Part 38 (1/2)

”No; he was fis.h.i.+ng on the other side of the river that day I tumbled in.”

”Oh!” said Helen coldly. ”Here we are.”

She turned through a great iron gate, walked up a broad flight of steps, and knocked.

”There, Dexter,” she said, as the door was opened. ”I hope you will enjoy yourself.”

”Ain't you going in with me!” he whispered excitedly, as a footman in a blue and yellow livery opened the door.

”No; good-bye.”

She nodded pleasantly, and went down the steps, leaving Dexter face to face with the footman, who had become possessed of the news of the young guest's quality from no less a personage than Master Edgar himself.

”Will you come in, please,” he said, drawing back, and holding the door open with an air that should have made him gain for wages--kicks.

Dexter said, ”Yes, sir,” as respectfully as if he were the workhouse porter, and took off his cap and went in.

”This way, hif you please,” said the supercilious gentleman. ”You may leave your cap here.”

Dexter put down his cap, and followed the man to a door at the further end of the hall.

”What name!” said the footman.

Dexter stared at him.

”What name shall I announce?” said the man again with chilling dignity.

”Please, I don't know what you mean,” said the boy, feeling very much confused.

The man smiled pityingly, and looked down with a most exasperating kind of condescension at the visitor,--in a way, in fact, that stamped him mentally as a brother in spirit, if not in flesh, of Maria, the doctor's maid.

”I 'ave to announce your name to her ladys.h.i.+p,” said the footman.

”Oh, my name,” cried Dexter, ”Obed Cole--I mean Dexter Grayson.”

He turned more red than ever in his confusion, and before he could say another word to add to his correction the door was thrown open.

”Master Obed Cole Dextry Grayson,” said the footman, in a loud voice; and the boy found himself standing in a large handsomely furnished room in the presence of Lady Danby, who rose with a forced smile, and looked very limp.

”How do you do, Master Grayson!” she said sadly, and she held out her hand.

Dexter in his confusion made a dash at it, and caught it tightly, to find that it felt very limp and cold, but the sensation did not last long, for the thin white fingers were s.n.a.t.c.hed away.

”Eddy, dear,” said Lady Danby.

There was no answer, and Dexter stood there, feeling very uncomfortable, and staring hard at the tall lady, who spoke in such an ill-used tone of voice.

”Eddy, my darling,” she said a little more loudly, as she turned and looked toward a gla.s.s door opening into a handsome conservatory; ”come and shake hands with Master Grayson.”

There was no reply, but a faint rustling sound fell upon Dexter's quick ears, telling plainly enough that some one was in the conservatory.