CHAPTER EIGHT.
Ten minutes later Peggy emerged from behind the cluster of palm-trees,and laid her hand on Rob's arm to accompany him to the refreshment-roombelow.
"You still retain your old weakness for ices, then?" he had asked her,and the "I--do--so!" which came in reply was so emphatic that it evokeda hearty laugh of approval. A group of people standing near at handturned round to stare with amused curiosity at the tall man and hislittle partner who were on such good terms with each other, and one ortwo of the men, recognising Rob, bowed to him with an air of surprise.Then they passed into a second room, and Peggy was instantly aware thatsomething unusual was in the air, for every one seemed flocking togetherin one corner and listening in charmed silence to the sound of oneflute-like voice. Peggy had hardly time to catch the sound of afamiliar lisp before there came a quick exclamation of surprise, and aradiant vision, all pink and white and glitter of diamonds, glidedforward to meet her.
"It's Mawiquita! It is! Her own little self! A hundwed welcomes,Peggy! I've just returned to town, and was coming to see you to-morrow,the vewy first thing. Lady Norton--evewybody--please excuse me forrunning away, but Miss Saville is my vewy deawest fwiend, and I have notseen her for four whole years, so I really must take possession of herat once." Rosalind flashed a glance round the group of desertedadmirers, and swept along by Peggy's side, smiling down from hersuperior altitude, and indulging in a string of demonstrative welcomes,at which Rob scowled with heavy eyebrows. As for Peggy, she could onlystare, and gasp, and stare again, and blink her eyes, to discover ifthis vision were a veritable piece of flesh and blood, or some beautifulprincess out of a fairy-tale, who would suddenly vanish from her sight.It was one thing to be told that Rosalind was a celebrated beauty, andto summon up her features in cold mental survey; it was another and moreimpressive experience to see the exquisite colouring of the lovely face,and meet the beguiling glance of the deep blue eyes. Peggy's heart wentout towards the beautiful creature, and she felt a thrill of complacentpride in the knowledge that Rosalind had left her other friends onpurpose to enjoy her own society. They sat down in a corner of therefreshment-room and smiled at one another shyly, while Rob went insearch of ices, for though there was much to say, it was not easy toknow where to begin, and after four years' separation there is a certainconstraint between even the oldest of friends.
"So this is why Rob turned up to-night. I might have guessed as much!"cried Rosalind, laughing. "But really, Peggy, I have been so accustomedto thinking of you in India that I never gwasped the idea that you mightbe here, till I looked up and saw you walking acwoss the woom with yourhead in the air, and the old Mawiquita stwide. I can't tell you howglad I am to see you. You must come and stay with me, dear, and I'lltell you all my news, and we can go about together. When can you come?We shall be in town for some weeks yet, so any time that suits you willdo for me."
"I'm afraid I can't make any promises at present, Rosalind, for we arehouse-hunting, and when we find what we want we shall be busy gettingall in order. The only visit I mean to pay this summer is to MrsAsplin at the vicarage, and I am going there with Mellicent in ten days'time. Mellicent is here to-night; she is staying with us at the hotel."
"You don't mean it! Mellicent Asplin here! How extwaordinary itseems!" Rosalind gave a chilly little laugh, and tilted her chin in theair. "You are vewy couwageous, Mawiquita. I should never have daredsuch an experiment. The Asplins are charming in the country, but theyseem out of place in town. And your first season too! What possessedyou to saddle yourself with such a hopeless burden as poor fatMellicent?"
"Poor fat Mellicent is not hopeless at all; she is so much appreciatedto-night that I've not had a chance of a word with her for the lasthour. She is not fat, and looks far too bonnie to deserve any pity;besides, I wanted to see her badly, and didn't care a bit about herappearance. I love the Asplins, and would do anything I could to givethem pleasure. They were unspeakably good to Arthur and to me. I don'tknow what we should have done without them all the time we were alone."
Rosalind's face sobered suddenly, and she gave a struggling sigh.
