Lancaster electrified his friend next morning by informing him that he
must get their traps aboard the steamer himself, as he would not have
time to attend to his own affairs, having some commissions to execute
for Miss West.
"The nursing-bottles and the cans of condensed milk, you know," he
said, with a mischievous laugh, and De Vere stared.
"I should think the nurse would attend to that," he said.
"Nurses are forgetful, and I wish everything to be all right, you
know," replied his friend; "so I shall see to everything myself."
"Well, you will have plenty of time to do so. We do not sail until four
o'clock."
"Well, I shall have plenty to do in the meantime, so you need not wait
for me, Harry. You may just go aboard at any time you like. I shall
take a carriage and call for the baby on my way down."
"You are getting very kind all at once," De Vere said, carelessly.
"Yes, I mean to be. Having undertaken it, I mean to see the poor little
thing safely through."
"Well, I wish you success," De Vere replied, as he lighted a fresh
cigar and turned away.
The tickets and state-rooms had already been secured, and Lancaster
hurried down-town, intent on securing all the comforts possible for his
fair charge, who had suddenly grown very interesting in his eyes. He
bought a steamer-chair, some warm rugs, and a gayly colored Oriental
wrap that was both pretty and comfortable. Then he provided himself
with some nice novels and poems and books of travel. When he had
provided everything he could think of that was conducive to a lady's
comfort, he repaired to a florist's and selected an elegant and costly
bouquet.
"I have noticed that ladies always like a bunch of flowers when they
are traveling," he said to himself. "But what will De Vere say to such
reckless extravagance on my part?"
He smiled to himself, thinking how the young lieutenant would chaff.
"Anyway, I shall have got the start of him," he thought. "He will be on
the _qui vive_ for a flirtation with Leonora West."
Then he looked at his watch and found that he had consumed so much time
in making his purchases that he only had time to take a carriage and
call for his charge. Having sent all his purchases to the steamer, and
being encumbered with nothing but the flowers, he made all haste to
execute his last and pleasantest task--accompanying Miss West to the
steamer on which they were to embark.
"Drive fast," he said to the man on the box; and when they paused
before the genteel boarding-house where he had made Miss West's
acquaintance the day before, he jumped out with alacrity and ran up the
steps.
The door was opened by the simpering maid of the day before who had
giggled at his ridiculous mistake. He could not help coloring at the
remembrance as he met her recognizing smiles, a little tinctured with
surprise.
He assumed an air of coldness and hauteur, thinking to freeze her into
propriety.
"I have called for Miss West to take her to the steamer. Will you
please see if she is ready?"
"Oh, Lor', sir!" tittered the maid.
"I have called for Miss West," he repeated, more sternly. "Can you
inform me if she is ready?"
The maid bridled resentfully at his impatient air.
"Why, lawk a mercy, she was ready ages ago, mister!" she said, tartly.
"Then ask her to come out, if you please. We have barely half an hour
to go on board," he said, glancing hurriedly at his watch.
"I can't ask her. She is not here," was the answer.
"Not here? then where--" he began, but the pert maid interrupted him:
"Lor', sir, Miss West went down to the steamer two hours ago."
An audible titter accompanied the information.
Lancaster bounded down the steps without a word, sprung into his
carriage, and slammed the door with a vim.
"Drive down to the steamer just as fast as you can, coachman!" he
hallooed, sharply.