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.