Wingate has meanwhile also boarded, grappled on to the other on foot, and is threatening to serve him the same.
A plunge, with a wild cry--the man going down like a stone; another, as he comes up among his own bubbles; and a third, yet wilder, as he feels himself sinking for the second time!
The two at the oars, scared into a sort of sobriety, one of them cries out--
"Lor" o" mercy! Rob"ll be drownded! He can"t sweem a stroke."
"He"s a-drownin" now!" adds the other.
It is true. For Rob has again come to the surface, and shouts with feebler voice, while his arms tossed frantically about tell of his being in the last throes of suffocation!
Ryecroft looks regretful--rather alarmed. In chastising the fellow he had gone too far. He must save him!
Quick as the thought off goes his coat, with his boots kicked into the bottom of the boat; then himself over its side!
A splendid swimmer, with a few bold sweeps he is by the side of the drowning man. Not a moment too soon--just as the latter is going down for the third, likely the last time. With the hand of the officer grasping his collar, he is kept above water. But not yet saved. Both are now imperilled--the rescuer and he he would rescue. For, far from the boats, they have drifted into a dangerous eddy, and are being whirled rapidly round!
A cry from Gwen Wynn--a cry of real alarm, now--the first she has uttered! But before she can repeat it, her fears are allayed--set to rest again--at sight of still another rescuer. The young waterman has leaped back to his own boat, and is pulling straight for the strugglers.
A few strokes, and he is beside them; then, dropping his oars, he soon has both safe in the skiff.
The half-drowned, but wholly frightened Rob is carried back to his comrades" boat, and dumped in among them; Wingate handling him as though he were but a wet coal sack, or piece of old tarpaulin. Then giving the "Forest chaps" a bit of his mind he bids them "be off."
And off go they, without saying word; as they drop down stream their downcast looks showing them subdued, if not quite sobered, and rather feeling grateful than aggrieved.
The other two boats soon proceed upward, the pleasure craft leading. But not now rowed by its owner; for Captain Ryecroft has hold of the oars.
In the haste, or the pleasurable moments succeeding, he has forgotten all about the salmon left struggling on his line, or caring not to return for it, most likely will lose rod, line, and all. What matter? If he has lost a fine fish, he may have won the finest woman on the Wye!
And she has lost nothing--risks nothing now--not even the chiding of her aunt! For now the pleasure-boat will be back in its dock in time to keep undisturbed the understanding with Joseph.
CHAPTER VII.
AN INVETERATE NOVEL READER.
While these exciting incidents are pa.s.sing upon the river, Llangorren Court is wrapped in that stately repose becoming an aristocratic residence--especially where an elderly spinster is head of the house, and there are no noisy children to go romping about. It is thus with Llangorren, whose ostensible mistress is Miss Linton, the aunt and legal guardian already alluded to. But, though presiding over the establishment, it is rather in the way of ornamental figure-head; since she takes little to do with its domestic affairs, leaving them to a skilled housekeeper who carries the keys.
Kitchen matters are not much to Miss Linton"s taste, being a dame of the antique brocaded type, with pleasant memories of the past, that go back to Bath and Cheltenham; where, in their days of glory, as hers of youth, she was a belle, and did her share of dancing, with a due proportion of flirting, at the Regency b.a.l.l.s. No longer able to indulge in such delightful recreations, the memory of them has yet charms for her, and she keeps it alive and warm by daily perusal of the _Morning Post_ with a fuller hebdomadal feast from the _Court Journal_, and other distributors of fashionable intelligence. In addition she reads no end of novels, her favourites being those which tell of Cupid in his most romantic escapades and experiences, though not always the chastest. Of the prurient trash there is a plenteous supply, furnished by scribblers of both s.e.xes, who ought to know better, and doubtless do; but knowing also how difficult it is to make their lucubrations interesting within the legitimate lines of literary art, and how easy out of them, thus transgress the moralities.
Miss Linton need have no fear that the impure stream will cease to flow, any more than the limpid waters of the Wye. Nor has she; but reads on, devouring volume after volume, in triunes as they issue from the press, and are sent her from the Circulating Library.
At nearly all hours of the day, and some of the night, does she so occupy herself. Even on this same bright April morn, when all nature rejoices, and every living thing seems to delight in being out of doors--when the flowers expand their petals to catch the kisses of the warm Spring sun--Dorothea Linton is seated in a shady corner of the drawing-room, up to her ears in a three-volume novel, still odorous of printer"s ink and binder"s paste; absorbed in a love dialogue between a certain Lord Lutestring and a rustic damsel--daughter of one of his tenant farmers--whose life he is doing his best to blight, and with much likelihood of succeeding. If he fail, it will not be for want of will on his part, nor desire of the author to save the imperilled one. He will make the tempted iniquitous as the tempter, should this seem to add interest to the tale, or promote the sale of the book.
