AGREEABLE SURPRISES ARE THE PERQUISITES OF YOUTH.
If the beauty of Lady Montfort's countenance took Lionel by surprise,
still more might he wonder at the winning kindness of her address--a
kindness of look, manner, voice, which seemed to welcome him not as a
chance acquaintance but as a new-found relation. The first few
sentences, in giving them a subject of common interest, introduced into
their converse a sort of confiding household familiarity. For Lionel,
ascribing Lady Montfort's gracious reception to her early recollections
of his kinsman, began at once to speak of Guy Darrell; and in a little
time they were walking over the turf, or through the winding alleys of
the garden, linking talk to the same theme, she by question, he by
answer--he, charmed to expatiate--she, pleased to listen--and liking each
other more and more, as she recognised in all he said a bright young
heart, overflowing with grateful and proud affection, and as he felt
instinctively that he was with one who sympathised in his enthusiasm--one
who had known the great man in his busy day, ere the rush of his career
had paused, whose childhood had lent a smile to the great man's home
before childhood and smile had left it.
As they thus conversed, Lionel now and then, in the turns of their walk,
caught a glimpse of George Morley in the distance, walking also side by
side with some young companion, and ever as he caught that glimpse a
strange restless curiosity shot across his mind, and distracted it even
from praise of Guy Darrell. Who could that be with George? Was it a
relation of Lady Montfort's? The figure was not in mourning; its shape
seemed slight and youthful--now it passes by that acacia tree,--standing
for a moment apart and distinct from George's shadow, but its own outline
dim in the deepening twilight--now it has passed on, lost amongst the
laurels.
A turn in the walk brought Lionel and Lady Montfort before the windows of
the house, which was not large for the rank of the owner, but commodious,
with no pretence to architectural beauty--dark-red brick, a century and a
half old--irregular; jutting forth here, receding there, so as to produce
that depth of light and shadow which lends a certain picturesque charm
even to the least ornate buildings--a charm to which the Gothic
architecture owes half its beauty. Jessamine, roses, wooodbine, ivy,
trained up the angles and between the windows. Altogether the house had
that air of HOME which had been wanting to the regal formality of
Moutfort Court. One of the windows, raised above the ground by a short
winding stair, stood open. Lights had just been brought into the room
within, and Lionel's eye was caught by the gleam. Lady Montfort turned
up the stair, and Lionel followed her into the apartment. A harp stood
at one corner--not far from it a piano and music-stand. On one of the
tables there were the implements of drawing--a sketch in water-colours
half finished.
"Our work-room," said Lady Montfort, with a warm cheerful smile, and yet
Lionel could see that tears were in her eyes--" mine and my dear pupil's.
Yes, that harp is hers. Is he still fond of music--I mean Mr. Darrell?"
"Yes, though he does not care for it in crowds; but he can listen for
hours to Fairthorn's flute. You remember Mr. Fairthorn?"
"Ay, I remember him," answered Lady Montfort softly. "Mr. Darrell then
likes his music, still?"
Lionel here uttered an exclamation of more than surprise. He had turned
to examine the water-colour sketch--a rustic inn, a honeysuckle arbour,
a river in front; a boat yonder--just begun.
"I know the spot!" he cried. "Did you make the sketch of it?"
"I? no; it is hers--my pupil's--my adopted child's." Lionel's dark eyes
turned to Lady Montfort's wistfully, inquiringly; they asked what his
lips could not presume to ask. "Your adopted child--what is she?--who?"
As if answering to the eyes, Lady Montfort said: "Wait here a moment; I
will go for her."
She left him, descended the stairs into the garden, joined George Morley
and his companion; took aside the former, whispered him, then drawing the
arm of the latter within her own, led her back into the room, while
George Morley remained in the garden, throwing himself on a bench, and
gazing on the stars as they now came forth, fast and frequent, though one
by one.