"What an infamous shame," thought Wilton, "not to let that poor boy have a little society!" However, Fortune was not quite inexorable. As Wilton rode up to the door on their return, intending to bid the young ladies under his escort good-by, he became aware of a small figure, with a large head and prominent eyes, standing on the threshold, supported by crutches, while a pony-carriage was just disappearing toward the stables.
"What a nuisance!" said Helen to Gertrude. "I wonder what that boy wants?"
"Well, Donald, you ought not to stay here after your drive. You will take cold," said Miss Saville.
"Never you mind," retorted the boy, in a shrill, resentful voice. "I want to speak to Colonel Wilton."
"To me?" said Wilton, coming forward.
"Yes, I have asked them all to bring you to see me, and they won"t. I believe they"d like to smother me altogether. Will you come and see me and Ella? I want to hear about a battle and lots of things."
He spoke with a sort of querulous impetuosity.
"I shall be most happy to rub up my recollections for your benefit,"
said Wilton, good-humoredly, and taking the hand which the little cripple contrived to hold out to him.
"When will you come? To-morrow?"
"I am afraid I cannot," replied Wilton, remembering an engagement with Moncrief, and speaking with very genuine regret.
"Well, the day after?"
"Oh, don"t tease, Donny," cried Gertrude Saville.
"The first time Colonel Wilton comes over to luncheon I will ask him to come and talk to you," said Helen.
"Colonel Wilton, will you just ask for me--Master Fergusson! In the old times, I would be "Master of Brosedale." I shall never see you if you do not."
"Depend on my calling on you," returned Wilton, smiling.
"And soon?"
"Yes, very soon."
Without another word, the unfortunate heir of so much wealth turned and limped into the hall with surprising rapidity.
"How annoying!" cried Gertrude.
"What an awful bore!" said Helen. "Really, Colonel Wilton, I am quite vexed that he should intrude himself upon you."
"Why! I do not see anything vexatious in it."
"You are too good. Do you know that boy is the bane of our existence?"
"Do you wish me to shoot him?" asked Wilton, laughing. "I really cannot wait to do so at present, so good morning, though closing shades almost compel me to say good night."
It was nearly a week before Wilton permitted himself to accept the invitation given him by the heir of Brosedale, and, in the interim, he dined at D---- Castle. The Ladies Mowbray were pleasant, unaffected girls, considerably less imposing and more simple than Helen Saville.
"These are exactly the style of women to please Lord St. George,"
thought Wilton, as he walked over to Brosedale a day or two after. "And very much the style to please myself formerly; but at present--no. I am wonderfully absorbed by this temporary insanity, which must not lead me too far." Musing in this strain, he reached the grand, brand-new house, where Lady Fergusson and her daughters received him in rich silk morning costumes, very becoming and tasteful, but, somehow, not so pleasant to his eye as the pretty, fresh print dresses of Lord D----"s daughters.
Sir Peter came in to luncheon, which he did not always. His presence generally produced a depressing effect upon his fair step-daughters, and Wilton began to fear that no one would give him an opening to fulfil his promise to the crippled boy. At last he took the initiative himself; and, when Sir Peter paused in an exposition of the opium-trade, Wilton addressed Helen:
"You must not let me break my promise to your brother--step-brother, I mean."
"How! what!" exclaimed Sir Peter to his wife. "Has he seen Donald?" He spoke in a sharp, startled tone.
"The young gentleman introduced himself to me at the entrance of your hospitable mansion the other day, and expressed a wish to hear my warlike experiences, so I promised to give him a _seance_."
"You are very good," said Sir Peter, slowly, looking down. "Donald has but few pleasures, poor fellow!"
After this, all the talk died out of the little baronet, and he soon rose and left the room.
"Indeed!" cried Gertrude, as the door closed on her step-father, "Donald has tormented us ever since to know when you were coming to see him. You had better take Colonel Wilton to the school-room, Helen, and have done with it."
"I am quite ashamed of troubling you, Colonel Wilton," said Lady Fergusson. "But that boy"s whims are very absurd, and Sir Peter is very weak, I must say."
"However, we have had quite a respite since little Miss Rivers came down," interrupted Helen Saville. "She manages him wonderfully. You cannot think what a curious pair they are together. You have seen Donald; and Miss Rivers, though not absolutely plain, is a cold, colorless little thing, generally very silent."
"But she can tell stories delightfully," cried Isabella; "she makes Donald laugh and be quite good-humored for hours together."
"I fear," interrupted the accomplished Miss Walker, "that, if my young charge is too much with Master Fergusson and his companion, her mind will be quite occupied with a very useless array of fairy tales and legends, more calculated to distort than to ill.u.s.trate historic truth."
"I am sure you are right, Miss Walker. Isabella, you must not go into Donald"s room without Miss Walker"s permission," remarked Lady Fergusson.
"And she will never let me," said Isabella, with a very rebellious pout.
"Well, well, let us get this visit over," cried Helen, rising. "I will see if he is in the house and visible."
"You cannot think what a nuisance that poor boy was to my girls at first, and how well they bore with him, particularly Helen," said Lady Fergusson. "I am sure Miss Walker did the state great service when she found little Miss Rivers. She suits Donald wonderfully, though she is an oddity in her own way also."
Miss Walker murmured something about "being happy," but her tone was melancholy and uncertain, as though she thought the introduction of an element at variance with historic truth was a doubtful good.
Wilton made no direct reply; he was curious to ascertain if Miss Rivers had mentioned him, and anxious in any case to play into her hands.
Helen Saville returned quickly.
"Yes," she said, "Donald is at home, and will be highly pleased to see you."
Wilton accordingly followed her through various well-warmed and carpeted pa.s.sages to a handsome room on the sunny side of the house, which was the dwelling-place of the heir. Books and music, a piano, drawing-materials, globes, pictures, maps, all appliances for amus.e.m.e.nt and study, gave a pleasant aspect to the apartment. The boy was seated in a chair of elaborate make, furnished with a desk and candle-holder, and which could be raised or lowered to any angle. His crutch lay at hand, and he seemed engaged in drawing. He was plain and unattractive enough--a shrivelled-looking frame, a large head, wide mouth, projecting brow--all the characteristics of deformity. Even large and glittering eyes did not redeem the pale, wan face, over which gleamed a malign expression by no means pleasant to a stranger.
"I thought you would never come," he exclaimed, bluntly, in a harsh, querulous voice, and holding out his hand.
"You will accept me now I am here, I hope," said Wilton, smiling.
"Oh, yes; I am very glad to see you."