“Now, this is cosy,” said
the widow, “quite what I call friendly.
I love these impromptu little meetings; all the stiffness
which generally surrounds a first introduction must
vanish when four human creatures find themselves face
to face with Nature in her grandest aspects. Look
at those great rolling waves, Mr. Trevor, and tell
me if you ever saw anything finer in its way.”
“Oh, mother, don’t be
a goose,” said Florence. Try as she would,
she could not help laughing. That laugh settled
the matter. Trevor looked into her dancing eyes,
noticed how white her teeth were, and, moving a step
nearer, sat down by her side.
“Do you know this place well?” he asked.
“It has been my home for the
greater part of my life,” was Florence’s
reply.
She felt inclined to be rude to Mr.
Trevor. The man who was adopted by Aunt Susan,
who was doubtless the chosen and confidential friend
of Bertha Keys, could surely have no interest for
her! But Trevor had a gentle and very polite
manner. It never occurred to him that this somewhat
showy-looking girl could dislike his company.
He was good-looking himself, and accustomed to being
made much of and petted a good deal by women, and
before many minutes had passed, Florence, in spite
of herself, was chatting gaily with him.
She forgot that her mother had manoeuvred
in the most open and brazen way to secure this introduction;
she forgot everything but the pleasure of talking
to a fellow-creature, who seemed to understand her
sentiments, and also to approve them. When a young
man approves of a girl’s ideas, when he likes
to look into her face and watch the sparkle of her
eyes, she must be one in a thousand if she does not
find him agreeable, sympathetic, and all the rest.
Presently Trevor suggested that he
and Florence should go down on the beach, cross some
low-lying rocks, and find a certain pool, which at
low water contained the most lovely of sea-anémones
to be found anywhere round the coast.
“Oh, come too, mother; come
too, Kitty,” said Florence, as she jumped to
her feet.
“No, my dear, I am much too
tired,” said Mrs. Aylmer. She clutched at
Kitty’s skirt as the young girl was about to
rise, and pulled her back, to her own astonishment.
“Stay by me, Miss Sharston:
I have much to say to you,” remarked the widow.
Accordingly Florence and Trevor, Florence
well knowing that Kitty had not been allowed to come
with her, started on their tour of investigation alone.
They found the sea-anémones and chatted about
them, and Trevor asked Florence if she would like
to begin to make a collection, and Florence began
by saying “Yes,” but finally refused the
tempting offer which Trevor made to help her in the
matter.
“I am going to London in a few days,”
she said.
“To London?” he asked; “now, in
this broiling weather?”
“Yes; why not? Don’t you like London
in August?”
“I never care for London at
any time in August it is particularly detestable,”
was his reply. “We are going to stay here
for a day or two. I think you know Miss Keys;
she told me that you were an old friend of hers.”
“She was at the same school
with me years ago,” said Florence, flushing
as she spoke. “Oh, do look at that beauty
in the corner: a kind of dark electric-blue.
What a wonderful creature! Oh, and that rose-coloured
one near it! Sea-anémones are like great
tropical flowers.”
Meanwhile Mrs. Aylmer was consulting with Kitty.
“Shall we or shall we not ask
him to supper?” she said. “What do
you think?”
“I am sure I don’t know,”
said Kitty. She looked at her companion with
those innocent, wide-open grey eyes, which were her
greatest charm.
“He has quite taken to Florence;
don’t you see for yourself?”
“Oh, yes; everyone takes to
her,” replied Kitty, with enthusiasm; “she
is so nice and honest and downright.”
Mrs. Aylmer sighed.
“She has had her troubles, poor
child; but in the end things may come round in a most
wonderful way. Do you know, I like him very much?”
“Like who?” asked Kitty.
“Really, Miss Sharston, you
are a little silly Mr. Trevor, Mr. Maurice
Trevor, the adopted son of my wealthy sister-in-law,
Susan Aylmer.”
“Oh, yes,” said Kitty;
“I forgot that you were talking about him.”
“I was asking you, my dear,
if you thought we might invite him to join us at supper.”
“Why not?” said Kitty.
“Well, Sukey’s temper
grows worse and worse. We were going to have a
very small supper, not what you could put a man down
to; but if he were coming you and I might just whip
round to the shrimp-shop and get a lobster: lobster
with a nice salad is what young men delight in; and
we might get a bottle of claret at the grocer’s.
