Part 21 (2/2)

”May I inquire what you are thinking of so intently, Miss Lulu?”

Lulu gave a little start, and glanced up from her seat on the piazza steps, into Lord Carresford's kind, amused face. ”His lords.h.i.+p,”

stretched comfortably in the hammock, with book and cigar, had been regarding her in silence for several minutes.

”I was thinking,” said Lulu slowly, ”how differently things generally happen from the way you expect them to.”

”I thought it must be something rather absorbing,” said ”his lords.h.i.+p”

with a smile, ”you looked so very serious. What has put that particular thought into your head just now, I wonder.”

”Why, it was you,” said Lulu, flus.h.i.+ng a little. ”I began by thinking how different you were from what we thought you were going to be. When papa said a lord was coming to stay with us, I was really quite uncomfortable. I thought it would be such a dreadfully solemn thing to have one in the house.”

Lord Carresford laughed.

”And you have since discovered that I am not such a very solemn person after all, is that it?”

”Yes,” said Lulu; ”you're not the least bit solemn, you know, but much nicer than any other gentleman who ever came to stay with us. It's only two days since you came, but it seems as if we'd all known you a long time. Betty said she didn't believe lords were any different from other people, but the rest of us all thought they must be.”

”Good for Betty. How did she obtain her superior knowledge about lords?”

”She said the lords in books were just like other people, and then I suppose being English made her know a little more about such things, though she's never been in England herself.”

”English,” repeated Lord Carresford in surprise; ”I did not know that the Hamiltons were English.”

”They're not, but Betty isn't Mrs. Hamilton's little girl. Did you think she was Winifred's sister?”

”Yes, I did think so; and the little lame boy--isn't he a Hamilton either?”

”Oh, no,” said Lulu, laughing; ”Winifred hasn't any brothers or sisters at all. She and I are great friends, but we haven't known Betty and Jack very long. They lived in the same apartment house with Winifred in New York, and she got acquainted with them in the spring. Their mother was very ill, and papa attended her. Jack couldn't walk at all then, but papa thought he might be cured, so he went to a hospital, and had an operation. They came down here, because papa thought the sea air would do Jack good. They're staying at Mrs. Wilson's boarding house, and their mother gives music lessons. We're growing very fond of Betty and Jack, and I mean to have them for my friends always.”

”I took quite a fancy to Jack myself,” said Lord Carresford; ”he struck me as a rather remarkable little fellow.”

Lulu's face brightened.

”I'm very glad,” she said, ”because Jack is so anxious to know you.

Betty says he thinks you are the loveliest gentleman he has ever seen.

He talks about you all the time and when he and Betty came over here yesterday, and I told him you had gone driving with papa, he looked dreadfully disappointed.”

Lord Carresford seemed both pleased and amused.

”I must make a point of looking up my young friend, and having a little talk with him then,” he said. ”Do you suppose he is to be found on the beach this afternoon?”

”Yes, I know he is; I saw Betty wheeling him down a little while ago.

I'm waiting for Winifred, and then we're going too. I suppose you wouldn't care to go with us? It's very nice and cool down there.”

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