"You are just the same as ever, I can see, Mawiquita," she said slowly,"not changed a bit. I'm so glad you have come home, for I want to speakto you about--oh, lots of things! You don't know how often I havethought of you, and said to myself, `I'll ask Peggy! I'll see whatPeggy says!' I've never had a girl fwiend that I cared for so much asyou, and I knew you would say just what you thought, howeverdisagweeable it might be. I think it's vewy bwave to say disagweeablethings, because even if people take your advice, they are always cwosswith you for giving it. I like people to like me, so I find out whatthey want to do, and tell them it is the vewy wisest plan, and they goaway more pleased with me than ever; but I knew you wouldn't do that,unless you were vewy much changed. I wanted you to be the same, Peggy,and I heard some things about you lately which set my mind at rest onthat point. You still use big words, I hear, and are vewy, vewydignified when any one ventures to contwadict you, but not too dignifiedto pass your neighbour salt instead of sugar, or to pretend to arrange afwiend's sash, and then tie it in such a way that the poor thing dwaggedher chair with her when she twied to rise. Not too dignified to playyour old twicks still, Peggy Saville."
"Who has been telling tales about me?" cried Peggy wrathfully. "Alittle bird, indeed! A great big bird, you mean. A big enough bird tohave kept his own counsel. It's a poor thing, if one can't have alittle innocent fun in mid-ocean without having it brought up injudgment against one in a London drawing-room. I'm disgusted withHector! He might have kept silence out of gratitude, at least. I nevertook any liberties with him."
"Perhaps he would have liked it better if you had," said Rosalind slyly,and her eyes looked into Peggy's with a meaning glance. "It's a goodthing I am so fond of you, my dear, or I should have gwown pwetty tiredof your name during the last few weeks. It was extraordinary how everyconversation with Hector worked wound to Peggy Saville. We could noteven ask him to take a second cup of tea without being told how manycups Peggy Saville drank, and what were her views about cweam and sugar.I used to time him by my watch, and see how long it would be before hemanaged to intwoduce the subject, and seven and a half minutes was thewecord. The average was five."
"Very gratifying, I'm sure! Pleased to hear he has such good taste,"laughed Peggy, trying to carry off her embarrassment by carelessness ofmanner. She was by no means deaf to Rosalind's insinuation, and theknowledge that haughty Hector had been so favourably impressed by herfascinations could not fail to be agreeable to a girlish heart. Hectorprided himself on being the most supercilious of men, and it was atriumph to have roused him out of his usual indifference. The love ofpower was as strong as ever within Peggy's heart, and, it pleased her tofeel that she could influence this experienced man of the world. Thereare many ways in which temptation comes to a young girl, and perhapsnone more subtle than this, for in the beginning it seems so innocent,yet it leads so often to disastrous results. Peggy would have beenhorrified if she had been accused of an intention to flirt with HectorDarcy, and, to do her justice, she was entirely innocent of such a wish,but she did distinctly hug the thought that it was "fun" to manage him,and determined in her heart not to throw away the power which she hadgained.
At that moment Rob came back with the ices which he had managed to steersafely across the room, and Peggy casting about in her mind for a changeof subject, was not at all grateful to Rosalind for repeating her lastremarks for her brother's benefit.
"I am just telling Mawiquita how incessantly Hector has talked about hersince his weturn. It seems strange that they should know each other sowell. Nearly two months you were together, weren't you, Peggy? Twomonths is a long time, especially when you are travelling. It is asgood as two years at home. I dare say you feel as if you knew Hectormuch better than you do Rob, for it is really six years now since youtwo saw much of each other."
