The Shadow of Ashlydyat Part 141

"Can you tell me whether Mr. George G.o.dolphin has come on board yet?"

"Mr. George G.o.dolphin," repeated the young officer, cutting short some directions midway, and looking half bewildered in the general disorder.

"Bound for Calcutta," explained Charlotte.

"I can inquire. Tymms," beckoning to him one of the middies, "go and ask the steward whether a gentleman of the name of G.o.dolphin has come down."

But there was no need of further search. Charlotte's restless eyes had caught sight of George--the solitary pa.s.senger in mourning whom you saw standing alone. She and Mr. Pain made the best of their way to him, over the impediments blocking up the deck.

He did not see their approach. He was leaning over the vessel on the side opposite to that facing the sh.o.r.e, and Charlotte gave him a smart rap on the arm with her gauntlet-glove.

"Now, Mr. George G.o.dolphin! what do you say for your manners!"

He turned quickly, his face flushing slightly with surprise when he saw them standing there: and he shook hands with them both.

"I ask what you have to say for your manners, Mr. George? The very idea of your leaving England for good, and never calling to say good-bye to us!"

"I met Mr. Pain a day or two ago," said George. "He----"

"Met Mr. Pain! what on earth if you did!" interrupted Charlotte. "Mr.

Pain's not me. You might have found time to dine with us. I have a great mind to quarrel with you, George G.o.dolphin, by way of leave-taking."

Something like a smile crossed George's lips. "The fact is, I thought I might have seen you at the Verralls', Mrs. Pain. I went there for half an hour yesterday. I charged Mrs. Verrall----"

"Rubbish!" retorted Charlotte. "When you must have known we had moved into a house at Shooter's Hill, you could not suppose we were still at the Verralls'. Our catching you this morning here was a mere chance. We stayed late in town yesterday afternoon at the furniture warehouse, and, in driving back down the Strand, saw Isaac Hastings, so I pulled up to ask what had become of you, and whether you were dead or alive. He informed us you were to sail to-day from Gravesend, and I told Dolf I should drive down. But it _is_ ill-mannered of you, Mr. George."

"You will readily understand, that since my last return from Prior's Ash, I have not felt inclined for visiting," he said in a low grave tone, unconsciously glancing at his black attire. "I intended you no discourtesy, Mrs. Pain: but, for one thing, I did not know where you might be met with."

"And couldn't find out!" retorted Charlotte. "Dolf could have given you the address, I suppose, the other day, had you asked. He's too great a fool to think to give it of his own accord."

George looked at "Dolf," whom his wife seemed so completely to ignore; looked at him with a pleasant smile, as if he would atone for Charlotte's rudeness. "We were not together a minute, were we, Mr. Pain?

I was in a hurry, and you seemed in one also."

"Don't say any more about it, Mr. G.o.dolphin," spoke Dolf, as resentfully as he dared. "That's just like her! Making a fuss over nothing! Of course you could not be expected to visit at such a time: and any one but Charlotte would have the good feeling to see it. I am pleased to be able to see you here, and wish you a pleasant voyage; but I remonstrated with her this morning, that it was scarcely the right thing to intrude upon you. But she never listens, you know."

"_You_ needn't have come," snapped Charlotte.

"And then you would have gone on at me about my bad manners, as you have to Mr. G.o.dolphin! One never knows how to please you, Charlotte."

George resumed: to break the silence possibly, more than from any other motive. "Have you settled at Shooter's Hill?"

"Settled!" shrieked Charlotte; "settled at Shooter's Hill! Where it's ten miles, good, from a theatre or any other place of amus.e.m.e.nt! No, thank you. A friend of Verrall's had this place to let for a few weeks, and Dolf was idiot enough to take it----"

"You consented first, Charlotte," interrupted poor Dolf.

"Which I never should have done had I reflected on the bother of getting up to town," said Charlotte equably. "Settled at Shooter's Hill! I'd as soon do as you are going to do, Mr. George--bury myself alive in Calcutta. We have taken on lease a charming house in Belgravia, and shall enter on a succession of dinner-parties: one a week we think of giving during the season. We shall not get into it much before February: it takes some time to choose furniture."

"I hate dinner-parties," said Dolf ruefully.

"You are not obliged to appear at them," said Charlotte with much graciousness. "I can get your place filled up at table, I dare say. What _is_ that noise and scuffling?"

"They are weighing anchor," replied George. "We shall soon be on the move."

"I hear that great alterations are being made at Ashlydyat," remarked Charlotte.

"Only on the spot called the Dark Plain. The archway is taken down, and a summer-house is being built on the site. An elaborate sort of summer-house, for it is to contain three or four rooms, I believe. It will have a fine view."

"And what of those ugly gorse-bushes?"

"They will be cleared away, and the place laid out as a garden."

"Is my lady starring it at the Folly?"

"Scarcely: just now," quietly answered George.

"Miss G.o.dolphin has gone to Scotland, I hear."

"Yes. Bessy will reside with Lady G.o.dolphin."

"And tart Margery? What has become of her?"

"She remains with Maria at Ashlydyat."

Charlotte opened her eyes--Charlotte had a habit of opening them when puzzled or surprised. "Maria! Who is Maria?"

"The child. We call her by her proper name now."

"Oh, by the way, I had nearly forgotten it," returned Charlotte in the old good-natured tone: for it may be remarked, that during the interview her tone had been what she had just called Margery--tart. "I should like to have the child up on a visit when we get into our house, and astonish her mind with the wonders of London. I suppose Lady Averil will make no objection?"

A very perceptible flush, red and haughty, dyed the face of George G.o.dolphin. "You are very kind to think of it, Mrs. Pain; but I fear Lady Averil would not consent. Indeed, I have desired that the child may not visit, except amidst her immediate relatives."

"As you please," said Charlotte resentfully. "Dolf, I think we may as well be moving. I only meant it as a kindness to the child."

"And I thank you for it," said George warmly. "For all the kindness you have shown her, Mrs. Pain, I thank you, sincerely and heartily. Take care!"

He interposed to prevent a rope, that was being borne along, from touching her. Charlotte began in earnest to think it was time to move, unless she would be carried down the river in the ship.

"When shall you come back?" she asked him.

He shook his head. He could net tell any more than she could. The future was all uncertain and indistinct.

"Well, you won't forget to find us out whenever you do come?" returned Charlotte.

"Certainly not. Thank you."

"Do you know," cried Charlotte impulsively, "you are strangely different in manner, George G.o.dolphin! You have grown as cold and formal as a block of ice. Hasn't he, Dolf?"

"If he has, it's your fault," was the satisfactory answer of Dolf. "You keep firing off such a heap of personal questions, Charlotte. I see no difference in Mr. G.o.dolphin; but he has had a good deal of trouble, you know."