Part 29 (1/2)
”Say, what will you do about him? Shall you watch him?” Mr.
Whitney called after the vanis.h.i.+ng figure.
Merrick looked back over his shoulder with a peculiar smile. ”I shall not lose track of him,” he said, slowly; ”he is too interesting.”
CHAPTER XV
MUTUAL SURPRISES
The Mainwaring party was among the latest arrivals at the pier on the following day, owing to the dilatoriness of Mr. Thornton, Mrs.
Mainwaring's efforts to the contrary notwithstanding. At the last moment he appeared, serenely and smilingly unconscious of that lady's frowns of displeasure, to the infinite amus.e.m.e.nt of his daughter, who whispered to Miss Carleton,--
”Poor papa! See how auntie glares at him, and he does not even know it.”
But even Mrs. Mainwaring's facial muscles relaxed slightly at the sight of the beautiful ocean greyhound lying in the harbor, her flags waving and streamers fluttering in the breeze, awaiting only the captain's orders to start on her homeward course.
The decks were crowded with humanity, for the most part laughing and chatting gayly and singing bits of song, though here and there were sad, tear-stained faces, where long farewells, some of them perhaps the last farewells, were being spoken.
”Thank heaven, there'll be no tears shed on this occasion!” said Isabel Mainwaring; ”unless,” she added, with a glance of scorn towards Miss Carleton's escort, ”Mr. Whitney should contribute a few. I detest such vulgar demonstrations in public!”
The attorney certainly did not look very cheerful, and even Miss Carleton's sunny face was somewhat overcast, though why, it would seem difficult to determine, since she seemed to have no regrets at leaving America.
”Mercy me!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mrs. Mainwaring, ”what a dreadful crowd! It is far worse than when we came over. Hugh, I wonder if your father examined the s.h.i.+p's list. I particularly requested him to do so.
I wished to ascertain whether there would be any friends of ours on board. One does not care to make acquaintances promiscuously, you know.”
”I don't think the governor investigated the subject very thoroughly,” young Mainwaring replied, with a laugh. ”I noticed when we registered there were three or four pages of names preceding ours, and I don't think he gave the matter much attention. If I had time I would look it up for you, mother, but we must go ash.o.r.e in a few moments.”
”If I am not mistaken, my dear lady,” said Mr. Thornton, who had overheard the conversation, ”you will have little time or inclination for looking up acquaintances on this trip.”
”May I ask why?” Mrs. Mainwaring demanded.
”I think,” he replied, maliciously, ”that you and Isabel will be too much occupied in cultivating the acquaintance of mal de mer to care for your best friends.”
”How's that, Thornton? Think it will be rough?” inquired Ralph Mainwaring.
”The captain tells me the wind is freshening every moment, and we'll have a decidedly choppy sea before night. I'm thinking we'll have a nasty trip.”
”In that case, perhaps mamma and I will not be the only victims,”
said Isabel Mainwaring.
”I fear not,” responded Mr. Thornton. ”Were it not or my inherent chivalry, I should turn back; but I cannot leave you ladies to meet your fate alone.”
Amid the general confusion of leave-taking, Mr. Whitney turned towards Miss Carleton, saying in a low tone, as he took her hand,--
”I have received cordial invitations both from yourself and Mr.
Thornton to visit your home, and I feel a.s.sured of a welcome should I accept your courtesy; but, pardon me, Miss Carleton, if, after so brief an acquaintance as ours, I inquire whether I might ever hope for a welcome from you other than that of a friend?”
The beautiful brown eyes met his own frankly, but all the laughter and suns.h.i.+ne had gone out of them. They were serious and had almost a look of pain.