AT HOME.
Another sunset, red and gorgeous, over swelling English meadows, waving trees, and gra.s.sy terrace, lighting up with its crimson radiance the gray forest of Thetford Towers.
In the pretty, airy summer drawing-room, this red sunset streams through open western windows, kindling everything into living light. It falls on the bright-haired, girlish figure, dressed in floating white, seated in an arm-chair in the center of the room: too childish looking, you might fancy, at first sight, to be mamma to that fat baby she holds in her lap; but she is not a bit too childish. And that is papa, tall and handsome and happy, who leans over the chair and looks as men do look on what is the apple of their eye and the pride of their heart.
"It is high time baby was christened, Guy," Lady Thetford--for, of course, Lady Thetford it is--was saying; "and, do you know, I"m really at a loss for a name. You won"t let me call him Guy, and I shan"t call him Noel--and so what is it to be?"
"Rupert, of course," Sir Guy suggests; and little Lady Thetford pouts.
"He doesn"t deserve the compliment. Shabby fellow! To keep wandering about the world as he does, and never to answer one"s letter; and I sent him half a ream last time, if I sent him a sheet, telling all about baby, and asking him to come and be G.o.dfather, and coaxing him with the eloquence of a female Demos--what-you-may-call-him. And to think it should be all of no use! To think of not receiving a line in return! It is using me shamefully, and I don"t believe I will call baby Rupert."
"Oh, yes you will, my dear! Well, Smithers, what is it?"
For Mr. Smithers, the butler, stood in the doorway, with a very pale and startled face.
"It"s a gentleman--leastways a lady--leastways a lady and gentleman. Oh!
here they come theirselves!"
Mr. Smithers retired precipitately, still pale and startled of visage, as a gentleman, with a lady on his arm, stood before Sir Guy and Lady Thetford.
There was a cry, a half shout, from the young baronet, a wild shriek from the lady. She sprung to her feet, and, nearly dropped the precious baby.
"Rupert! Aileen!"
She never got any further--this impetuous little Lady Thetford; for she was kissing first one, then the other, crying and laughing and talking, all in one breath.
"Oh, what a surprise this is! Oh, Rupert! I"m so glad, so glad to see you again! Oh, Aileen! I never, never hoped for this! Oh! good gracious, Guy, did you ever!"
But Guy was wringing his brother"s hand, with bright tears standing in his eyes, and quite unable to reply.
"And this is the baby, May? The wonderful baby you wrote me so much about," Mr. Rupert Thetford said. "A n.o.ble little fellow, upon my word--and a Thetford from top to toe. Am I in season to be G.o.dfather!"
"Just in time; and we are going to call it Rupert; and I was just scolding dreadfully because you hadn"t answered my letter, never dreaming that you were coming to answer in person! I would as soon have expected the man in the moon. And Aileen, too! And to think you should be married, after all! Oh, gracious me! Do sit down and tell me all about it!"
It was such a delightful evening, so like old times, and May in the possession of a baby, that Rupert and Aileen nearly went delirious with delight.
"And you are going to remain in England?" Sir Guy eagerly asked, when he had heard a resume of those past five years. "Going to reside at Jocyln Hall?"
"Yes; and be neighbors, if you will let us."
"Oh, I am so glad!"
"I promised Aileen; and now--now I am willing to be at home in England,"
and he looked fondly at his wife.
"It is just like a fairy-tale," said May.
"We haven"t yet been to Jocyln Hall. We came at once here, to see this prodigy of babies--my wonderful little namesake."
Very late that night, when the reunited friends sought their chambers, May lifted her golden head off the pillow, and looked at her husband entering the room.
"It"s so very odd, Guy," slowly and drowsily, "to think that, after all, a _Rupert Thetford_ should be SIR NOEL"S HEIR."