Part 25 (1/2)
”I am considered to speak it well, and perhaps you will allow me when I call to give you a lesson,” said Harry, now thoroughly convinced that, at all events, the fisherman's daughter was not in a menial capacity in his cousins' family.
He felt relieved. There would be nothing derogatory in his attempting to become better acquainted with the fair young creature with whom he had been so greatly struck. Though very unwilling at present to leave her, he was conscious that he ought not, with so many eyes likely to be turned in that direction, to remain longer in her society.
”I must attend to my duties,” he said, nodding to Adam and his wife.
Unconsciously he lifted his hat to May with the same respect he would have shown to any high born young lady in the land.
May watched him till he was lost in the crowd. If he by chance approached young Miles, that worthy kept out of his way. Harry had undertaken to start the rowers on the lake with the a.s.sistance of Headland. It was remarked that he made two or three mistakes, which were, however, remedied by his friend. His eyes continually wandered among the crowd on the banks as if in search of some one. Headland rallied him when they were alone for a few minutes.
”Why, Harry, you look quite bewildered! Has anything happened?” he asked.
”Yes, indeed,” laughed Harry, who had no secrets with Headland. ”I have made a discovery. I have seen such a lovely girl. I wanted to point her out to you and Julia, but I could not find you. I went a second time myself to be satisfied that I had not gazed at her with rose-coloured spectacles, but I found that she was even superior, if possible, to what she at first appeared. I am romantic, you know, but I tell you she is perfectly charming.”
”Who is she?” asked Headland.
”Only a fisherman's daughter, but she is living with my cousins, and, from what I understand, has been educated by them, though they certainly could not have given her the graceful manner and sweet tone of voice so remarkable in her had she not possessed them naturally.”
”My dear Harry, charming as she may be do not lose your heart to her, or attempt to win hers in return, if she is of the parentage you tell me, for although I have no right to lay any stress on the point of birth, yet I am very sure that others will, and you may be entangled in a way which will produce much suffering, and may be painful to her as well as to you.”
”I have been thinking of that,” answered Harry, ”and if she were only an ordinarily pretty girl I would at once put up my helm and run away from her; but she is so perfectly lovely that I feel capable of overcoming every possible objection, could I win her.”
”Perhaps when you see her again you may discover some slight defects which were not discernible at your first interview,” observed Headland, smiling. ”Did I not think this very possible I would advise you not to call at your cousins as you propose. Otherwise I should certainly say, keep out of her way. I know you too well not to feel sure that you would not wish to win her love without feeling sure that you could make her your wife.”
”I should be a wretch indeed if I wished otherwise,” said Harry. ”If you saw her perhaps you would agree with me that she is the essence of all that is pure and modest, and I could not approach her with any other thought in my mind.”
”For that very reason, Harry, I would advise you simply to pay your cousins the visit you propose, and then keep away from Downside till you are about to join another s.h.i.+p.”
”At all events I will go there to-morrow,” said Harry. ”If I find that I am mistaken there can be no harm done; but I am not blind, and I am too well accustomed to ladies' society not to be able to distinguish between what is refined, and graceful, and lady-like, and their opposites,” exclaimed Harry.
”Well, be cautious what you say, and how you look and act,” answered Headland, knowing Harry's impetuous character.
The friends again parted. The aquatic sports were concluded, the fireworks over, and the fete in the park came to an end.
The more select guests, however, had been invited to remain for a dance in the house.
Some of the young ladies thought Lieutenant Castleton was much less entertaining than they had expected to find him, for though he danced indefatigably, he had very little to say for himself.
Headland made himself as agreeable as usual, though it was remarked that his eye brightened and a smile lighted up his countenance whenever Julia Castleton pa.s.sed near him, or he had an opportunity of speaking to her.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
HARRY'S VISIT TO DOWNSIDE.
”And what do you think of my friend Headland? I have not overpraised him, have I?” asked Harry, when he happened to find himself alone with Julia in the garden the morning after the fete.
”You certainly have not overpraised him,” answered Julia, examining some flowers amid which they were walking. ”I do not remember that you ever said very much in his favour.”
”Oh, yes, I did, I am sure, for I admire him more than any other fellow I know, and I am sure when I was last at home I constantly told you of the gallant things he had done.”
”That was before I saw him, and I suppose I forgot all about it.”
”Well, I am glad you like him, indeed, I am sure everybody must. But, by-the-bye, Julia, do not fall in love with him, however gallant a fellow he is, or I shall be sorry that I brought him here, though I should never suppose you likely to be guilty of such a weakness.