Just as his lordship has gained a point and the girl is about to give way, Miss Linton herself receives a shock, caused by a rat-tat at the drawing-room door, light, such as well-trained servants are accustomed to give before entering a room occupied by master or mistress.
To her command "Come in!" a footman presents himself, silver waiter in hand, on which is a card.
She is more than annoyed, almost angry, as taking the card, she reads--
"REVEREND WILLIAM MUSGRAVE."
Only to think of being thus interrupted on the eve of such an interesting climax, which seemed about to seal the fate of the farmer"s daughter.
It is fortunate for his Reverence, that before entering within the room another visitor is announced, and ushered in along with him. Indeed the second caller is shown in first; for, although George Shenstone rung the front door bell after Mr. Musgrave had stepped inside the hall, there is no domestic of Llangorren but knows the difference between a rich baronet"s son and a poor parish curate, as which should have precedence.
To this nice, if not very delicate appreciation, the Reverend William is now indebted more than he is aware. It has saved him from an outburst of Miss Linton"s rather tart temper, which, under the circ.u.mstances, otherwise he would have caught. For it so chances that the son of Sir George Shenstone is a great favourite with the old lady of Llangorren; welcome at all times, even amid the romantic gallantries of Lord Lutestring. Not that the young country gentleman has anything in common with the t.i.tled Lothario, who is habitually a dweller in cities.
Instead, the former is a frank, manly fellow, devoted to field sports and rural pastimes, a little brusque in manner, but for all well-bred, and, what is even better, well-behaved. There is nothing odd in his calling at that early hour. Sir George is an old friend of the Wynn family--was an intimate a.s.sociate of Gwen"s deceased father--and both he and his son have been accustomed to look in at Llangorren Court _san ceremonie_.
No more is Mr. Musgrave"s matutinal visit out of order. Though but the curate, he is in full charge of parish duties, the rector being not only aged but an absentee--so long away from the neighbourhood as to have become almost a myth to it. For this reason his vicarial representative can plead scores of excuses for presenting himself at "The Court." There is the school, the church choir, and clothing club, to say nought of neighbouring news, which on most mornings make him a welcome visitor to Miss Linton; and no doubt would on this, but for the glamour thrown around her by the fascinations of the dear delightful Lutestring. It even takes all her partiality for Mr. Shenstone to remove its spell, and get him vouchsafed friendly reception.
"Miss Linton," he says, speaking first, "I"ve just dropped in to ask if the young ladies would go for a ride. The day"s so fine, I thought they might like to."
"Ah, indeed," returns the spinster, holding out her fingers to be touched, but, under the plea of being a little invalided, excusing herself from rising. "Yes; no doubt they would like it very much."
Mr. Shenstone is satisfied with the reply; but less the curate, who neither rides nor has a horse. And less Shenstone himself--indeed both--as the lady proceeds. They have been listening, with ears all alert, for the sound of soft footsteps and rustling dresses. Instead, they hear words, not only disappointing, but perplexing.
"Nay, I am sure," continues Miss Linton, with provoking coolness, "they would have been glad to go riding with you; delighted--"
"But why can"t they?" asked Shenstone impatiently, interrupting.
"Because the thing"s impossible; they"ve already gone rowing."
"Indeed!" cry both gentlemen in a breath, seeming alike vexed by the intelligence, Shenstone mechanically interrogating:
"On the river?"
"Certainly?" answers the lady, looking surprised. "Why, George; where else could they go rowing? You don"t suppose they"ve brought the boat up to the fishpond!"
"Oh, no," he stammers out. "I beg pardon. How very stupid of me to ask such a question. I was only wondering why Miss Gwen--that is, I am a little astonished--but--perhaps you"ll think it impertinent of me to ask another question?"
"Why should I? What is it?"
"Only whether--whether she--Miss Gwen, I mean--said anything about riding to-day?"
"Not a word--at least not to me."
"How long since they went off--may I know, Miss Linton?"
"Oh, hours ago! Very early, indeed--just after taking breakfast. I wasn"t down myself--as I"ve told you, not feeling very well this morning. But Gwen"s maid informs me they left the house then, and I presume they went direct to the river."
"Do you think they"ll be out long?" earnestly interrogates Shenstone.
"I should hope not," returns the ancient toast of Cheltenham, with aggravating indifference, for Lutestring is not quite out of her thoughts. "There"s no knowing, however. Miss Wynn is accustomed to come and go, without much consulting me."
This with some acerbity--possibly from the thought that the days of her legal guardianship are drawing to a close, which will make her a less important personage at Llangorren.