Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships Part 25

"I was fortunate indeed in being at hand; but I can claim no merit,"

replied Morton, in a modest manner.

Mrs Edmonstone came up and welcomed her young friend.

"I am so glad you have come back," she exclaimed, affectionately taking her hand. "I was quite vexed at your having to run away to a dinner-party, lest you should be too tired to dance this evening."

Edda a.s.sured her that she was not. She, on this, turned round quickly to Ronald. "You dance, sometimes, Mr Morton, I know."

"Yes," he answered quickly, stepping forward and asking Miss Armytage to dance.

She smiled and promised.

The young stranger looked very much annoyed. He had fancied himself secure of her hand. Many men of rank and wealth would have been proud of the honour Ronald had obtained, though not more proud than he was.

That evening was the brightest he had ever spent. But there were clouds in the horizon. He learned that Colonel Armytage had received a high appointment at Bombay, and that they were about at once to sail for that presidency, on board the "Osterley," a Company's ship, which was to touch there on her pa.s.sage home.

"We sail in two weeks or so," said Miss Armytage. "I shall be truly sorry to leave Calcutta."

"I had little expected to find it so delightful a place," answered Ronald.

Miss Armytage slightly blushed when he said this. Why, she could scarcely tell. Perhaps it was his manner--perhaps an unconscious look he gave. Though many sought her hand, she declined dancing again, in consequence of feeling tired, from having danced so much the previous evening.

Ronald was constantly by her side; for whenever he left it, he was quickly again attracted back; nor was he ever in want of an excuse for returning. Towards the end of the evening he observed the eyes of several people glancing towards him. It struck him that he formed the subject of conversation, especially among a group of military men. It was not, however, till he happened to meet Sims that his suspicions were confirmed.

"I knew it would be so," said his brother lieutenant. "The fellows here, among the military, have got an idea that you refused to fight Maguire; and I believe that donkey, Bolton, has been setting the story afloat. I should like to keel-haul him."

"Let him alone; it matters little what so insignificant a fellow says or does," observed Morton. "The story can hardly last out the usual nine days; and if we all behave well, we can allow these empty-headed fellows to amuse themselves for that time at our expense."

The ball came to a conclusion without any unusual occurrence. Morton could not help feeling sure that he stood well in the opinion of Miss Armytage. He had so little conceit in his composition that it never for a moment occurred to him that he had excited any warmer sentiment.

After this he frequently met her at Mrs Edmonstone's, as well as at other houses. She invariably received him in the same friendly manner, and exhibited evident pleasure in his society.

Probably she had not dared to probe her own feelings. Colonel Armytage treated him as he would any other young officer who had proved a credit to his profession. Mrs Edmonstone always treated him with the greatest consideration.

"I have told her all about you, sir," said d.i.c.ky Glover one day. "That cousin of mine is a first-rate person, and she says she thinks it an honour to know you."

"I am much obliged to her for her good opinion," was Morton's reply.

His spirits were somewhat low; the "Osterley" was about to sail. He had by chance become acquainted with her commander, Captain Winslow. By his invitation he was on board to receive Colonel Armytage and his family.

He conducted Mrs and Miss Armytage over the ship.

"I wish that you were to accompany us in the frigate," said Mrs Armytage. "In war time we do not know what enemies we may have to encounter."

"I should indeed rejoice, if my duty would allow it; but I trust that you will have no cause for alarm: the 'Osterley' is said to be a fast ship, and report speaks highly of her commander, Captain Winslow."

Mrs Armytage had spoken without thought. She had been much pleased with Morton, and it did not occur to her that her daughter might have been so likewise, in a far greater degree, or that he might misinterpret her remark.

"Oh, of course I see that would be out of the question," she observed; "but perhaps the admiral would send your ship to Bombay, and then you could watch us. I do not know how it is, but I have a perfect dread of this voyage."

Ronald Morton did his best to soothe the lady's alarm, hoping also that she would not impart it to her daughter.

Colonel Armytage, when he rejoined the party, was considerably annoyed at hearing the remarks of his wife.

Ronald could not help feeling that his manner on the present occasion was colder than ever, and somewhat supercilious into the bargain. He, by some means or other, introduced the subject of duelling, and spoke of it as the only method by which gentlemen could settle their disputes.

"Military men, of course, hold their lives in their hands, and the man who shirks a duel, or does not insist on having satisfaction for an insult offered him, should, in my opinion, leave the n.o.ble profession of arms and turn shopkeeper or shepherd. When I commanded a regiment, if any officer showed the white feather in that respect, I took good care that he should not long be one of ours."

