De Vere stared in wonder when his friend scrambled up the plank alone
with his beautiful bouquet. He was not a minute too soon, for in an
instant the gang-plank was hauled in, and they were outward bound on
the dark-blue sea.
"Halloo!" shouted the lieutenant, sauntering up; "where's the precious
babe?"
His air of unfeigned surprise was most exasperating to Lancaster in
his disappointed mood. He was about to exclaim, "Hang the babe!" but
recollected himself just in time to glance around at the passengers
on deck. No, she was not there, the pretty American maid who was so
gracefully independent. "Gone to her state-room, probably," he thought,
with profound chagrin, and leaning over the railing, pitched his
fragrant exotics impulsively into the sea.
"So much for my foolish gallantry to Mrs. West's niece," he said to
himself, hotly.
Raising his eyes then, he met De Vere's stare of wonder.
"Have you gone clean daft, my dear captain?" inquired he.
"I don't know why you should think so," said Lancaster, nettled.
"From your looks, man. You come flying up the gang-way, breathless, and
when I ask you a question you stare around distractedly, and run to the
railing to pitch over one of the sweetest bouquets I ever laid eyes on.
Now, what am I to think of you, really?"
He laughed, and Lancaster, trampling his vexation under-foot, laughed
too. He was vexed with himself that he had let Leonora West put him out
so.
"I beg your pardon for my rudeness," he said. "I will explain. You see,
I was so busy all day that I only had time at the last to jump into a
carriage and call for Miss West. Then I was detained by an impertinent
servant who, after ten minutes of stupid jargon, told me that my charge
had gone down to the steamer two hours before. So then we had not a
minute to spare, and of course I was flurried when I came aboard."
"But the bouquet?" suggested De Vere, curiously.
"Oh, I bought that for my charge," replied Lancaster, airily.
"Rank extravagance! And didn't you know more about the tastes of babies
than that, my dear fellow? A rattle would have been a more appropriate
and pleasing selection. You know what the poet says:
"'Pleased with a rattle,
Tickled with a straw.'"
"Yes, I remembered that just as I came aboard, and I was so vexed at my
foolish bouquet that I tossed it overboard," Lancaster replied, with
the utmost coolness.
He sat down, lighted a weed, and leaning over the rail, watched the
deep, white furrows cut in the heaving sea by the bounding ship. His
thoughts reverted provokingly to Leonora West.
"What is she doing? Will she come on deck this evening? Did she think
I would not call for her, or did she come down first with malice
prepense?" he asked himself, one question after another revolving
busily through his brain.
Lieutenant De Vere's gay voice jarred suddenly on his musings:
"Tell you what, old fellow, you missed something by not coming aboard
with me. I formed a charming acquaintance this afternoon."
"Eh, what?"--the captain roused himself with a start.
"I formed a charming acquaintance on board ship this afternoon.
Prettiest girl in America--England, either, I should say."
A swift suspicion darted into Lancaster's mind.
"Ah, indeed?" he said. "What is the divinity's name?"
"I have not found out yet," confessed the lieutenant.
"Ah! then your boasted acquaintance did not progress very far,"
chaffingly.
"No; but I rely on time to develop it. We shall be on board steamer ten
days together. I shall certainly find out my fair unknown in all that
time," confidently.
Lancaster frowned slightly with that lurking suspicion yet in his mind.
"Oh, you needn't look so indifferent!" cried De Vere.
"You would have lost your head over her, too, old man. Such a face,
such a voice, such an enchanting glance from the sweetest eyes ever
seen!"
"And such a goddess deigned to speak to you?" sarcastically.
"Yes. Shall I tell you all about it? I'm dying to talk to some one
about her!"
"Don't die, then. I would rather be bored with your story than have to
carry your corpse home to the regiment."
"It was this way, then: I was _ennuyé_ at the hotel, so I came on board
early with my traps--as early as one o'clock. It was about two, I
think, when she came--lady and gentleman with her."
"Oh!"
"Yes, and shawls--bags, books, bouquets--the three B's--_ad infinitum_.
She had a dark veil over her face. Her friends bade her good-bye--lady
kissed her with enthusiasm--then they gave her the shawls and three B's
they had helped carry, and went away."
"Who went away?"
"The lady and gentleman went away. If you had been listening half-way
to my story, Lancaster, you would have understood what I said."
"Don't be offended. I am giving you my strictest attention. Go on,
please."
"She gathered all her things in her arms--she should have had a maid,
really--and began to trip across the deck. Then the wind--bless its
viewless fingers whirled off her veil and tossed it in the air."
"Fortunate!" muttered Lancaster.
"Yes, wasn't it?" cried De Vere, in a lively tone. "So I gave chase to
the bit of gossamer and captured it just as it was sailing skyward. I
carried it back to her, and lo! a face--well, wait until you see her,
that's all."
"Is that the end of the story?" queried Lancaster, disappointed.
"Not yet. Well, it was the sweetest face in the world. A real pink and
white; eyes that were gray, but looked black because the lashes were so
long and shady. Pouting lips, waving bangs, just the loveliest shade
of chestnut. Imagine what I felt when this lovely girl thanked me in a
voice as sweet as a sugar-plum, and gave me her things to hold while
she tied on her veil again."
"I hope you did not let her see how moonstruck you were on the instant."
"I don't know. I'm afraid she did," dubiously. "You see, I was so
taken by surprise I had not my wits about me. I talked to her quite
idiotically--told her I would not have restored the veil had I known
she would hide that face with it again."
"And she?" asked Lancaster, with a restless movement.
"Oh, she colored and looked quite vexed a moment. Then she asked me,
quite coolly, if my keeper was on board."
There was a minute's silence. Lancaster's broad shoulders shook with
suppressed laughter.
"So I begged a thousand pardons," De Vere continued, after a minute's
thoughtful rumination, "and I found her a seat and brought the
chamber-maid to take her things and show her her state-room; so she
could not choose but forgive me, and I talked to her a minute."
"And told her all about yourself in a breath," laughed the captain.
"No; I would have done it, but she did not stop long enough to hear
me. I asked her if she was going to cross the 'big pond' all alone by
herself, as Pat would say, and she laughed very much and said no; she
was to have two chaperons. Then she asked me was I going, too. I said
yes, and was fumbling for my card-case when the chamber-maid whisked
her away from me. But to-morrow I shall--Oh, oh! Lancaster," in a
suppressed tone of ecstasy, "there she is now!"
Lancaster dropped his cigar into the heaving waves and turned his head.
He saw a lissom, graceful figure coming unsteadily across the heaving
deck--Leonora West!
Leonora West, even more fair and bonny looking than yesterday, in a
jersey waist and a black-kilted skirt just short enough to show the
arched instep of an exquisite foot in a dainty buttoned boot. She
carried her veil on her arm now, and wore a big black hat on her head,
under which all her wealth of curling chestnut hair waved loosely to
her perfect waist. The fair "innocent-arch" face looked as fresh as a
rose and beamed with gentleness and good nature.
Captain Lancaster rose up deliberately, and disregarding his friend's
amazement, went forward to meet her.
"Miss West, the deck is rather unsteady. Will you honor me by taking my
arm?" he said, bowing before her with elaborate politeness.