A FEAST OF THE GODS
I sped through the streets to our house as swiftly, I am sure, as that
ancient messenger of the Pagan gods--he that had the wings tied to his
feet that he might travel the faster. My dear mother was rejoiced at the
Captain's kindness, but she would by no means hear of coming with me.
She bade me return with speed, that I might not keep the company
waiting, and to thank the Captain for her with all my heart for his
kindness and condescension.
When I got back to the Noble Rose I found our little company all
assembled in the Dolphin. No one stayed my entrance this time, for
though the same fellow that I had tussled with before saw me enter he
made no objection this time, and even saluted me in a loutish manner;
for I was the Captain's friend, and as such claimed respect.
Lancelot was leaning against the mantelpiece, and Marjorie and my
Captain were sitting by plying him with questions and listening eagerly
to his answers. Lancelot had drawn off his travelling boots and spruced
himself, and looked a comely fellow. When I entered he broke off in what
he was saying to clasp my hand again, while the Captain rang for dinner,
expressing as he did so the civilest regrets at my mother's absence.
Then we all sat to table and dined together in the pleasantest
good-fellowship.
Never shall I forget that dinner, not if I live to be a hundred--which
is not unlikely, for I come of a long-lived race by my mother's side,
and winds and waters have so toughened me that I ought to last with the
best of my ancestors. There was a Latin tag Mr. Davies used to tease me
with about the Feasts of the Gods. Feasts of the Gods, forsooth! They
could not compare, I'll dare wager, with that repast in the Dolphin Room
of the Noble Rose, on that crisp spring day when I and the world were
younger.
I might well be excused, a raw provincial lad, if I did feel shyish in
the presence of such gentlefolk. But they were such true gentlefolk that
it was impossible for long not to feel at ease in their society. So when
I learnt that Lancelot had not changed one whit in his love for me, and
when I found that not the Captain alone, but his beautiful niece too,
did everything to make me feel happy and at home--why, it would have
been churlish of me not to have aided their gentleness by making myself
as agreeable as might be.
[Illustration: "HE BROKE OFF IN WHAT HE WAS SAYING TO CLASP MY HAND."]
The Captain had so much to say of his scheme or dream, and we were so
content to listen like good children, that we did not rise from table
till nigh three o'clock. It was such a happy dream, and so feelingly
depicted by the Captain, that it never occurred to me for a moment to
doubt in any wise its feasibility, or to feel aught but sure that I was
engaged in the greatest undertaking wherein man had ever shared. When we
did part at last, on the understanding that I was to attend upon the
Captain daily, I shook hands with Marjorie as with an old friend. I was
for shaking hands with Lancelot, too, but he would not hear of it. He
would walk home with me, he said; he could not lose me so soon after
finding me again. So we issued out of the Noble Rose together,
arm-in-arm, in very happy mind.
We walked for a few paces in silence, the sweet silence that often falls
upon long-parted friends when their hearts are too full for parley. Then
Lancelot asked me suddenly 'Is she not wonderful?' and I could answer
no more than 'indeed,' for she seemed to me the most wonderful creature
the world had ever seen, which opinion I entertain and cherish to this
very day and hour.
'Is she not better than her picture in little?' he questioned, and again
I had no more to say than 'indeed,' though I would have liked to find
other words for my thoughts. By this time we had come to the way where I
should turn to my home, but here Lancelot would needs have it that we
should go and visit Mr. Davies's shop in the High Street. I must say
that this resolve somewhat smote my conscience, for it was many a long
day since I had crossed Mr. Davies's threshold; but I would not say
Lancelot nay, and so we went our ways to the High Street and Mr.
Davies's shop. And indeed I am glad we did so.