Part 2 (1/2)
”Oh, Eleanor!” protested Alicia. ”Poor Mr. Medland!”
Medland glanced from one to the other, smiling again.
”Whatever may be the sacrifice of personal inclination involved,” he began solemnly, ”when the Governor calls on me I have no----”
”You're making fun of us,” said Alicia, seeing the twinkle in his eye.
”I am quoting Mr.--Sir Robert Perry's speech when he last came in.”
”Sir Robert is a great friend of mine,” declared Alicia.
”Seriously,” said Medland, turning to Eleanor, ”I am very pleased.”
”Why?” she asked. ”The responsibility must be frightful.”
Alicia and d.i.c.k laughed irreverently.
”Eleanor's always talking about responsibility,” said the former. ”I hate the idea of it, don't you, Mr. Medland?”
”Call it power and try then,” he answered.
”Power? Oh, but I have none!”
”No?” he asked, with a look that made Alicia think he might have been ”nice” when he was a young man.
”Oh, of course, if it's mere ambition--” began Eleanor impatiently.
”Not altogether,” he interposed.
”Then what else?”
”Listen!” he said, holding up his hand.
They were now within twenty or thirty yards of the road, and, listening, they heard the murmur of many voices. Government House stood on the sh.o.r.e of the bay, about half a mile outside the town, and a broad road ran by the gates which, on reaching Kirton, was merged in one of the main thoroughfares, Victoria Street.
Another turn brought the party in the garden in sight of the road. It was thronged with people for a considerable distance, people in a thick ma.s.s, surging up against the gate and hardly held back by a cordon of police.
”Whatever can be the matter?” exclaimed Eleanor.
”I am the matter,” said Medland. ”They have heard about it.”
When the crowd saw him, cheer after cheer rang out, caps and handkerchiefs were waved, and even flags made a sudden appearance.
Moving a pace in advance of his companions, he lifted his hat, and the enthusiastic cries burst forth with renewed vigour. He signed to them to be still, but they did not heed him. Alicia caught hold of Eleanor's hand, her breath coming and going in sudden gasps. Eleanor looked at Medland. He was moistening his lips, and she saw a little quiver run through his limbs.
”By Jove!” said d.i.c.k Derosne.
Medland turned to Eleanor, and pointed to the crowd.
”Yes, I see,” she said.