"I fear I owe you an apology, sir," said Mr. Lilburn; "but the fact is I"d a great desire to try the mettle of the lads, and I believe they"re brave fellows, both, and not lacking in that very useful and commendable quality called presence of mind."
"Thank you, sir," Mr. Travilla said, turning upon his boys a glance of fatherly pride that sent a thrill of joy to their young hearts.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENTH.
"Nursed by the virtues she hath been From childhood"s hour."
--HALLECK.
"Count all th" advantage prosperous vice attains, "Tis but what virtue flies from and disdains; And grant the bad what happiness they would, One they must want--which is to pa.s.s for good."
--POPE.
Mrs. Travilla was sitting on the veranda of the hotel, reading a letter her husband had handed her at the tea-table, when Violet came rushing toward her in wild affright.
"Mamma, mamma, something"s wrong! something"s happened! Herbie just came running up from the beach, calling for the life boat, and papa and Eddie have gone back with him running as fast as they can. Oh, I"m afraid Harold or Rosie has fallen into the water!" she added bursting into hysterical weeping.
Her mother rose hastily, thrusting the letter into her pocket, pale but calm.
"Daughter dear, we will not meet trouble half way. I do not think it could be they; for they are not disobedient or venturesome. But come." And together they hurried toward the beach.
In a moment they perceived that their fears were groundless, for they could see their dear ones coming to meet them.
Violet"s tears were changed to laughter as Harold gave a humorous account of "Cousin Ronald"s sell," as he called it, and the latter"s praise of the boy"s bravery and readiness to respond to the cry for help, brought proud, happy smiles to the lips and eyes of both mother and sisters.
Elsie had joined them; Mrs. Ross, too, and a handsome, richly dressed, middle-aged lady, whom she introduced as her friend, Mrs. Faude, from Kentucky.
They, as Lucy afterward told Elsie, had made acquaintance the year before at Saratoga, and were glad to meet again.
Mrs. Faude was much taken with Elsie and her daughters, pleased, indeed, with the whole family, and from that time forward sought their society very frequently.
Elsie found her an entertaining companion, polished in manners, refined, intelligent, highly educated and witty; but a mere worldling, caring for the pleasures and rewards of this life only.
She was a wealthy widow with but one child, a grown up son, of whom she talked a great deal.
"Clarence Augustus" was evidently, in his mother"s eyes, the perfection of manly beauty and grace, a great genius, and indeed everything that could be desired.
"He is still single," she one day said significantly to the younger Elsie, "though I know plenty of lovely girls, desirable matches in every way, who would have been delighted with the offer of his hand. Yes, my dear, I am quite sure of it," she added, seeing a slight smile of incredulity on the young girl"s face; "only wait till you have seen him. He will be here to-morrow."
Elsie was quite willing to wait, and no dreams of Mrs. Faude"s idol disturbed either her sleeping or waking hours.
Clarence Augustus made his appearance duly the next day at the dinner table; a really handsome man, if regular features and fine coloring be all that is necessary to const.i.tute good looks; but his face wore an expression of self-satisfaction and contempt for others, which was not attractive to our Ion friends.
But it soon became evident to them, that to most of the other ladies in the house, he was an object of admiration.
His mother seized an early opportunity to introduce him to the Misses Travilla, coming upon them as they stood talking together upon the veranda.
But they merely bowed and withdrew, having, fortunately, an engagement to drive, at that hour, with their parents and cousins, along the beach.
"What do you think of him?" asked Violet, when they had reached their room.
"He has good features, and a polished address."
"Yes; but do you like his looks?"
"No; I do not desire his acquaintance."
"Nor I; he"s not the sort that papa and grandpa would wish us to know."
"No; so let us keep out of his way."
"But without seeming to do so?"
"Oh, yes; as far as we can. We don"t wish to hurt his feelings or his mother"s."
They carried out their plan of avoidance, and so skilfully that neither mother nor son was quite sure it was intended. In fact, it was difficult for them to believe that any girl could wish to shun the attentions of a young man so attractive in every way as was Clarence Augustus Faude.
"I should like you to marry one of those girls," the mother said to her son, chatting alone with him in her own room; "you could not do better, for they are beautiful, highly educated and accomplished, and will have large fortunes."
"Which?" he added sententiously, and with a smile that seemed to say, he was conscious that he had only to take his choice.
"I don"t care; there"s hardly a pin to choose between them."
"Just my opinion. Well, I think I shall go for the brown eyes; as you tell me the other is not yet out, and I hear the father refuses, on that plea, to allow any one to pay his addresses--though, between you and me, Mrs.
F., I fancy he might make an exception in my favor."
"It would not surprise me, Clarence Augustus," she responded, regarding him with a proud, fond smile, "I fancy he must be aware that there"s no better match in the Union. But you have no time to lose, they may leave here any day."
"True, but what"s to hinder us from following? However, I will take your advice, and lose no time. Let me borrow your writing desk for a moment.
I"ll ask her to drive with me this morning, and while we"re out secure her company for the boating party that"s to come off to-morrow."
A few moments later the younger Elsie came into her mother"s room with a note written in a manly hand, on delicately perfumed and tinted French paper.
"What shall I do about it, mamma?" she asked. "Will you answer it for me.
Of course you know I do not wish to accept."
"I will, daughter," Mrs. Travilla said, "though if he were such a man as I could receive into my family on friendly terms, I should prefer to have you answer it yourself."
Mr. Faude"s very handsome carriage and horses were at the door, a liveried servant holding the reins, while the gentleman himself waited in the parlor for the coming of the young lady, who, he doubted not, would be well pleased to accept his invitation. He was not kept waiting long; had, indeed, scarcely seated himself and taken up the morning paper, when Mr.
Travilla"s Ben appeared with a note, presented it in grave silence, and with a respectful bow, withdrew.
"Hold on! It may require an answer," Mr. Faude called after him.
"No, sah; Mrs. Travilla say dere"s no answer," returned Ben, looking back for an instant from the doorway, then vanishing through it.
"All right!" muttered Clarence Augustus, opening the missive and glancing over the contents; an angry flush suffusing his face, as he read.