falcon' has arrived at tilbury," said winifred, as she looked at the shipping news, which had interested her since jack's departure. "i wonder if we shall see captain seagrave this time."
"and whether he will bring any nice presents from jack, eh, win?" said her father, laughing.
she little knew who had arrived on board the "falcon," or her joy would have been unbounded.
"you will come with me to the downs?" said jack, as he sat in the smoking lounge of the savoy hotel, with his friend, barry tuxford.
"you must go alone, she will not like a stranger to be present at your meeting."
"you are not a stranger."
"to her i am."
"not at all, i am sure she already regards you as a friend; so does sir lester," said jack. he knew, however, that it would be better to do as barry wished. jack's feelings, as he once again found himself in the brighton train, can better be imagined than described. everything was familiar, and there seemed to be no change in the surroundings. he knew the time the train left london bridge without looking at the guide, and he found there had been no alteration during the years he had been away.
his whole being responded to the sights and sounds that had been so familiar. he eagerly noted every spot of interest as the train sped on its way and brought him nearer to his destination and winifred. he was coming home as a successful man, and the thought was pleasant. had he returned a failure he knew his reception would have been none the less hearty, but he would have felt very different. success begets confidence, and jack was brimful of it.
at last, brighton, the dear old place, the scene of so many memories of the past.
he inhaled the breeze with satisfaction, and walked on to the marine parade to look at the busy scene. he did not linger long, but went round to his former rooms in the old steyne, and found there had been no change there. his welcome assured him of the hearty reception he would get at sir lester's.
he took a victoria, and drove to within a couple of miles of the downs, where he alighted and proceeded on foot.
how beautiful the country looked, so fresh and green, enchanting after the barren lands he had seen for so long. he walked slowly, as though loath to reach happiness too soon. rounding a turn in the road he came in sight of sir lester's house, and his heart beat fast. he halted and feasted his eyes on the much loved spot, that had never been absent from his memory, no matter where his lot might be cast.
as he approached the entrance to the drive he saw the flutter of a white dress on the terrace—it was winifred. he felt inclined to rush forward and shout wildly, his exultation was so great that it must break bounds.
as he walked up the drive winifred saw him, and turning to her father said—
"there is someone coming, i wonder who it can be."
then the familiar figure, the well known walk made her heart beat furiously with a great joy.
"father, father, it's jack!" she exclaimed.
"nonsense, win, how can it be jack?"
"it is. i am sure it is. look, look."
sir lester put on his glasses, and said—
"by jove, i believe you are right. wait and see, we must not make a ridiculous mistake."
jack redland saw they recognised him, and ran forward, sprang up the terrace steps, and had winifred in his arms, almost before she had recovered from her astonishment. she put her arms round his neck and kissed him, it seemed natural for her to do so, had she not waited a long time for him?
"it is you, jack, dear jack. you have come back to us. is it really true?"
"yes, it is true, winnie, and i have looked forward to this day during all the time i have been away."
sir lester stood looking on, his face betraying his happiness.
"when you have quite finished with jack you might allow him to shake hands with me," he said, smiling.
winifred blushed, and jack said, hastily—
"forgive me, sir lester, there is no occasion to tell you now how much we love each other."
sir lester took him by the hand, and said—
"this is the happiest day of my life, jack. god bless you, my lad, the shock is almost too much for me, i have not been very strong of late."
he staggered a little, and jack supported him to a chair.
"has he been ill?" he asked, turning to winifred.
"yes, very ill indeed."
"and if it had not been for win i should not have pulled through," said sir lester.
during the next two or three days jack redland gave them an account of his varied experiences, and found attentive listeners. he handed the famous black pearl to winifred, who was delighted with its dark beauty.
"it must be very valuable," she said.
"worth a few thousands," said jack, carelessly.
"he talks about thousands much in the same way as we ordinary mortals do about pounds," said sir lester, laughing. "how delightful it must be to be a millionaire."
"i am not that," laughed jack, "far from it; but as we say in the colonies, i have made a fair pile, thanks to barry tuxford."
"barry, we have forgotten him; it is ungrateful," said winifred.
"how did you leave him? he must have been sorry to part with you."
"we did not part, he came with me, he is in london," said jack.
"and you did not bring him with you," said sir lester; "that is ungrateful."
"he would not come," said jack.
