The Star-Gazers Part 26

"Ah," he said at last, with a sigh, after a little current chat, "I must be off now. Let's see; you've got in all you want for to-night?"

"Yes, everything," said cook, smiling, "and I must get to work, too.

You haven't any mushrooms, I suppose?"

"Haven't got any mushrooms?" said Jones, reproachfully. "Why, I've a bed just coming on."

"Then I should like to make a dish to-day, and use a few in one of my sauces," said cook; and half-an-hour later Jones returned with a basketful, which he deposited upon the table with a thrill of pride.

The presence of Moray Alleyne, and the way in which he was taken up, as the captain called it, by Glynne, so filled the mind of Rolph, that there was no room for anything else, and as the dinner went on, his annoyance so sharpened his appet.i.te that he ate very heartily of the two _entrees_ and the joint. It was not until the second course was in progress that a dish was handed round, to which, after a telegraphic glance between the major and Lucy, that young lady helped herself.

Glynne took some mechanically, to the major's great delight, and, like Lucy, went on eating. Then the dish was handed to Rolph, who fixed his gla.s.s in his eye, and started slightly as he suddenly recalled the trick he had played in the hall.

"What's this?" he said in an undertone to the butler.

"_Sham pinions ho nateral_, sir."

"Humph! no. Take the dish to Mr Alleyne."

The man took the dish round to the guest, who, talking the while to Glynne, helped himself liberally, and went on eating.

"Won't you have some, Rolph?" said the major, helping himself in turn.

"I! No. Don't care for such dishes."

"Seems to be very good," said the major. "Smells delicious, and everyone's eating it."

"Not the ladies?" whispered Rolph.

"Yes; they're revelling."

"Good heavens!" muttered Rolph; and he turned cold and damp, the perspiration standing upon his brow.

"Nothing worse in this world than prejudice," said the major, taking a mouthful of the delicate dish.

"Ah, yes: superb. Jack, old fellow, try some of these fungi."

"Get out!" said Sir John, sipping his wine.

"But, my dear boy, they are simply magnificent," cried the major.

"Here, take the dish to your master."

The mushrooms were handed, and Sir John tried a little, recalled the dish, and had some more, while Rolph sat perfectly still, not daring to speak, though he saw everyone at the table partaking of the stew.

"What are these?" said Sir John. "They're very good."

"_Agaricus Rubescens_, my boy. Tons of them rot every year, because there is no one to pick them but Miss Lucy Alleyne and your humble servant here."

"Well, don't let's have any more go rotten," cried Sir John. "They're delicious, eh, Mr Alleyne?"

"I beg your pardon," said the visitor, looking up.

"These fungi," said the host, "uncommonly good."

"Yes, admirable," said Alleyne, who had finished his, and had not the most remote recollection of their quality.

"I don't believe he tasted them," said Sir John to himself.

"These are the fungi, Morris, that I gave you to-day to take into the kitchen?" said the major.

"Yes, sir," said Morris, and the major finished his with great gusto.

"Uncommonly delicious!" he said.

"Capital, Jem," cried Sir John; "but I hope they won't poison us."

"Trust me for that. They've been well tested, and are perfectly wholesome. Splendid dish."

"They'll all be in agonies before long," thought Rolph. "I hope poor Glynne won't be very bad. A bit of an attack would serve her right, though, for going on like that with the star-gazer. Phew! how hot the room is."

"I give you credit, Jem," cried the host. "What do you say, Miss Alleyne? It's of no use to ask these people; they are off on comets or something else."

"Oh, I'm growing a confirmed fungus-eater, Sir John," said Lucy. "I am Major Day's disciple. I think them delicious."

"You're a very charming little la.s.sie, and I like you immensely,"

thought Sir John, gazing at Lucy curiously and thoughtfully; "but I hope Jem has too much common sense to be making a fool of himself over you.

He likes you, I know, but fungus-hunting is one thing and wife-hunting another. No, I won't think it of you. You wouldn't lead him on, and he's too full of sound sense."

"I shall have to leave the table," said Rolph to himself. "I never felt so uncomfortable in my life. Ought I to go and get a doctor here? D--n the toadstools! I only meant the major to taste them. Who'd ever have thought that they'd all go in for them. Phew! how hot the room is.

Champagne."

The butler filled up his gla.s.s, and Rolph, in his excitement, tossed it off, with the result that the next time Morris went round, he filled the captain's gla.s.s again.

"The thought of it all makes me feel ill," said Rolph to himself.

"I've got a splendid pupil in Miss Alleyne," said the major, sipping his wine. "I've given Glynne up. She can't tell an agaric from one of the polypori. Mr Alleyne, if you're trying to teach her star-names, you may give it up as a bad job."

"Don't interrupt, uncle," said Glynne, shaking her finger at him, playfully.

"How pale the poor girl looks," thought Rolph, who was now in an agony of apprehension. "Phew! this room is warm!" and he gulped down his gla.s.s of wine.

"Jack," said the major, "I couldn't have believed those fungi would be so delicious; cook has won the _cordon bleu_. Here, Morris, you are sure these are the same fungi?"

"Certain, sir," replied the butler. "I took them into the kitchen myself."

"And were they all used?"

"I think so, sir; part for the ontries in the first course."

"What!" roared Rolph, who had been horribly guilty over that dish; and he turned white as he clutched the seat of his chair.