Nevertheless, the present was delightful, and after dinner the young people all went off to the great a.s.sembly-room, whence Anna came back to coax Uncle Lance to play for them. All the elders jumped up from their several discussions. Even Lady Rotherwood moved on, looking as benign as her feelings would permit. Jane squeezed Geraldine"s arm, exceedingly amused. Lance struck up, by request, an old-fashioned country dance; Lord Rotherwood insisted that "Lily" should dance with him, as the remnant of forty good years ago or more, and with Sir Roger de Coverley the day ended.

Poor little Maura, making an excuse to wander about the gardens in the moonlight, saw the golden locks shining through the open windows, and Lord Ivinghoe standing over them, went home, and cried herself to sleep over the fickleness of the n.o.bility, when she had better have cried over her own unjustified romance, excited by a few kindly speeches and a cup of tea.

And Emilia! What was Gerald"s one laughing turn with her, compared with his long talk with Dolores in the moonlight?

CHAPTER XXII. -- THE REGATTA

She saw a forget-me-not in the gra.s.s, Gilly-flower, gentle rosemary, Ah! why did the lady that little flower pa.s.s, While the dews fell over the mulberry-tree?

KENEALY.

Such of the party as were not wanted for the second day of the bazaar, and were not afraid of mal de mer, had accepted the yachting invitation, except the three elders at St. Andrew"s Rock. Even Adrian and Felix were suffered to go, under Sophy"s charge, on the promise to go nowhere without express permission, and not to be troublesome to any one.

"Sophy can say, "Now, boys," as effectively as Wilmet," said Geraldine, when she met Lance, who had been to the quay to see them off.

"She did not say so to much advantage with her own boys," said Clement.

"We weren"t Harewoods," returned Lance, "and John never could bear to see a tight hand over them; but there"s good in them that will come out some day."

Clement gave an emphatic "Humph!" as he sat down to the second breakfast after Anna had gone to the cliff to resume her toils.

"Who are gone?" asked Geraldine.

"Poor Marilda, smilingly declaring she shall be in misery in the cabin all the time, Fernan, and four Vanderkists, General Mohun, Sir Jasper, and some of his progeny; but others stay to help Miss Mohun finish up the sales."

"Does Lord Ivinghoe go?"

"Oh yes, he came rushing down just in time. Francie was looking like a morning rose off the cloister at Vale Leston."

"I am sorry they have another day of it. I don"t see how it can come to good," said Geraldine.

"Perhaps her roses may fade at sea," said Clement, "and disenchantment may ensue."

"At least I hope Alda may not hear of it, or she will be in an agony of expectation as long as hope lasts. Gerald is gone, of course?"

"Oh yes!" said Lance, who had had a farewell from him with the words, "Get it over while I am out of the way, and tell them I don"t mind."

Cursory and incomprehensible, but conclusive; and Lance, who minded enough to have lost sleep and gained a headache, marvelled over young men"s lightness and buoyancy. He had seen Dr. Brownlow, and arranged that there should be a call, as a friend, in due time after the communication, in case it should hurt Clement, and when Geraldine observed merrily that now they were quit of all the young ones they could feel like old times, he was quite grieved to disturb her pleasure.

Clement, however, began by taking out a letter and saying--

"Here is a remarkable missive left for me yesterday--"If the Rev.

Underwood wishes to hear of something to his advantage, he should communicate with Mr. O"L., care of Mr. John Bast, van proprietor, Whitechapel." An impostor?" said he.

"I am afraid not," said Lance. "Clement, I fear there is no doubt that she is that singing Hungarian woman who was the ruin of Edgar"s life."

"Gerald"s mother!" exclaimed Geraldine.

"Even so."

"But she is gone! She gave up all rights. She can"t claim anything. Has she worried him?"

"Yes, poor boy! She has declared that she had actually a living husband at the time she married our poor Edgar."

Of course both broke out into exclamations that it was impossible, and Lance had to tell them of his interview with the woman at Gerald"s entreaty. They were neither of them so overcome by the disclosure as he had feared during his long delay.

"I believe it is only an attempt at extortion," said Clement.

"Very cruel," said Geraldine. "How--how did my poor boy bear it all this time?"

"He was very much knocked down at first, quite overwhelmed, but less by the loss than by the shame, and the imputation on his father."

"It was no fault of dear Edgar"s."

"No, indeed. I am glad Fernan is here to go over again what Edgar told him. We may be quite satisfied so far."

"And is it needful to take it up?" asked Geraldine wistfully. "If we don"t believe it, the horrid story would get quashed."

"No, Cherry," said Clement. "If you think it over you will see that we must investigate. I should be relieved indeed to let it alone, but it would not be fair towards Lance there and his boys."

Lance made a strange noise of horror and deprecation, then added--

"I don"t believe Gerald would consent to let it alone."

"No, now he knows, of course. He is a right-minded, generous boy," said Geraldine. "I was wrong. Did you say he was very much upset?"

"Just at first, when he came to me at night. I was obliged to dragoon him, and myself too, to throw it off enough to be able to get through our performance yesterday. How thankful I am to the regatta that it is not our duty to the country to go through it again to-day! However, he seems to have rebounded a good deal. He was about all the latter part of the day with Miss Mohun."

"I saw him dancing and laughing with some of them."

"And he parted from me very cheerfully, telling me to a.s.sure you "he did not mind," whatever that may mean."

"He knows that nothing can disturb our love for him, Edgar"s little comfort, pa.s.sed on to bear us up," said Cherry tearfully. "Oh yes, I know what he meant--Felix"s delight, my darling always."

"It strikes me," said Lance, "that if he can save his sister--"

Geraldine started.

"Oh, the cigar-girl! Only by that mother"s side."

"That is true, but she is his half-sister, and he is evidently much drawn towards her. She is a nice little thing, and I believe he made much of her on the rehearsal day. I saw they got on much better together, and I think she was aware of the relationship."

"Yes, it is quite right of him," said Geraldine, "but she will be a drag on him all his life. Now what ought we to do? Shall you answer this letter to the care of the van-man, Clem?"