She saw a forget-me-not in the grass, Gilly-flower, gentle rosemary, Ah! why did the lady that little flower pass, While the dews fell over the mulberry-tree? KENEALY.
Such of the party as were not wanted for the second day of the bazaar, and were not afraid of mal de mer, had accepted the yachting invitation, except the three elders at St. Andrew's Rock. Even Adrian and Felix were suffered to go, under Sophy's charge, on the promise to go nowhere without express permission, and not to be troublesome to any one.
'Sophy can say, 'Now, boys,' as effectively as Wilmet,' said Geraldine, when she met Lance, who had been to the quay to see them off.
'She did not say so to much advantage with her own boys,' said Clement.
'We weren't Harewoods,' returned Lance, 'and John never could bear to see a tight hand over them; but there's good in them that will come out some day.'
Clement gave an emphatic 'Humph!' as he sat down to the second breakfast after Anna had gone to the cliff to resume her toils.
'Who are gone?' asked Geraldine.
'Poor Marilda, smilingly declaring she shall be in misery in the cabin all the time, Fernan, and four Vanderkists, General Mohun, Sir Jasper, and some of his progeny; but others stay to help Miss Mohun finish up the sales.'
'Does Lord Ivinghoe go?'
'Oh yes, he came rushing down just in time. Francie was looking like a morning rose off the cloister at Vale Leston.'
'I am sorry they have another day of it. I don't see how it can come to good,' said Geraldine.
'Perhaps her roses may fade at sea,' said Clement, 'and disenchantment may ensue.'
'At least I hope Alda may not hear of it, or she will be in an agony of expectation as long as hope lasts. Gerald is gone, of course?'
'Oh yes!' said Lance, who had had a farewell from him with the words, 'Get it over while I am out of the way, and tell them I don't mind.'
Cursory and incomprehensible, but conclusive; and Lance, who minded enough to have lost sleep and gained a headache, marvelled over young men's lightness and buoyancy. He had seen Dr. Brownlow, and arranged that there should be a call, as a friend, in due time after the communication, in case it should hurt Clement, and when Geraldine observed merrily that now they were quit of all the young ones they could feel like old times, he was quite grieved to disturb her pleasure.
Clement, however, began by taking out a letter and saying-
'Here is a remarkable missive left for me yesterday-'If the Rev. Underwood wishes to hear of something to his advantage, he should communicate with Mr. O'L., care of Mr. John Bast, van proprietor, Whitechapel.' An impostor?' said he.
'I am afraid not,' said Lance. 'Clement, I fear there is no doubt that she is that singing Hungarian woman who was the ruin of Edgar's life.'
'Gerald's mother!' exclaimed Geraldine.
'Even so.'
'But she is gone! She gave up all rights. She can't claim anything. Has she worried him?'
'Yes, poor boy! She has declared that she had actually a living husband at the time she married our poor Edgar.'
Of course both broke out into exclamations that it was impossible, and Lance had to tell them of his interview with the woman at Gerald's entreaty. They were neither of them so overcome by the disclosure as he had feared during his long delay.
'I believe it is only an attempt at extortion,' said Clement.
'Very cruel,' said Geraldine. 'How-how did my poor boy bear it all this time?'
'He was very much knocked down at first, quite overwhelmed, but less by the loss than by the shame, and the imputation on his father.'
'It was no fault of dear Edgar's.'
'No, indeed. I am glad Fernan is here to go over again what Edgar told him. We may be quite satisfied so far.'
'And is it needful to take it up?' asked Geraldine wistfully. 'If we don't believe it, the horrid story would get quashed.'
'No, Cherry,' said Clement. 'If you think it over you will see that we must investigate. I should be relieved indeed to let it alone, but it would not be fair towards Lance there and his boys.'
Lance made a strange noise of horror and deprecation, then added-
'I don't believe Gerald would consent to let it alone.'
'No, now he knows, of course. He is a right-minded, generous boy,' said Geraldine. 'I was wrong. Did you say he was very much upset?'
'Just at first, when he came to me at night. I was obliged to dragoon him, and myself too, to throw it off enough to be able to get through our performance yesterday. How thankful I am to the regatta that it is not our duty to the country to go through it again to-day! However, he seems to have rebounded a good deal. He was about all the latter part of the day with Miss Mohun.'
'I saw him dancing and laughing with some of them.'
'And he parted from me very cheerfully, telling me to assure you 'he did not mind,' whatever that may mean.'
'He knows that nothing can disturb our love for him, Edgar's little comfort, passed on to bear us up,' said Cherry tearfully. 'Oh yes, I know what he meant-Felix's delight, my darling always.'
'It strikes me,' said Lance, 'that if he can save his sister-'
Geraldine started.
'Oh, the cigar-girl! Only by that mother's side.'
'That is true, but she is his half-sister, and he is evidently much drawn towards her. She is a nice little thing, and I believe he made much of her on the rehearsal day. I saw they got on much better together, and I think she was aware of the relationship.'
'Yes, it is quite right of him,' said Geraldine, 'but she will be a drag on him all his life. Now what ought we to do? Shall you answer this letter to the care of the van-man, Clem?'
'I shall think, and wait till I have seen Gerald and Travis. This letter is evidently written simply in the hope of raising money from me, not in any friendly spirit.'
'Certainly not,' said Lance. 'Having failed to black-mail Gerald, and discovered that you are the heir, they begin on you, but not from any gratitude to you. Sweetie Bob, as they call the ex-errand-boy, gives a fine account of their denunciations of the tall parson who brought the bobbies down on them.'
Lance felt much reassured by Clement's tone, and all the more when he had seen Dr. Brownlow, who made a thorough examination, and came to the conclusion that Clement had recovered tone, so that the shock, whatever it was, that his brother dreaded had done no present damage, but that he was by no means fit for any strain of work or exertion, should be kept from anxiety as much as possible, and had better spend the winter in a warm climate. It was not likely-Jock Brownlow said it with grief and pain-that he would ever be able to return to the charge of St. Matthew's, but as he had a year's holiday, there was no need to enter on that subject yet, and in a quiet country place, with a curate, he might live to the age of man in tolerable health if he took care of himself, or his sister took care of him for some time to come.
So much relieved was Lance that he recollected that he had laid in no stock of presents for those at home, and went up to profit by the second day's reductions, when he secured Geraldine's portrait of Davy Blake for his wife, and a statuette of St. Cecilia for Dr. May, some charming water-colours for Robina and Ethel, besides various lesser delights for the small fry, his own and the flock at Vale Leston, besides a cushion for Alda's sofa. John Inglesant had been bought by a connoisseur by special commission. He heard at every stall triumphant accounts of the grand outlay of the Travis Underwoods and Rotherwoods, and just the contrary of Mrs. Pettifer, whom he encountered going about in search of bargains, and heard haggling for a handsome table-cover, because it was quite aesthetic, and would not do except in a large house, so of course it had not sold.
The Mouse-traps had been a great success, and there were very few left of them. They really owed as much to
