"Of course, sentimental schoolgirl colours! Mysie thinks her delightful."
"At any rate, let him get a dose of common sense before committing himself. He is a capital fellow, sure to rise; has the soul and head and hands for it, but he ought not to weight himself with a drag."
"Do you think he is really in love with her?"
Lord Rotherwood waved his hands. "He thinks so, but n.o.body knows with those boys! I had to tell him at last that I would not have any philandering on board MY ship; and whatever he might think it his duty to say, must be put off for aunt--sister--Gorgon--Medusa or what not. And I don"t think he"s very bad, Fly, for he modestly asked permission to sketch Francie"s head for St. Mildred, or Milburg, or somebody; and was ready to run crazy about the tints on that dogfish.
The young fellow is in the queerest state between the artist and the lover! delight and shame! I should like to take him north with us; the colours of the cliffs in the Isles would soon drive out Miss Victoria--what"s her name?"
"You don"t think him like Stephen in the Mill on the Floss, who ought to have married Maggie Tulliver."
"I believe that is his precedent--but it is sheer stuff--pure accident--as a respectable old householder like me is ready to testify to the Gorgons and Chimeras dire--Grundys and all. We must encounter Rock Quay, Fly, if it is only to rescue this unlucky youth."
"What is he doing now? Oh, I see; drawing Francie, who sits as stiff as a Saint of Burne-Jones! Well, I"ll have an eye to them! Vera!
Have you finished Rudder Grange?"
"Not quite. I can"t make out who Lord Edward was."
"Why, the big dog! Did you think he was Pomona"s hero?"
"I don"t know. Wasn"t Pomona very silly?"
"If life was to be taken from story-books," said Phyllis, in a very didactic mood; "but you see she imbibed the best side, what they really taught her of good."
"I thought, when you gave me the book, it was to be an adventure like mine, not all standing still in an old river. What do you think Hubert Delrio ought to do after persuading me into such an awful predicament?"
"Tell your sister he is very sorry that you two foolish children got into such a sc.r.a.pe, and very thankful that you were saved."
"We are very thankful to Lord Rotherwood."
"I didn"t mean to him. To some One else," said Phyllis, reverently.
"Oh, of course," said Vera. "But what DO you think, Lady Phyllis?"
(Since her discovery of the t.i.tle she made a liberal use of it.) "What do you think people will say?"
"That a little girl has had a dangerous adventure and a happy escape."
"I am seventeen, Lady Phyllis!"
"One is nothing like grown up at seventeen! I declare there"s a big steamer coming into sight. I wonder if it belongs to the Channel Fleet!"
Nothing more sentimental could be extracted for the rest of the voyage.
CHAPTER XIV--PAIRING TIME ANTIc.i.p.aTED
"I marry without more ado, My dear d.i.c.k Red Cap, what say you?"
COWPER.
The telegram had been received about mid-day; and Mr. Flight rushed up with it to the Goyle, just in time to prevent poor old Mr. Delrio from starting hopelessly home. It had suffered a good deal in spelling and precision, in spite of Lady Phyllis"s precautions; but "both safe" was understood, as it was known in Rock Quay that "Lord Rotherwood and family," as the papers had it, were yachting in the Kittiwake and might be expected in the bay.
Agatha and Paula threw their arms round one another and cried; Magdalen, with a choke in her voice, struggled to ask Mr. Flight to lead them in a few words of thanksgiving; and as soon as these were over, Thekla expressed her hopes that they had been cast on a desert island and would bring home Man Friday.
The Goyle ladies walked over to Clipstone with the good news, and the whole party went down afterwards to Rockstone to look out for yachts, and inquire about possibilities. The Kittiwake being a steamer, light and swift, might be expected in harbour in the course of the night, and Mr. Delrio meant to wait for her at his son"s lodgings.
The ladies wished they could do the same; and Paula was allowed to accept Sister Beata"s humble entreaty to house her. But they did not know how long before the telegraph from St. Malo the Kittiwake from St. Cadoc had spread her wings and hoisted her feather, for, happily, her coals had held out better than her provisions. So, as they were looking their last look from the cliffs of Beechcroft Miss Mohun exclaimed, "A steamer! a yacht! Kittiwake!"
Gla.s.ses were rushed for, and unaccustomed eyes could trace the graceful course through the gentle evening waves towards the quay.