Rosalind spoke wi
th a guileless sweetness of manner, and nothing couldhave been more innocent than the expression of her eyes; neverthelessPeggy suspected that a deliberate intention to annoy lurked behind theamicable manner, for it was evident that there was no more sympathy thanof old between the brother and sister. She flushed indignantly, and wasabout to make a heated reply, when two tall figures appeared in thedoorway, and waved an eager greeting. The older of the two was noneother than Hector Darcy himself--(Tiresome creature! to put in anappearance at such an inopportune moment!)--and Arthur was hiscompanion, looking well, what Arthur always _did_ look in his sister'seyes--the handsomest and most distinguished man in the room. Peggy hadseen him earlier in the evening, but through all the embarrassment ofmeeting Hector with his sister's words still ringing in her ears, shewas acutely conscious of every detail of his meeting with Rosalind; herlittle rustling movement of agitation, the flash in his eyes, above all,the eloquent silence with which hand met hand. Alas, poor Arthur! noneed to wonder any longer if he cared, with that look on his face, thattell-tale light in his eye! After the first quick glance his sisteraverted her eyes, as from something sacred, and poured out a flood ofrapid, inconsequent talk to the new-comer. Hector was unaffectedlydelighted at the meeting, and became unusually lively, as he retaileditems of information about different passengers on board the steamer,whom he had met since his return to England, while Peggy in her turn hadher own little histories to add to the store.
"You remember the old lady in the alpaca dress who called me a `restfulinfluence'? It appears she is the head of the millinery department inone of the Calcutta shops, and was on her way to Paris to studyfashions. We ran across her in a restaurant there, and she told us allabout it, and offered to get my hats at wholesale prices. I thanked herkindly, but taking note of the fact that she was wearing a purple toquewith trimmings of crimson and green, politely but firmly refused."
"I should think so, indeed! Terrible old person! How you ever enduredher as you did, I cannot understand. Remember young Chamberlain?Handsome fellow with big nose and square shoulders. I met him the otherday in Piccadilly with a brand-new wife. Married the week he came back,after seven years' engagement. Introduced me to his wife with as muchside as if no one had ever been married before!"
"How sweet of him! He was a really nice man. He always went into theservices on Sunday, and joined ira the hymns, instead of lolling aboutat the other end of the deck, like many of the men. He had some friendstravelling second-class, too, and wasn't a bit ashamed of it, but usedto go and see them regularly. I hope he will be very, very happy. Wasshe pretty?"
"Not an atom! Might have been once on a time, perhaps, in theprehistoric ages, but she is too pale and faded nowadays. By no meansin her first bloom, I assure you."
"Well, she has lost it in waiting for him, so he would be a mean wretchif he liked her any the worse. _Such_ a joke! You remember that fatold man with the crimson face who was so furious with little Miss Muirwhen she spoke against Gladstone? He jumped up and down like a Jack inthe Box, and said he was `surprised, madam, that any one of yourintelligence, madam, should be so blinded by prejudice, madam--' Youremember how we looked on from afar, and christened him `A Study inScarlet'? Well, two days ago, mother had a letter from Miss Muirherself, and they are going to be married in August! It seems he neverrested until he converted her to his own views, and then he was sopleased with her for agreeing with him that this is the result. Sheseems so happy, poor old dear, and says that though hot-tempered he hasa warm and loving heart. I notice that people with especially violenttempers always take refuge behind the plea of loving hearts! Whom elsehave you seen?"
"I had an invitation to call upon the Shores, and went on Sunday week.Miss Eveline was in greater form than ever. I am sure you would haveliked to see her."
Peggy shrugged her shoulders viciously.
"K-r-r-eature! Don't allude to her in my presence, please. No oneshall hear me breathe a word about a member of my own sex, but of allthe miserable, contemptible, mean little wretches that ever breathed,she was the worst! I'll _never_ have anything to say to a girl whosnubs her own mother before strangers, and makes fun of her poor oldfather, because he has given her a better education than he had himself.One day he was talking to me about the view, and enjoying himself somuch--he really was a most affable old man--when she happened to come upand overhear him say something about the `Hopen haspect!' She shruggedher shoulders and smiled at me, and I turned a basilisk countenance uponher and glared, lit-er-ally gl-ared with anger." Peggy turned her headwith a delighted remembrance of her own severity, then once moresoftened into smiles.
"Any news of my _dear_ friend, General Andrews? You have seen him, ofcourse? Did he ask for my address?"
"I am afraid not. I really can't remember that he did."
Peggy sighed.
