The Star-Gazers Part 6

It lets my temper out, and then I say things I don't mean."

"It must have given way a great many years ago, Jack," said the major, drily.

"Oh, come, Jem! Hang it all, old fellow, I've begged your pardon. I've humbled myself to you. Don't jump on a man when he's down. 'Tisn't chivalrous; it isn't indeed."

"Then you don't want me to go?"

"Go? Now look here, Jem, do try and be reasonable. What should I do without you?"

"Well then, I'll stop this time; but really, Jack, if ever you insult me again like that, I can have my old chambers in St James's, close to the club, and I shall go back to town."

"Go along with you!" cried Sir John. "Don't talk nonsense. We're getting old boys now, Jem, and you'll stop along with me to the end."

"Yes, we're getting old, Jack, very fast indeed," said the major, as his brother laid a hand affectionately upon his shoulder just as he used in old school-boy days; "time gallops away now."

"Ay, it does; and that's why I can't help feeling a bit anxious about seeing Glynne happily settled in life."

"And it ought to make you the more particular about--"

"Hush!" cried the baronet, interrupting him sharply, "the girls! Oh, hang it! how can Glynne be so absurd."

Volume 1, Chapter IV.

SERPENS.

Sir John and his brother had just reached an opening in Brackley Wood, a fine old pheasant preserve, when the former became aware of the fact that his child and the lady whom she had of late made her companion and friend, were seated in the shade cast by a venerable oak, Glynne painting in front of her easel, upon which were the skilful beginnings of an oil picture representing a rough looking gipsy seated upon a tree stump, in the act of carving the k.n.o.b of a stick with his long Spanish knife, while Lucy Alleyne, the friend, was reading from a book resting upon her knees.

The group formed a pretty enough natural picture, upon which a silvery rain of sunshine was poured through the dense foliage of the overhanging boughs, for, without being cla.s.sically beautiful, Glynne Day was as fair a specimen of a young English lady as a country visitor would be likely to see in one twenty-four hours. Her's was the kind of face with its sweet, calm, placid repose that asked for a second look and then for a third: and when this was complete, he who gazed, old or young, wanted to look again, and so on, in never tiring mood. It was not that her soft, abundant brown hair was so remarkable, nor that her face was so perfect an oval, nor her nose so true an aquiline, nor her eyes so dark a grey; but it was the completeness of the whole countenance, the elasticity of the step that bore onward so tall and graceful a figure, while the sweet repose of the face would have warranted anyone in taking the major's side when he declared that no pulse in her frame had ever yet been quickened by the thought of love.

Glynne's companion, Lucy Alleyne, also possessed her share of attractions; but they were cast in a very different mould, for she was dark, large-eyed, little and piquante, with an arch expression about her bow-like mouth that told of suppressed merriment, and a readiness to join in anything that promised laughter, or, as she would have called it, a bit of fun.

The other figure in the group--the model, whose counterfeit presentment was being transferred to canvas, first heard the steps; and he looked up sharply, in a wild, danger-fearing way, as a weasel might, and seemed about to spring to his feet and start off; but a peculiar leer crossed his face, and he half closed his eyes and sat firm as the brothers came up, both glancing at him sourly, the major taking a tighter grip of his stick.

"Ah, my dears!" said Sir John, gruffly, "'most done, Glynne?"

"Yes, papa, quite, for to-day," said the lady addressed, opening her purse and taking out half-a-crown, the sight of which made the model's eyes open a little wider as it was held out to him, while an unpleasant animal look was darted at Glynne as she spoke. "That will do for to day. I will send word by the policeman when I want you again."

"Thankye kindly, my lady," said the young man, wincing at the name of the messenger; and he now touched his hat to Sir John humbly, and then to his brother.

"You're back again, then, Caleb Kent," growled Sir John.

"Yes, sir, I've come back," whined the man.

"Then, just see if you can't lead a decent life, sir, for I warn you, that if you are brought up again for poaching, it will go pretty hard with you."

"Yes, sir; I know, sir, but I'm going to reform, sir, and turn keeper, and--"

"That'll do. Be off. Let's have deeds, not words."

"Yes, sir, I will, sir. I'm a-goin' to try, sir."

"I said that will do."

"Yes, sir," said the man, humbly; and, touching his cap all round, he slouched off, with an ill-used look, and gave two or three loud sniffs.

"Oh, papa, dear," cried Glynne, "how can you speak so harshly to the poor fellow. He did wrong once, and he has been punished."

"Did wrong once. Bah! He did wrong in being born, and has done wrong ever since. The fellow's a regular gaol-bird, and I don't like to see him near you. For goodness' sake, my dear, if you must paint, paint something decent, not a scoundrel like that."

"Your father's quite right, my dear," said the major, grimly. "That's not the sort of fellow to paint. Whitewashing is what he wants."

Sir John chuckled, and his child looked at him, wonderingly.

"But he is so picturesque, papa, dear, and when I get the canvas finished--"

"Oh, you don't want to finish canvases, pet. Let that go. Plenty else to think of now, eh, Miss Alleyne? Why, my dear, you have a colour like a peach."

"Have I, Sir John?" said the girl, demurely. "How shockingly vulgar!

Then I must wear a veil."

"For goodness' sake, don't, my dear child," cried the baronet, hastily.

"Pray, don't insult poor nature by refusing to look healthy and well."

"I join in my brother's prayer," said the major, as he shook hands in a quiet, old-fashioned, chivalrous way.

"And so do I," said Glynne, smiling in a calm, strangely placid manner.

"Do you know, Lucy, I've been enjoying your colour as I painted."

"James, old fellow," said the baronet, laughing, "let's be in the fashion. How handsome you do look this morning. How your hair curls."

"Uncle always looks handsome," said Glynne, seriously, and she sent a thrill of pleasure through the old man, by quietly taking his arm and leaning towards him in a gentle, affectionate way.

"And I'm n.o.body, Miss Alleyne," said Sir John with mock annoyance.

"You would not think so, if you heard all that Glynne says about you when we are alone, Sir John."

"Oh, come, that's better," cried the baronet, nodding and brightening up. "Well, I must go. I suppose you will walk back with uncle, eh, Glynne?"

"Yes, papa," said Glynne, smiling on him tenderly.

"Then, once more, here goes to see my pigs. You don't care to come, ladies?"

"No, papa, dear," said Glynne, with the same gentle smile. "We were going home almost directly."

"Go along, then," said Sir John. "I shall be back before lunch.

Morning, Miss Alleyne," and he strode away. "Hope he won't upset Glynne," he muttered. "No, I don't suppose he will say a word. Can't, as Lucy Alleyne is there. Nice little girl that, by the way."

Sir John was wrong, for his brother did say something to Glynne--a good deal, in fact. Indeed, no sooner had the baronet gone than Lucy Alleyne exclaimed,--