Part 13 (1/2)

He lingered in the liquid and vivifying world, playing with the stream, for he was an expert and practised swimmer; and often, after nights of southern dissipation, had recurred to this natural bath for health and renovation.

The sun had now risen far above the horizon; the village clock had long struck seven; Ferdinand was three miles from Ducie Bower. It was time to return, yet he loitered on his way, the air was so sweet and fresh, the scene so pretty, and his mind, in comparison with his recent feelings, so calm, and even happy. Just as he emerged from the woods, and entered the grounds of Ducie, he met Miss Temple. She stared, and she had cause. Ferdinand indeed presented rather an unusual figure; his head uncovered, his hair matted, and his countenance glowing with his exercise, but his figure clothed with the identical evening dress in which he had bid her a tender good night.

'Captain Armine!' exclaimed Miss Temple, 'you are an early riser, I see.'

Ferdinand looked a little confused. 'The truth is,' he replied, 'I have not risen at all. I could not sleep; why, I know not: the evening, I suppose, was too happy for so commonplace a termination; so I escaped from my room as soon as I could do so without disturbing your household; and I have been bathing, which refreshes me always more than slumber.'

'Well, I could not resign my sleep, were it only for the sake of my dreams.'

'Pleasant I trust they were. ”Rosy dreams and slumbers light” are for ladies as fair as you.'

'I am grateful that I always fulfil the poet's wish; and what is more, I wake only to gather roses: see here!'

She extended to him a flower.

'I deserve it,' said Ferdinand, 'for I have not neglected your first gift;' and he offered her the rose she had given him the first day of his visit. ''Tis shrivelled,' he added, 'but still very sweet, at least to me.'

'It is mine now,' said Henrietta Temple.

'Ah! you will throw it away.'

'Do you think me, then, so insensible?'

'It cannot be to you what it is to me,' replied Ferdinand.

'It is a memorial,' said Miss Temple.

'Of what, and of whom?' enquired Ferdinand.

'Of friends.h.i.+p and a friend.'

''Tis something to be Miss Temple's friend.'

'I am glad you think so. I believe I am very vain, but certainly I like to be-----liked.'

'Then you can always gain your wish without an effort.'

'Now I think we are very good friends,' said Miss Temple, 'considering we have known each other so short a time. But then papa likes you so much.'

'I am honoured as well as gratified by the kindly dispositions of so agreeable a person as Mr. Temple. I can a.s.sure his daughter that the feeling is mutual. Your father's opinion influences you?'

'In everything. He has been so kind a father, that it would be worse than ingrat.i.tude to be less than devoted to him.'

'Mr. Temple is a very enviable person.'

'But Captain Armine knows the delight of a parent who loves him. I love my father as you love your mother.'

'I have, however, lived to feel that no person's opinion could influence me in everything; I have lived to find that even filial love, and G.o.d knows mine was powerful enough, is, after all, but a pallid moonlight beam, compared with------'

'See! my father kisses his hand to us from the window. Let us run and meet him.'