Part 19 (1/2)

'Oh--er--let me introduce you,' said Flus.h.i.+ngton, with a vague notion that this was the right thing to do; 'Mr. Lus.h.i.+ngton--Mrs. (no, I don't know her name)--my aunt ... my cousins!'

The young man, who had just been about to retire, bowed and stared with sudden surprise. 'Do you know,' he said slowly in an undertone to the other, 'do you know that I can't help fancying there's some mistake--are you sure that's not _my_ aunt you've got hold of there?'

'Oh,' whispered Flus.h.i.+ngton, catching at this unexpected hope, 'do you really think so? She seems so certain she belongs to me!'

'Well,' said the new-comer, 'I only know I have an aunt and cousins I've never seen who were coming up some time this week--do these ladies happen to come from the Colonies, by the way?'

'Yes, yes!' cried Flus.h.i.+ngton, eagerly; 'it's all right, they belong to you; and, I say, _do_ take them away; I can't bear it any longer!'

'Now, now, what's this whispering, Frankie?' cried the aunt; 'not very polite, I must say!'

'He says,' explained Flus.h.i.+ngton, 'he says it's all a mistake, and--and you're not my aunt at all!'

'Oh, indeed, _does_ he?' she replied, drawing herself together with dignity; 'and may I ask who is this gentleman who knows so much about our family--I didn't catch the name?'

'My name is Lus.h.i.+ngton--Frank Lus.h.i.+ngton,' he said.

'Then--who are _you_?' she demanded, turning upon the unfortunate owner of the rooms; 'answer me, I insist upon it!'

'Me?' he stammered, 'I'm Francis Flus.h.i.+ngton. I--I'm very sorry--but I can't help it!'

'Why--why--then you're no nephew of _mine_, sir!' cried the aunt.

'Thank you very much,' said Flus.h.i.+ngton, with positive grat.i.tude.

'But,' she said, 'I want to know _why_ I have been allowed to deceive myself in this way. Perhaps, sir, you will kindly explain?'

'What's the good of asking _me_?' protested Flus.h.i.+ngton; 'I haven't an idea why!'

'I think I see,' put in her genuine nephew; 'you see, there isn't much light on the staircase outside, and you must have taken the ”Flus.h.i.+ngton” over his oak to be ”F. Lus.h.i.+ngton,” and gone straight in, you know. They told me at the lodge that some ladies had been asking for me, and so when I didn't find you in my rooms, I thought I'd look in here on the chance--and here you all are, eh?'

But the aunt was annoyed to find that she had been pouring out all her pent-up affection over a perfect stranger, and had eaten his lunch into the bargain. She almost feared she had put herself in a slightly ridiculous position, and this, of course, made her feel very angry with Flus.h.i.+ngton.

'Yes, yes, yes!' she said excitedly, 'that's all very well; but why did he deliberately encourage me in my mistake?'

'How was I to know it _was_ a mistake?' pleaded Flus.h.i.+ngton. 'You told me you were my aunt from Australia; for all I know Australia may be overrun with my aunts. I supposed you knew best.'

'But you asked affectionately after Samuel,' she persisted; 'you must have had some object in humouring my mistake.'

'You told me to ask after him, and I did,' said Flus.h.i.+ngton; 'what else could I do?'

'No, sir,' she said, rising in her wrath; 'it was a most ungentlemanly and heartless practical joke on your part, and--and I shall not listen to further excuses.'

'Oh, good gracious!' Flus.h.i.+ngton almost whimpered; 'a practical joke!

_me_, oh, it really is _too_ bad!'

'My dear aunt,' Lus.h.i.+ngton a.s.sured her, 'he's quite incapable of such a thing; it's a mistake on both sides; he wouldn't wish to intercept another fellow's aunt.'