"HIS LORDSHIP"
Before the children had fully recovered from the amazement caused by
Lulu's announcement the steward reappeared bearing a tray containing
lemonade and cake, and Lord Carresford requested them to take some
refreshments. Although not in a starving condition, they were all
blessed with healthy appetites, and the cake and lemonade disappeared
very rapidly. While they ate their host talked to them, and he was so
pleasant and merry, and, in fact, talked so much like any other
gentleman, that Winifred whispered to Jack: "Betty was right, wasn't
she? A lord isn't a bit different from anybody else," to which Jack
replied, "No, only rather nicer than most people, don't you think so?"
By the time the impromptu repast was finished the yacht had reached the
steamboat landing, and Lord Carresford hurried away to the telephone
office to inform Dr. and Mrs. Bell of their little daughter's
whereabouts. During his absence the steward--who appeared to be a very
agreeable person--showed the children over the yacht, carrying Jack in
his arms almost as tenderly and carefully as his master had done.
"I think a yacht is the most interesting place I have ever been in,"
Lulu informed "his lordship" on his return from the telephone office. "I
should like very much indeed to cross the ocean in one. We went to
Europe once, and I liked the steamer very much, but mamma and Aunt Daisy
were seasick."
"If you please, sir," interrupted Betty--"I mean, your lordship--do you
know whether our families have been very much worried about us?"
"I think not," said "his lordship," smiling kindly at the earnest little
face. "Dr. Bell himself came to the telephone, and seemed greatly
surprised to learn of the state of affairs. He and his wife have just
returned from the city, and had not yet discovered that their little
girl was missing. He says he will drive over to the landing for you at
once."
Betty drew a long breath of relief.
"I'm so glad," she said; "I was afraid mother might be frightened. She
was very ill last spring, and we shouldn't like to have her worried
about anything."
After that Lord Carresford took them down into the cabin and showed them
some interesting shells and other curious things which he had collected
during his wanderings. He had been nearly all over the world, it seemed,
and was certainly one of the most fascinating "grown-ups" the children
had ever met. So the moments flew, and almost before any one could have
believed such a thing possible, Dr. Bell arrived with the carriage. At
sight of her father Lulu suddenly burst into tears again and flung
herself impulsively into his arms.
"I wasn't naughty, papa, I really wasn't," she sobbed. "I did think the
boat was safe or I wouldn't have asked the others in. Oh, papa, dear,
you won't be angry, will you?"
"No, no, little woman," Dr. Bell said, kissing her. "I am only angry
with myself for not having been more careful. If anything had
happened--Jack, old fellow, how can I thank you?" And the doctor wrung
Lord Carresford's hands in gratitude too deep for words.
The greeting between the two old friends was a very hearty one, and Dr.
Bell would have insisted on Lord Carresford's returning with them at
once to Navesink, but the latter explained that he had promised to dine
with some friends at the Highlands that evening, and would consequently
be unable to arrive at the Bells' before the following day. It was
getting late, and as Dr. Bell was anxious to get his party home as soon
as possible, the good-byes and thanks were quickly said and the four
children were packed into the Bells' comfortable depot wagon. Lord
Carresford insisted on carrying Jack to the carriage.
"Good-bye, my small friend," he said kindly, as he tucked the laprobe
about the little boy's feet. "I shall see you again, I hope, when I come
to Navesink."
"Good-bye, sir, and thank you very much," said Jack, holding out his
hand. "I am very glad I met you. I have wanted for a long time to meet a
lord, but I didn't really believe I ever should."
It was nearly eight o'clock before the party reached home, and Dr. Bell
drove at once to the boarding-house to leave Betty and Jack. Mrs.
Randall was standing on the piazza gazing anxiously out into the
gathering dusk.
"Here we are, mother," called Betty, as the carriage drew up before the
door; "we're all right, and I'm sure Jack hasn't taken cold."
Mrs. Randall hurried down the steps, and took Jack in her arms.
"Let me carry him," she said almost sharply to the doctor, who would
have lifted the child from the carriage. "Oh, my little boy, were you
very, very much frightened?"
"I was pretty frightened at first," Jack admitted, with his arms clasped
tight around his mother's neck, "but afterwards, when the yacht came,
and the lord was so kind, I liked it, and then it was a great comfort to
know you weren't frightened about us."
"Are you sure you were warm enough all the time?" Mrs. Randall
questioned anxiously.
"Oh, yes, as warm as toast," said Jack, laughing. "They wrapped me all
up in the laprobe driving home--and see this pretty silk handkerchief.
