The Motor Maids by Rose, Shamrock and Thistle Part 21

"Are you little Arthur's father?" she asked. "If you are, you should know that this young man saved his life not long ago on board ship."

"So much the better for you, then," said the Duke to Feargus.

Turning on his heel, he strode across the fields. Billie remembered very little more after that. Mary must have run the "Comet" to the city of St. Albans and Feargus ridden with them, for she heard him say:

"Devil incarnate."

She also gathered that he was walking from London to St. Albans and expected to meet Mr. Kalisch there.

A doctor was sent for as soon as they arrived at the inn, and with a poultice on her side and a bandage on her head, Billie at last dropped off to sleep.

CHAPTER XIV.-OXFORD.

Youth a.s.serts itself quickly after a shock. That is, when it is wholesome youth with a good appet.i.te and a good circulation, and after one day in bed Billie was up and about, eager to be on the road again.

But the incident of the bull and the encounter with the Duke of Kilkenty had set Miss Campbell thinking.

"I am of the opinion, my dear," she observed to her cousin, "that we need a protector. It's true we crossed the continent without one and got on pretty well; but America is a free land and people are not so ridden by aristocracy as they are in this kingdom. I asked Feargus to come, and even offered to pay him a salary as our courier, because I know the boy is quite poor, but he could not accept until he had received permission from Mr. Kalisch."

There was a tap at the door, and Feargus, looking very agitated, entered the room.

"I have come to accept your offer, Miss Campbell, if it is still open,"

he said.

"Of course, Feargus, we are very glad. But what has happened? You look as if you had seen a ghost, or suffered a nervous shock."

Feargus made an unsuccessful attempt to smile.

"It's nothing," he said. "Something unpleasant did occur, but I shall be all right by to-morrow, I daresay. Do we start early?"

"Quite early," answered Billie. "We want to be in Oxford by one o'clock at the latest."

"I shall meet you, then, on the road to Oxford a few miles from St.

Albans. I will be walking and you can overtake me. Until then, good-by.

Oh, yes," he said, coming back into the room. "Would you mind not mentioning to any one that I am going?"

He left the room, leaving them wondering at his mysterious behavior.

Did he mean that they were not to mention it to Telemac Kalisch, who, having heard that they were staying at the hotel, presented himself at their sitting-room? He heard the story of the bull and of how Mary had outwitted the Duke of Kilkenty.

"I would not take a fortune for that," he exclaimed, giving the young girl a brilliant, delightful smile. "The low brute! He was worse than his own dead beast, because G.o.d has endowed him with intelligence, which he uses only to gain wealth and rob the poor. He is one of the greatest scoundrels in all England and one of the richest. None of his family will have anything to do with him; neither his stepmother, the present dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Kilkenty, nor his half-brother, Lord Glenarm. He is so powerful that he is feared almost as much as he is disliked. But,"

here Telemac lowered his voice, "it is said that he has lent large sums in high places and for that reason he is safe. But he is not safe. No one is safe. There is a hand that smites in the dark, and some day it will strike the Duke of Kilkenty!"

Telemac had risen as he made this dire prophecy, which he spoke in an emphatic whisper. It was impossible not to feel impressed at his words; but suddenly, becoming aware of their serious faces and wide-stretched eyes, he sat down and began to laugh.

"What an absurd old person you must think me," he exclaimed, "to frighten you like this about a man we all have our reasons for disliking. Let us change the subject."

After talking gayly about other things, he presently left, and they were rather glad, for some reason, that they had not mentioned that their young Irish friend was about to journey north with them in the motor car.

They did not see Telemac next morning when they took the road to Oxford, which lay through the most charming country imaginable, rolling and green, and dotted with lovely villages.

Feargus joined them a few miles out of St. Albans, as he had promised, his kit of belongings strapped to his back; and they started in good earnest to Oxford Town, the day still before them.

A little before one o'clock they found themselves on the summit of a hill, and below them, its many towers and spires gilded by the afternoon sun, lay the ancient city of Oxford. Like a dream picture it was, this gray old town which seemed to be floating on a violet mist. Then, as they drew nearer and its buildings took on form and shape, they could see plainly the belfries and spires of its many churches and of the twenty-two colleges of the University.

The scarlet motor, speeding up Broad Street, was like a bird of brilliant plumage that had lost its way in a strange land. They inquired and were directed to a hotel, an old Tudor building, and here the dashing "Comet" presently paused.

It would have been neither natural nor human if the hearts of the Motor Maids had not beat a shade faster at sight of so many handsome, athletic young college men in the streets, students of the twenty-two colleges.

Many carried books under their arms and some wore their academic robes and square hats. Even Miss Campbell, past the age of frivolities, could not resist a feeling of pleasure at sight of so much youth and good looks pa.s.sing along the quiet streets. But young Englishmen are very bashful, as every American girl knows who has visited this famous seat of learning; and most of the students pretended to ignore the fact that they had attracted the attention of five inquisitive ladies.

"It always gives me a kind of lonesome feeling when people won't notice me," Nancy observed, as they followed a boy who appeared to be entirely outlined with b.u.t.tons into the hotel.

"That's because you never could stand being a wall flower, Nancy-Bell,"

said Elinor. "Your name is not Nancy-Bell for nothing."

"Well, I should like to meet some of those nice blonde young men with such healthy, rosy cheeks," began Nancy, "just to see what they are like and if they are really as bashful as they appear."

"You'll probably get your wish. You always do, Nancy," observed Billie.

And she did. What instinct was it that directed their feet that afternoon toward the very place of all others where they were most likely to meet old friends? They were strolling on Magdalen Bridge (p.r.o.nounced Maudlin) toward Magdalen Tower, and had just paused to look down into the waters of the River Cherwell, when three young men, walking arm in arm and keeping step like soldiers, unexpectedly stopped short in front of them.

One of them, who had a freckled face and very red hair, cried out:

"Billie, Nancy, Elinor, Mary! As I live, it's the Motor Maids," and with that he endeavored to embrace the whole group at once with two long, encircling arms.

The other two young men, who were exactly alike even to their gray suits and straw hats, shouted joyfully:

"Miss Campbell and the Motor Maids! Isn't this great? Where did you come from?"

"Well, of all the amazing things," exclaimed Billie, when she could find her voice, "if it isn't the two Edwards and Timothy Peppercorn!"

Doubtless you will recall the two Edward Paxtons, American and English cousins, and their friend, Timothy Peppercorn, who appeared in the second volume of these stories, "The Motor Maids by Palm and Pine."

Everybody talked at once and there was a perfect maze of conversation, but through the current of news and youthful chatter, it was finally arranged that they were to drink tea at the lodgings of the young men that very afternoon and perhaps later go canoeing on the river.

"We are all students at Magdalen College and we have rooms together in the jolliest old place you ever saw," announced Timothy.

"But how did it happen that you became so educational all of a sudden?"

demanded Elinor. "I thought you were to be a musician, Edward?" she added turning to the English cousin.

Edward's face became very red.

"So did I until my grandmother granted her permission, and then I decided it would be more fun to go to college with Edward and Timothy."