"You would have had it sooner, but there had been some accident or delay with the train, I did not stop to hear what. It had not arrived long before I got there."
"Had you to go all the way to Standale? How very kind of you!"
"Not at all. It was just as well you turned back," and he pointed smilingly at the muddy state of his boots.
"I think it very kind indeed of you," replied Amy again, and then wished she had never said it, because he looked so more than pleased.
They were close to the house now; to the windows of which Amy dared not raise her eyes, but hurriedly wished him "good-bye."
"I will get your letters for you every day, Miss Neville," he said, as he pressed her hand rather warmly in his.
"No, no. Do not think of it for a moment," she said, and pa.s.sed on.
That evening, when Amy took her pupils down stairs, she found on entering the drawing-room, all the ladies cl.u.s.tered around Mrs.
Linchmore.
"Such a piece of work, Miss Neville," said Anne, advancing from the circle, and going over to her, "here are all the men wild to go on a poaching expedition--so fool-hardy, isn"t it?"
"What does Mr. Linchmore say to it?"
"He"s going too, I believe. It is all that abominable Charles"s doing; he came home with some fine story or another Grant had told him, and sent all the rest mad. I call it downright folly."
"I met Mr. Charles Linchmore this afternoon," replied Amy, "and he mentioned his intention of going with Grant, but I thought little of it then, as I fancied it would most likely fall to the ground when the time for action came."
"You were wrong, then. For the plan was seized on with avidity as soon as proposed, but I am surprised at Mr. Linchmore, I did not for one moment think he would have seconded it. As for Charles, any hairbreadth danger pleases him. I do not believe he has ever been in a real fight, so he thinks to try a mock one."
"I hope it may simply prove such," replied Amy, "but the last was anything but a mock fight; I do not think you were here at the time, but I dare say you may have heard of it."
"Yes, and it is just that that makes us all fearful; as to Frances, she is just wild about it, I know, but to look in her face you would think her a piece of adamant, for aught you can find written there. I wish Charles would give it up; I think if we could only get him to throw cold water on it, the rest would soon follow his example. Do you mind helping me to try, Miss Neville?" asked Anne, knowing full well in her own heart that Amy"s voice would have its full weight with one of the gentlemen at least.
But Amy declined. She felt she dared not so brave Frances; and Anne, after expressing her belief in her unkindness, left her.
Frances" face did look like adamant, so still and set; and yet she was feeling at her heart, more perhaps than any one there present in that large room. Would her voice have any weight with Charles? Would he stay behind if she asked him? While a chill fear crept over her as the thought flew through her of what might happen if he went; might not his fate be that of the man they had spoken of so recently? might he not be brought home even as he was--lifeless--and she never see him more? and then what would life be worth to her? As she watched him in the circle round Mrs. Linchmore, laughing and joking, and turning the fears of those near him into ridicule, she felt that now he was so near danger he was nearer and dearer to her heart than he had ever been before. He should not, must not go, if she could prevent it.
Presently he moved away from the rest. She went and joined him.
"Charles," she began, "are you really in earnest?"
"About what, Frances?"
"Determined on this expedition in spite of all opposition?"
"Of course I am. What made you think otherwise?"
"I thought you might have been persuaded to stay."
"Then you thought wrong, cousin," said he, laughingly.
"It is surely no laughing matter, when we are all so anxious."
"It is that very circ.u.mstance makes me laugh. We must not show craven hearts just because women cry and sob."
"But we are not doing anything of the kind."
"At heart some of you are."
"I am not for one," replied she, indignantly annoyed that he should suspect her.
"Then why ask me to stay?"
"Because you were the one who started the expedition; and if you say nay, all the rest will."
"And think me a fool for my pains. No, Frances, what needs--must. I shall not draw back now, it is not my way, as you know; I am sorry for you, if any one is going you particularly care about. I"d have my eye on him if I knew who he was, but I don"t."
This to her? Frances could have wept with vexation. Was it possible he did not see it was for himself she was anxious? Perhaps she did look a little reproachfully as she replied, somewhat sorrowfully,
"No one is going I care about. Only take care of _yourself_, Charles."
At another moment the words might have struck him, and perhaps sent conviction into his heart; but now?--
"Then do as I told my brother"s wife just now," he replied; "have supper ready for us by the time we come back; I"ll answer for our doing justice to it."
"Can you think of nothing but eating and drinking?" she asked, bitterly and yet could have thrown herself on her knees, and implored and besought him to stay. Ah! if only in days gone by she could have allowed her warmer nature to have had play, have crushed out her pride and stubbornness, things might have been different between them, and she have been dearer to him; now she was his cousin, nothing more, and with no thought of what she was suffering, he turned away without any reply, rather annoyed at her words than otherwise.
A few moments later he joined Amy.
"I trust you do not give me credit for being such a sinner as the rest of your s.e.x do? or throw all the onus of this expedition on me, Miss Neville?"
"Every one seems to think it originated with you."
"Perhaps it did; but then every one need not follow in my footsteps.
Surely I am not answerable for any one but myself?"
"It seems," replied Amy, evading his question, "to have thrown a damp on every one"s spirits. I suppose it must be undertaken now?"
"If you had said the last words to me to-day, Miss Neville, it might have been different."
Then, as she made no reply, he added, "You do not ask me to stay."
"I would do so, if I thought you could retreat honourably."
"And you do not think so? You do not blame me for going?"
"Certainly not. Things have proceeded too far. You must go. I am only sorry to see so many sad faces."
"Thank you, Miss Neville, those are my own feelings entirely. I am in no way to blame for the actions of others, and should have gone myself, whether or no. Good-bye.--G.o.d bless you!" he added, softly, as he held her hand in his.
It was only for a moment; even Frances could not have found fault with the length of time he held it, and Amy scarcely felt the pressure of his fingers; yet she felt and saw the mark his ring had made as his hand clasped hers so tightly; felt and thought of it for many days after that.