If you would carry the lobster, I would bring the
claret. It is an enormous expense to go to, but
if in the end ”
“Oh, dear,” said Kitty,
rising. She looked at Mrs. Aylmer, and the colour
rose in a delicate wave all over her pretty face.
“Oh, I would not,” she said; “I
don’t think Florence would like it I
am certain she would not. Oh, you know her:
she will be rude; don’t do it, please, please
don’t.”
But if there was one person more determined
than another to have her own way, it was the little
Mummy. She had only vaguely considered the possibility
of asking Mr. Trevor to partake of their humble meal
when she first spoke of it; now that Kitty opposed
it she made up her mind that by hook or crook she
would convey him to their house. What a victory
it would be! Susan Aylmer, her rich sister-in-law,
waiting and wondering why her handsome and fascinating
young protege did not appear: Bertha Keys finding
her meal very dull without him: both these ladies
talking about him, and in their hearts of hearts longing
for his society: and he all the time in the tiny
cottage, partaking of the humble fare of Mrs. Aylmer
the less, with the naughty Florence close to his side,
and the fascinating Kitty not a yard off. Oh,
it was worth a struggle!
Mrs. Aylmer rose to her feet.
A good stiff wind was beginning to blow, and she staggered
for a moment as it caught her stout little person.
Then she raised her voice: “Florence!”
“Yes, mother,” said Florence,
turning. She was a hundred yards away now, and
Trevor was talking in a more fascinating way than ever
about sea-anémones and their beauties.
“If Mr. Trevor would come back
to supper with us, we should be much pleased to see
him. I will expect you, dear, to bring him in,
when you have done your little preambulation.
So pleased if you will join us, Mr. Trevor.”
All these words were shrieked on the
sea-breeze. Florence made a reply which did not
quite reach her mother’s ears. Mrs. Aylmer
shouted once more, and then, seizing Kitty’s
hand, turned in the direction of the little town.
“Now for the shrimp-woman and
the grocer’s shop,” she said; “we
must be as quick as possible. Sukey will be in
a flurry: but never mind: it is worth the
effort.”
Poor Kitty had never felt more uncomfortable.
Really there were times when the little Mummy was
almost unendurable. A lobster was chosen, quite
a nice expensive one; Kitty was desired to go to the
nearest greengrocer’s shop, in order to secure
the crispest lettuce and half a pound of tomatoes;
the bottle of claret was also bought, and, laden with
these spoils, the girl and the elder lady re-entered
the tiny cottage.
“Now then, Sukey,” called
out Mrs. Aylmer, “brisk is the word. I have
caught the most charming young man you ever heard of,
and he is coming to supper with us.”
Sukey stared at her mistress.
“What folly are you up to now, ma’am?”
she asked.
“No folly at all, my dear Sukey.
Here’s six-pence for you; don’t say anything
about it. Make the salad as only you know how,
and trim the lobster. I was considerate, Sukey,
and I got things that really will not give you trouble.
Kitty, my dear sweet little girl, help me to arrange
the table. It will be supper in a bower quite
romantic. The young man will enjoy it; I am certain
he will. Dear Flo! what it is to have a mother
like me to look after her and see that she does not
waste her opportunities.”
“But,” said Kitty, changing
colour as she spoke, “do you really mean ”
“I mean that mum’s the
word at present,” was Mrs. Aylmer’s mysterious
remark. “Help me, Kitty Sharston, like a
good girl, and for goodness sake don’t make
yourself look too pretty to-night. I don’t
want him to turn his attention to you, I may as well
say so frankly.”
Kitty earnestly longed for the moment
when she should leave Mrs. Aylmer’s cottage.
The supper was prepared, however;
everything was arranged; and then the two ladies stood
by the window watching for the return of the truants,
as Mrs. Aylmer was now pleased to call Florence and
Mr. Trevor.
Presently she saw her daughter coming
up the somewhat steep path alone.
“Flo, Flo, child, where is he? is he coming?”
“Oh, no, mother,” said Florence.
“Did you give him my invitation?”
“I told him he was not to accept
it,” said Florence. “Oh, dear me,
mother, don’t be silly. But, I say, what
a nice lobster, and I am so hungry.”