Morton could scarcely doubt that the colonel's remarks were aimed at him; but he thought of his gentle daughter, and refrained from making any reply. A still higher motive might also have restrained him.

A pilot vessel accompanied the Indiaman till she was clear of the river.

Morton was therefore able to accept Captain Winslow's invitation to remain on board till the ship was left to pursue her voyage alone.

Had Colonel Armytage exhibited towards him, at first, the same temper that he did subsequently, he would have felt himself compelled, however much against his will, to return on sh.o.r.e. Fortunately the colonel was engaged for the greater part of the day in writing in his cabin, so that Ronald was able to enjoy several hours of uninterrupted intercourse with Miss Armytage; nor did he, when her father appeared, alter in the slightest degree his tone of conversation or manner towards her.

At length the huge Indiaman was fairly out at sea. The pilot announced that he must take his departure. Morton bade farewell to his friends.

Mrs Armytage held out her hand frankly, and her daughter followed her example, though there was a softness and perceptible tremor in her voice which made him wish more than ever that he could take Captain Winslow's place, or even that of one of his officers. Colonel Armytage parted with him with a cold shake of the hand and a formal "Good-bye, sir;" and he was in the boat and soon on board the pilot vessel. The Indiaman's yards were swung round, and under all sail she stood to the southward.

No sooner had Morton reached the deck of the pilot vessel than, as he stood astern watching the Indiaman, his eye fell far beyond her, in the horizon, on a sail. He saw that it was a large ship. He pointed her out to the pilot.

"Yes, sir, there's no doubt of it. She is a large ship," was the answer. "Maybe she's an Indiaman bound lip the Hooghly. Maybe she's the 'Rajah,' which sailed two days ago, and has been becalmed; or a China ship looking in for orders; or one of the men-of-war on the station."

"I care not what she is, provided she is not an enemy's cruiser," said Morton. "She seems to have very square yards."

"Difficult to make that out, I should think," muttered the pilot as he walked the deck, and then went forward to give some directions to his native crew.

Till the pilot vessel re-entered the Hooghly, and Morton lost sight of the Indiaman, his eye was seldom off her, while his thoughts were even still more constant.

Once more he was on board the "Thisbe." He felt no inclination to revisit Calcutta, and he only went up there once to pay his respects to Mrs Edmonstone. She very naturally talked of Miss Armytage, and spoke warmly in her praise. It was a subject of which Morton was not likely to grow tired.

"Admiral Rainier tells me that he has ordered the 'Thisbe' to proceed to Bombay, so that you will have an opportunity of renewing your acquaintance with my young friend," she added. "I think that I shall charge you with a small parcel for her; some articles which were not ready before she sailed."

This was delightful news for Morton. He had not heard that there was any chance of the frigate being sent round to that presidency. Of course it was not out of the pale of probability that Mrs Edmonstone was likely to know where the ship was to be sent before the officers belonging to her. Two or three days pa.s.sed before the captain himself had the information confirmed by the admiral's secretary.

"You are right, Morton," he said when he came on board. "We are bound for Bombay, and if we put our best foot foremost we shall get there as soon as that old tea-chest, the 'Osterley.'"

Morton got his parcel from Mrs Edmonstone, and three days afterwards the "Thisbe's" keel was ploughing the waters of the Indian Ocean.

During the voyage one pair of eyes, at all events, kept a bright look out for any sail of the appearance of the "Osterley" Indiaman. The second lieutenant was continually going aloft, spy-gla.s.s in hand, sweeping the horizon. Some of his shipmates might have suspected the cause, but he gave no reason for this practice which he had adopted. It was war time, and he might have been on the look-out for an enemy.

"We shall be much obliged to you, Morton, if you make out a rich prize some day," observed Sims. "A Dutchman from Java, or a Spaniard from the Manillas, would be about the thing."

Day after day pa.s.sed, but neither friend nor foe was seen.

At length, however, the "Thisbe" touched at Ponte de Galle, when she fell in with another frigate direct from England, which had letters on board for her. Ronald got one from his father. He could not bring himself to live on sh.o.r.e, and having applied for employment, had been appointed boatswain of a line-of-battle ship, the "Lion," which, it was expected, would be sent out to the East India station.

Ronald Morton loved and honoured his father too well not to feel pleasure at the thoughts of meeting him; at the same time he wished that he could have retired and remained on sh.o.r.e till he could join him.

Without further adventure the frigate came off Bombay.

"The Indiaman you were on the look-out for must have arrived before us,"

observed Captain Calder, pointing to a large ship which lay in the roads.