Every one was on the quay in time to receive the boat, which, rowed by four smart sailors, was seen with the party of six, two sailor hats, and one red cap being at once spied out among the female figures. Then two hats were waved and answered by cheers of welcome; and the figures were recognised, and unnecessarily numerous hands stretched out to a.s.sist the landing from the plank extended to the boat.
Vera was put first by her kind rescuers, Lord Rotherwood"s hand guiding her to the rail, and, after an insecure step or so, she found herself in the arms of Paulina, sobbing for joy; and the little cl.u.s.ter of sisters seemed to know nothing else, except Thekla, who presently, in the confusion of the greetings, was found by Lord Rotherwood looking about vaguely, and saying, "But where"s their man Friday?"
"You must accept me for him," said he. ""Tis Friday, unless we have lost our reckoning! I hope you think me something promising in the way of savages!"
Young Delrio"s first proceeding, even while his father was wringing his hand in speechless welcome and thankfulness, was to turn to Captain Henderson. "Sir, your boat is safe, it will be brought in to-morrow. I am much concerned, and beg your forgiveness, but I had no idea that it was yours till Griggs found your name. Only one oar is lost, and a cushion, which I will replace."
"Say no more, pray," said Captain Henderson. "The fault was my servant"s, who took it without leave, and left it out. He must repair the very slight damage."
Miss Mohun wanted the whole troop to come up to Beechcroft to drink tea, and her relations consented; but the hearts of the Prescotts were a great deal too full for them not to wish to be alone together; and after Magdalen had given her hand to Lord Rotherwood with a fervent, "You know what I would say, my lord--beyond all words," they turned homewards; but Mr. Flight ran after them to say in a low voice, "Can we meet to-morrow at eight for a service of thanksgiving?" And this was gladly accepted.
Hubert was dragged off by his father.
"Nonsense! they don"t want your apologies and explanations. It would only be besetting them. Come home with me, and don"t be a fool! But write a few lines to your poor mother, after the intolerable fright you have given her; meddling and presuming where you had no business.
A Providence it is that you are not half across the Atlantic, if not at the bottom of it."
Of course this was the reaction of great anxiety; but however meekly Hubert submitted to the queer outpouring of affection, and however thankful they both were, and glad and content over the particulars of the youth"s work and progress, still he was not to be withheld from laying hand and heart at Vera Prescott"s feet, as he insisted was due to her and her family after the compromising situation in which he had placed her. His father said it was talking novels and folly; but he was a man of three and twenty, and could not well be stopped, as he was earning his own livelihood, and had always been irreproachable. So Mr. Delrio had to leave the matter, only expressing discouragement, and insisting that it must be no more than an engagement.
The thanksgiving took place as arranged, and Lord Rotherwood, his daughter, and Mysie were there. For indeed there had been danger enough during the thunderstorm to make the safety of the Kittiwake a matter of thankfulness, though the rescue of the boat had caused it to be almost forgotten in the history of the night.
Lady Flight had begged that all would come to breakfast with her, and this was accepted by the Goyle party; but the Clipstone pony-carriage was waiting for the others, and they could not accede to Lady Flight"s impromptu, and rather nervous, invitation. But before they started Lord Rotherwood managed to say a few words aside to Miss Prescott of the impression he had divined from his voyage with Hubert Delrio, whom he thought a young man of great ability and promise, and of excellent principles, but with a chivalry it was quite refreshing to see in youth, perhaps ready to strain honourable scruples almost too far for his own good or that of others.
Magdalen thought she perceived what had been in the marquis"s mind when, immediately after her return home, Hubert and Vera came up, hand in hand, and he informed her of their mutual attachment.
"I am afraid, Miss Prescott," he said, "that we may not have acted rightly or squarely by you; and this last adventure was a most unhappy result of my careless awkwardness and preoccupation."
"It was the merest accident. We all quite understand. It is not to be thought of."
"You are very good to say so, but--"
Both he and Magdalen wished that Vera had not been present, blushing and smiling, or rather simpering; and as Hubert hesitated over his "but," Magdalen said:
"Vera, my dear, Hubert and I can talk over this better without you.
You had better go and find Paula."
"Only, sister, please do understand that I care for Hubert with all my heart," said Vera, much less childishly than Magdalen had expected.