"not come, why?" exclaimed winifred.
"because he said he did not wish to disturb the joy of our meeting," replied jack, smiling.
"well done, barry," said sir lester, laughing. "but i hope he will join us soon."
"yes, he is waiting for his orders to march," said jack.
"then write them at once," answered sir lester, "we must welcome the man who has done so much for you, jack."
in response to the summons, barry tuxford arrived at the downs, and was delighted beyond measure with sir lester, and winifred, and everything he saw.
sir lester became much interested in him, and they sat together for hours on the terrace, barry relating his adventures, while jack and winifred wandered about the woods and dells, and the birds chanted a welcome to the lovers.
"so you are to float the redland-barry mine," said sir lester. "i should like to take some shares."
"as many as you wish," replied barry, "and you shall have them on the same terms as ourselves. it is a certain thing, sir lester, a real good spec."
barry tuxford was right, the redland-barry mine shares went like wildfire, and there was a rush in 'change to buy them. before many weeks were past jack was possessed of an ample fortune, and sir lester had increased his capital by the addition of many thousands of pounds.
barry, to use his own expression, "sat tight" and said little, but he alone knew the enormous possibilities of the new el dorado.
jack, as a matter of form and courtesy, asked sir lester for winifred's hand. in granting his request, sir lester said—
"i have always regarded you as a son, jack, perhaps that is why i never contemplated the probability of you and winifred falling in love. it was only after you left england that i found out how deeply she was attached to you. i regretted then that you had left us, but it was all for the best, although i assure you had you returned a poor man i should have put no obstacles in your way. i am glad you had the pluck to go out into the world and fight for your own hand, and nothing gives me more pleasure than to place in your keeping the future happiness of my child."
there was no occasion for a long engagement, and sir lester insisted upon jack taking possession of the downs until he had purchased a suitable property for himself.
the wedding proved how great was the popularity of both bride and bridegroom in the county, for there was an enormous attendance in the church, and the presents were costly and numerous. barry tuxford acted as best man, and quietly told sir lester, after the ceremony, that he had never gone through such a severe ordeal in his life.
"but it was worth it all to have the privilege of kissing the bride," he added, at which sir lester laughed heartily.
of course jack redland had told sir lester all about the victory of black boy, and described the race to him in such a graphic way as to arouse his enthusiasm.
"i have brought the colours back with me," said jack, "and hope to wear them for you before long. i gave caleb the messages his brother sent and what do you think he suggested?"
"that the sooner you are in the saddle again the better."
"that was one thing, but he proposed that black boy should come over here and try what he could do on this side," said jack.
"a capital idea," replied sir lester. "how is it to be done?"
"that will not cause much trouble," replied jack. "when barry returns he will see to it, and joel kenley will send a good man to be in charge of him during the voyage."
barry tuxford returned to australia in the "falcon" with captain seagrave, who had been at jack's wedding. before leaving he promised to take another trip in the course of a year or two.
"and who knows," he added, "but that i may end my days in the old country?"
"i hope you will," said winifred. "we shall be charmed to have you near us. promise me you will seriously consider it."
"i'd promise anything you asked," said barry. "i don't know the man who could resist you, at any rate his name is not barry tuxford."
black boy arrived safely in england, in charge of bricky smiles, who was induced, without difficulty, to remain with caleb kenley, and look after the horse. bricky's lot, in his declining days, had fallen in pleasant places, and he was very grateful to jack for his kindness.
the redland-barry mine turned out an even greater success than barry tuxford anticipated. the crushings were described as wonderful, and the shares went up by leaps and bounds, while the dividends were sufficiently high to make even a south african diamond magnate covetous.
barry tuxford arrived in england again in time to stand godfather to jack and winifred's second son, and he was very proud of the position.
"makes me a sort of guardian of the youngster," he said. "i'll not be hard on him when he grows up."
"i do not think you will," replied winifred, smiling. "you could not be hard upon anyone."
barry tuxford made no reply; he had been very hard on some men, but they deserved it.
harry marton frequently wrote to jack. he had prospered exceedingly, and was barry tuxford's right hand man.
sir lester dyke, now completely restored to health, often had the pleasure of seeing his son-in-law carry the black and orange jacket to victory, and during the sussex fortnight there were no more popular colours seen on the racecourse.
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《a lad of mettle》
