In Honour's Cause Part 8

"Yes, I will, Drew, if I can get away. Of course I will. Oh, mother, you there?"

Lady Gowan had just entered the room, and came up toward the window, smiling, and looking proud, happy, and almost too young to be the mother of the stout, manly-looking boy who hurried to meet her; and court etiquette did not hinder a loving exchange of kisses. She shook hands directly after with Andrew Forbes.

"I am afraid that you two find it very dull here sometimes," she said.

"Well, yes, Lady Gowan," said the youth, "I often do. I'm not like Frank here, with his friends at court."

"But I have so few opportunities for seeing him, Mr Forbes. After a few weeks, though, I shall be at home yonder, and then you must come and spend as much time there as you can with Frank."

Andrew bowed and smiled, and said something about being glad.

"Frank dear," said Lady Gowan, "I have had a letter from your father this morning, and I have written an answer. He wants to see you for a little while. He is at home for a couple of days. You can take the note across."

"Yes," cried Frank, flushing with pleasure; but the next moment he turned to Andrew with an apologetic look.

"What is the matter?" said Lady Gowan. "Am I interrupting some plans?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing, Lady Gowan," said Andrew, warmly.

"I was going out with Drew, mother; but we can go another time. He will not mind."

"But it was only this afternoon."

"Oh!" cried Lady Gowan, "he will be back in an hour or so. I am glad that you were going out, my boy; it will make a little change for you.

And I am very glad, Mr Forbes, that he has found so kind a companion."

Andrew played the courtier to such perfection, that as soon as she had pa.s.sed out of the room with her son Lady Gowan laughed merrily.

"In confidence, Frank," she said, "and not to hurt Mr Forbes's feelings, do not imitate his little bits of courtly etiquette. They partake too much of the dancing-master. I like to see my boy natural and manly. There, quick to your father, with my dear love, and tell him I am longing for his leave, when we can have, I hope, a couple of months in Hampshire."

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Frank, as he hurried across the Park; "a couple of months in Hampshire. I wonder how long it will be?"

Ten minutes later he was going up two steps at a time to the room affected by his father in the s.p.a.cious house in Queen Anne Street, where, as soon as he threw open the door, he caught sight of the lightly built but vigorous and active-looking officer in scarlet, seated at the window overlooking the Park, deep in a formidable-looking letter.

"Ah, Frank, my dear boy," he cried, hurriedly thrusting the letter into his breast, "this is good. What, an answer already? You lucky young dog, to have the best woman in the world for a mother. Bless her!" he cried, kissing the letter and placing it with the other; "I'll read that when you are gone. Not come to stay, I suppose?"

"No, father," cried the boy, whose eyes flashed with excitement as they took in every portion of the officer in turn. "I've only come to bring the note; mother said you wished to see me."

"Of course, my boy, so as to have a few words. I just catch a glimpse of you now and then, but it's only a nod."

"And I do often long so to come to you," cried Frank, with his arm upon his father's shoulder.

"That's right, boy," said Sir Robert, smiling and taking his hands; "but it wouldn't do for the captain of the guard to be hugging his boy before everybody, eh? We men must be men, and do all that sort of thing with a nod or a look. As long as we understand each other, my boy, that's enough, eh?"

"Yes, father, of course."

"But bravo, Frank; you're growing and putting on muscle. By George, yes! Arms are getting hard, and--good--fine depth of chest for your age. Don't, because you are the Prince's page, grow into a dandy macaroni milk-sop, all scent, silk, long curls, and pomatum. I want you to grow into a man, fit for a soldier to fight for his king."

"And that's what I want to do, father," said the lad proudly.

"Of course you do; and so you will. You are altering wonderfully, boy.

Why, hallo! I say," cried the captain, with mock seriousness, as he held his son sidewise and gazed at his profile against the light.

"What's the matter, father?" cried Frank, startled.

"Keep your head still, sir; I want to look. Yes, it's a fact--very young and tender, but there it is; it's coming up fast. Why, Frank boy, you'll soon have to shave."

"What nonsense!" cried the boy, reddening partly at being laughed at, but quite as much with satisfaction.

"It's no nonsense, you young dog. There's your moustache coming, and no mistake. Why, if I had a magnifying-gla.s.s, I could see it quite plainly."

"I say, father, don't; I can't stop long, and--and--that teases one."

"Then I won't banter you, boy," cried Sir Robert, clapping him heartily on the shoulder; "but, I say, you know: it's too bad of you, sir. I don't like it."

"What is, father? What have I done?"

"Oh I suppose you can't help it; but it's too bad of you to grow so fast, and make your mother look an old woman."

"That she doesn't, father," cried the boy. "Why, she's the youngest-looking and most beautiful lady at court."

"So she is, my boy--so she is. Heaven bless her!"

"And as for you, father, you talk about looking old, and about me growing big and manly; I shall never grow into such a fine, handsome officer as you."

"Why, you wicked, parasitical, young court flatterer!" cried Sir Robert; "you're getting spoiled and sycophantish already."

"I'm not, father!" cried the boy, flushing; "it's quite true, every word of it. Everybody says what a n.o.ble-looking couple you are."

"Do they, my boy?" said the father more gently, and there was a trace of emotion in his tone. "But there's not much couple in it, living apart like this. Ah, well, we have our duty to do, and mine is cut out for me. But never mind the looks, Frank, my boy, and the gay uniform; it's the man I want you to grow into. But all the same, sir, nature is nature. Look there."

"What, at grandfather's portrait?"

"Yes, boy. You will not need to have yours painted, and I have not had mine taken for the same reason. Is it like me?"

"Yes, father. If you were dressed the same, it would be exactly like you."

"In twenty years' time it will do for you."

Frank laughed.

"But I say yes, sir," cried Sir Robert. "Why, in sixteen years' time, if I could have stood still, we two would be as much alike as a couple of peas. But in sixteen years perhaps I shall be in my grave."

"Father!"

"Well, I'm a soldier, my boy; and soldiers have to run risks more than other men."

"Oh, but you won't; you're too big and brave."