"And if my mind serves me, you have driven her forty times."
"Quite correct, sir,--and more," said Gotham. "The point h"is, Mr. Falkirk, what"s to be done when young gents come taking the h"orders h"out of my very "ands, sir?"
"Knock "em down."
"The first natural h"impulse, sir. But put a case that they"re in the knockin" down style too?--then I"m left in the road, and Miss "Azel without a protector."
"Who"s been knocking you down now, Gotham?"
"No one, sir;--I "ope I know my business better," said Gotham.
"I speak of the h"inevitable. And Mr. Rollo would drive Miss "Azel "ome last night, and she gave me no better h"a.s.sistance than one of her laughs, sir." Clearly it rang in his ears yet.
"You had better not meddle with what don"t belong to you, my friend. If Miss Hazel had desired _your_ a.s.sistance, it would have been time enough to give it to her."
"Very good, sir,--h"all settled, sir,"--and Gotham carried off the tray with a face of mixed perplexity and wisdom that was funny to see. But the sunshine crept on through the little study, and it was well-nigh time to set the table again, before the door opened softly and Wych hazel came in: two exquisite roses in her cheeks, in her hand--by way of excuse--a basket of wonderful hot-house grapes. How glad she had been to take them from Dingee at the door.
"Well, my dear!" said Mr. Falkirk, with an accent of unmistakeable pleasure, and something behind it, "you have slept long to-day. Were you home so late?"
"I suppose it was late, sir. I lost no time, and so took no note. How do you do to-day, Mr. Falkirk?"
"Able to move, I think. I shall get about in a day or two more."
"Here are some grapes, sir, to hasten the cure." She put the basket in his hand, and pa.s.sed on to a low seat at the head of the sofa. Mr. Falkirk looked at them, and his tone changed to the accustomed growl.
"Where are these from?"
"Major Seaton, I believe, is responsible," said the girl carelessly.
"How many several people are after you at this present, Miss Hazel?"
"Difficult to say, sir, without more extensive inquiries than I have made. Your words do not put an attractive face upon the matter."
"Is there any such thing in the lot?" asked Mr. Falkirk, discontentedly.
"As an attractive face? O yes, sir, several. Quite a number, I should say," replied Miss Hazel, with a critical air.
"And all of them at Moscheloo?"
"All what, sir? Your English is hardly so pointed as usual--if you will excuse me for saying it."
"You were speaking of attractive faces, my dear. I should say that your syntax wanted attention."
"I did not know but you referred to "the lot," " said Wych Hazel. "There was the usual mingling, I think, of attractive and unattractive."
Mr. Falkirk was silent till dinner was served, and then attended to that.
"Mr. Falkirk," Hazel began suddenly, when Gotham had retired, "_I_ believe you could move now. Come!--go with me to Oak Hill to-night,--will you, sir?"
"Oak Hill," said her guardian. "Mrs. Seaton"s. What is to be done there?"
"A promenade concert--nominally."
"That sounds something to me like a dancing dinner. What does it mean, my dear?"
"Just what I said, in the first place, sir. If Kitty Fisher and the Powders are there, it may turn into something else."
"And what does a promenade concert turn into, when it is enchanted?" said Mr. Falkirk.
"A succession of dances--it might."
"Well, my dear--what should I do in a succession of dances?"
She laughed,--just a little. Laughs were not ready to-night.
"Sit still, sir, and watch me."
"It strikes me I do enough of that as it is, without going to Oak Hill. Do you want more than you will have to watch you?"
The word jarred. She was silent a minute. Then earnestly--
"I wish you would, Mr. Falkirk."
A new expression on Mr. Falkirk"s face shewed that a new idea had occurred to him.
"What does this mean?" he asked gently, bending on his ward one of his keen looks from under the thick eyebrows.
She answered without looking at him,
"It means what is says, sir."
"What is the matter, my dear?" came more sympathizingly than Mr. Falkirk"s wont. It was even a little low and tender.
"Why, Mr. Falkirk--it is such an unreasonable request, that you should be so keen after reasons?"
"I do not know that it is unreasonable, but you know that it is unwonted. You have not been apt to wish for more guarding than you have had, Miss Hazel. Cannot you tell me what makes you desire it now?"
Mr. Falkirk did not growl now, nor draw his brows together; he was in patient earnest, seeing cause.
"I did not say to guard me, sir. Sometimes," said Hazel, choosing her words, "sometimes it might be pleasant to have somebody in the room to whom I was supposed to belong--just a little bit. How do you like Major Seaton"s grapes, Mr.
Falkirk?"
Mr. Falkirk drew his brows together now, and spite of his weak ankle got up and paced across the floor thoughtfully. Then came to a sudden stop in front of Wych Hazel.
"Has anybody annoyed you?" he asked.
"By "annoyed" you mean?--"
"Made you feel the want of a protector; or of somebody, as you say, that you belong to." Mr. Falkirk"s brows were drawing very thick together indeed.
"No, I think not," she answered. "Not intentionally. People are very good to me; very respectful, I believe. But I must go and see that my dress is in order. I shall wear blue to-night, Mr. Falkirk--and you like blue." She made him a profound little courtesy, and danced off out of the room.