"He promised me a tiger skin," she said sorrowfully, "and a brass tray,and some carved ivories, and a dressing-gown, and an elephant's foot!The elephant's foot was to be mounted for me, and he gave me the choiceof how it was to be done, and said he would take it to a skilful man. Ithink he must have killed a whole herd of elephants, for he promised afoot to every girl on board. He was a most promising creature, and hisintentions were admirable. I am sure that at the time he meant all hesaid, and I can't blame him for his forgetfulness, for my own memory isat times sadly defective."
She glanced roguishly in Rob's face as she concluded, as if recallingpast mishaps, and he smiled in return, but in a strained, unnaturalfashion which she was quick to notice. Rob knew none of the people ofwhom she had been talking with his brother, and could enter into none ofthe jokes which were associated with their names. It was only natural,therefore, that he should feel debarred from the conversation.
Peggy drew a long breath of dismay. What a strange world it was, andhow differently things turned out from what one expected! To think thatat this first meeting it should be _Rob_ who was left out in the cold,and not Hector; Rob who stood aside and was silent, Hector who laughedand talked with the ease of intimate friendship! It gave her amiserable feeling of self-reproach that it should be so; and yet how wasshe to blame? The situation had arisen naturally enough.
She gave a little movement of impatience, and her thoughts went off at atangent, while in appearance she was still listening attentively toHector's reminiscences.
Rosalind and Arthur were whispering together with longer pauses betweenthe sentences than is usual in the converse of friends. She was smilinginto his face in her sweetest, most winsome manner, but he did not lookhappy. His face wore the same troubled, fighting expression which hissister had noticed on the evening of her arrival in London.
Hector's complacent serenity stood out in soothing relief at once fromArthur's strain and Rob's moody silence, for moody Rob looked indeed,with his closed lips and heavy brows. A vivid remembrance flashed intoPeggy's mind of a schoolboy, raising his head from a microscope andscowling darkly at some unhappy wight who had incurred his displeasure,and with the remembrance a wild longing to be a school-girl again, inshort frocks and pigtail, a scrap of a school-girl who could swingherself on to the table to pinch his arm, or mimic each gesture as itcame, pulling her own sleek locks into an imitation of his shaggy crop,and scowling so darkly that, against his will, he was forced intolaughter. Many a time in the days gone by had she smoothed the "blackdog" off Rob's back in some such fashion; but now the age of proprietyhad dawned, and it was not permitted to take such liberties.
"I'm a lady growed, and I'll act according," said Peggy to herself; "butdear, dear me, what a handicap it is! He would enjoy it so much, and soshould I. Well, at least I can say I want to go upstairs, and then wecan have another nice talk. I haven't said half or a quarter of what isin my mind."
She rose from her seat, turning towards Rob to claim his escort; butbefore she had time to speak, Hector's arm was thrust forward, andHector's voice protested eagerly:
"Let me take you. I have so much to
tell you yet. Take my arm, and letme pilot you through the crowd."
Peggy stood hesitating and uncertain between the two tall brothers.
"But--" she began feebly, and then looked at Rob, waiting for him tofinish the sentence.
So far Rob had made no protest, but the moment he met that glance, therecame a sudden flash to the eye, a straightening to the back, which madea startling transformation in the aspect of the dreamy student.
As he stood thus, he was as tall as Hector himself; the rugged strengthof his face made him an even more imposing figure.
"But Peggy came down with me," he said firmly, "and it is my place totake her back."
"Nonsense, my dear boy. You have had your talk. It's my turn now.Peggy and I have a great many things to say to each other, and--"
"Plenty of opportunities ahead in which to say them. To-night will notbe your only meeting. Take my arm, Peggy," said Rob sternly; and Peggygasped and took it, and marched away meek and blushing, conscious to thevery curls on her neck of the amazed disgust with which Hector watchedher retreat.
Outside, in the corridor, her eyes met Rob's, and she made a littlegrimace of alarm.
"_Now_ you have done it! How furious he looked!"
"Serve him right," said Rob lightly. "And I'll do it again the verynext time he comes interfering between you and me! There are somethings, Mariquita, that a fellow can _not_ be expected to stand!"
Peggy gave a happy little trill of laughter. After all, there were somegood points about being grown-up. At that moment she had no hankeringwhatever for the days of pigtails and pinafores!
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