"The lilac bonnet to-day, my love, with the white china-asters."
"Yes, I intended--"
"You will be delighted with Tynebrook; it is the finest seat in this part of the country."
"Larger than Wardenscourt?" whispered Miss Campbell.
"Decidedly, and altogether a different style of place. A magnificent park; oaks that the Druids might have planted, and the house built in the quadrangular form like a Spanish convent."
"I like that sort of thing; but I fear he is rather difficult to--"
("To make a fool of," Harriet was almost tempted to add.)
"Not at all, my dear," pursued Lady James, "it is all manner; did I never tell you how he was drawn in by our good friend, Mrs. Maxwell Dorset?"
"No; I should like to hear it, of all things!"
"I'll tell you another time. Recollect, music is his passion. Talk of Spohr and Beethoven."
"I do so dislike a 'fanatico per la musica,'" said Miss Campbell.
"Yes, but a man of his standing in society," argued Lady James, "by the bye, I must secure him to drive with us to Tynebrook, this morning. You and him together; I will sit in front with Lord James."
Harriet sprang from the sofa, seized upon Margaret, who was quietly reading, and whirled her into the verandah. Lord Raymond, Mr. Gage and Mr. Haveloc were standing on the lawn. Mr. Gage smoking.
"Come here, some of you!" cried Harriet.
Mr. Haveloc instantly turned round, and rushed up the steps.
"At last!" he said, "I have been into the drawing-room half a dozen times, to see if you were not down."
"I have been there for ten minutes, I should think," said Harriet. "But I am afraid that pretty speech was not meant for me--perhaps, you took me for Mrs. Fitzpatrick?"
It did look as if he meant the speech for Margaret, since he took her hand and kept it.
"How did you sleep?" he asked Margaret.
"Very well, thank you, after all my fright," returned Harriet, "but it was a terrible storm, was it not Mr. Haveloc?"
"Ay--there was a storm last night," he said, as if just recollecting it.
"Did not you hear something of it then--you ought, I am sure; for I found you all among the broken glass."
"Will you give me a lift, Mrs. Gage, this morning," he asked.
"With all my heart," said Harriet, "I take Margaret and Mrs.
Fitzpatrick; there is just room for you, if Margaret has no objection."
"Not any, Harriet," said Margaret quietly.
"George!" cried Harriet, "I am going to run off with Mr. Haveloc."
"Pray do," replied Mr. Gage.
"You will never see me again, after this morning!" she exclaimed.
Mr. Gage laughed and lit another cigar.
"There is a sort of stupid tranquillity about those Gages," said Harriet, "I had hoped that George was an irascible person; but he grows more and more like his father."
"That is a high compliment, Harriet;" said Margaret. "At----there was always a good deal of philandering between you and Uncle Gage," said Harriet; "you are an arrant little flirt in a quiet way."
"It must be a very quiet way, then;" said Mr. Haveloc, smiling.
"Don't you take her part!" cried Harriet, "you are on my side. George, I wish you would give me a cigar."
"Not I, indeed," said Mr. Gage.
"Then I will get one from Lord James;" said Harriet, coolly.
Mr. Gage came up to the verandah, and offered her his cigar case.
Harriet took one.
"What are you going to do with it, Harriet?" asked Margaret.
"Nothing child--I have never smoked since the day I made you ill--but I don't choose him to refuse me anything. There, you stingy wretch, you may have it back again. Mr. Haveloc, tell me in confidence, what is your favourite colour for a bonnet?"
Mr. Haveloc laughed, and said that he had not made up his mind, but that when he saw Mrs. Gage's, he should be able to decide the point.
Lady James was not pleased when she saw Mr. Haveloc step into Mrs.
Gage's carriage; but she contented herself by bringing up the old story of Mrs. Maxwell Dorset, and declaring that it was now the same thing over again, with Mrs. Gage; a very designing young woman with all her apparent frankness. Miss Campbell cordially agreed in this flattering verdict.
But if Harriet had heard this remark, she would only have laughed at it, with Margaret and Mr. Haveloc seated opposite to her, as her carriage swept through the park gates, and drove into the stately avenues of Tynebrook. They drove into the quadrangle through a grey archway, covered with ivy, and alighted at a stone entrance, divided by an oaken screen from the great hall.
"I say, little one, should not you like to have it?" asked Harriet, glancing round the splendid hall, "if you are very good, I'll see if I can help you."
Harriet equipped herself like a true angler, with a basket over her shoulder. Mr. Haveloc was buckling on her accoutrements for her, when the rest of the party crowded into the hall.
Lady James, though disturbed, did not allow herself defeated.
"Go to him, my love, and ask him to teach you to throw a fly," said she.
Miss Campbell took her advice, and succeeded, at least, in securing Mr.
Haveloc's services. Having ascertained that Margaret was not going to fish, he selected a rod and a basket for Miss Campbell, put a fly on her line, and wished her success.
But Miss Campbell said she was such a novice, that Mr. Haveloc must kindly give her a little advice; and, at least, select for her a very fortunate spot.
So they all set off to the stream that ran through the park; a rough, brawling rivulet, that tumbled and foamed among rocky stones and straggling roots of trees.