The lord tied it around my neck for fear I should be cold."
"The lord?" repeated Mrs. Randall, looking very much puzzled.
"Why, yes, the lord that owns the yacht--and isn't it funny, mother,
he's the same lord that's coming to stay at Dr. Bell's. He said he hoped
he should see me again, and I hope so too, for he is the nicest
gentleman I ever met."
"Mother," said Jack an hour later, when his mother was putting him to
bed, "do you know, I'm more glad than I ever was before that I'm an
English boy."
"Why?" his mother asked, smiling.
"Because when I grow up I shall be an Englishman, and I do think
Englishmen are very splendid. I like Dr. Bell, and Mr. Hamilton, and a
good many other American gentlemen, but I never saw any one quite so
splendid as that lord."
Mrs. Randall laughed.
"You enthusiastic little hero worshiper," she said. "What was the lord's
name, by the way?"
"I don't know," said Jack; "Lulu just called him 'your lordship.' They
might have names like other people, I suppose."
"Yes, of course, and it isn't customary to address a lord as 'your
lordship' either, at least not among people of our class."
"That must be why he laughed when Lulu did it," said Betty reflectively,
"but she only wanted to be very respectful. Dr. Bell called him Jack."
"Betty," whispered Jack, when their mother had left the room, and the
two children were alone together, "do you suppose we shall ever see
Uncle Jack?"
"I don't know," said Betty sadly. "I'm sure mother never will write to
him, and of course he wouldn't be likely to come to America."
"You don't know where he lives in England, do you?"
"Mother told me once, but I forget the name of the place. Why do you
want to know?"
"Because," said Jack slowly, raising himself on his elbow as he spoke,
"if I knew it, I think I would write him a letter myself."
"Oh, Jack, you wouldn't dare?"
"Yes, I think I would," said Jack, "and I think if he really came,
mother would love it."
"She would love to see him," Betty admitted, "but she doesn't like to
write, for fear he might think she wanted money or something like that."
"I want to see him too," said Jack; "I want it very much indeed."
"Why? You never seemed to care so much before."
"No, I didn't, not till to-day, but then you see I had never talked to
an Englishman before."
"And does that make a difference?" Betty asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Of course it does. Uncle Jack is an Englishman too, and perhaps--I
don't really suppose he is--but he might be just a little bit like the
lord."
"You are a funny boy," said Betty, laughing. "The lord was very kind,
and ever so good to us, but then----"
"He was the most splendid man I ever saw," interrupted Jack, "and I
wish--I do wish--that when I grow up I might be just exactly like him."
The Randalls was not the only household in which Lord Carresford was the
subject of conversation that evening.
"Your friend has certainly succeeded in captivating the children's
affections, Charlie," said Mrs. Bell to her husband, as she joined him
and her sister on the piazza after having seen Lulu safely tucked up in
bed. "Lulu has talked of nothing else since she came home, and I have
just been talking to Mrs. Hamilton at the telephone. She says her little
girl is of the opinion that 'his lordship' is the most delightful person
she has ever encountered."
"That was always the way with old Jack," said the doctor, smiling.
"There was never a man, woman, or child who had not something to say in
his praise. He was the most popular man in his class."
"I declare I can hardly wait till to-morrow to make his acquaintance,"
laughed Miss Warren. "Did you ever know any of his people, Charlie?"
"No, I never met any of them. I fancy his father was a rather eccentric
old gentleman, who did not encourage visitors. There was a sister he
used to talk about a good deal, but I never met her. I left college the
year before he did, and I have a vague recollection of having heard that
the sister made an unfortunate marriage, but I have forgotten the
circumstances."
"I hope that poor little Randall boy won't be any the worse for his
adventure of this afternoon," Mrs. Bell said, a little anxiously.
"Oh, no, I think not; we wrapped him up well coming home, and he seemed
as happy as possible. Indeed, I have an idea that he rather enjoyed the
whole adventure, for he is a true boy, after all."
"I like Mrs. Randall very much," remarked Miss Warren. "She is an
excellent teacher, and a thoroughly cultivated woman. I wish I knew more
of her history, and could do something to help her, for I am sure she
has had a hard time. Don't you know anything about her family, Charlie?"
"Nothing whatever. Betty once told me that their only relative is an
uncle in England, whom she has never seen."
"Lulu says Jack's grandfather was a general," said Mrs. Bell. "They are
certainly a most interesting family, and I wish we could manage to do
something for that poor Mrs. Randall. There is a tragedy of some kind
written plainly on her face."