Oh, but he must go if I tell him, whether he likes it or not." "So ought Hargrave." "So he would, but if he did not like it in idea, he never would in reality, whilst Will has the happy art of accommodating himself in time to every circumstance and place.' "He has a beautiful disposition," said Mr. Wynne, in a tone as warm as short. Mrs. Wynne's eyes glistened. "Frank, I am so glad you see it; I must not tell Will himself that you have so spoken of him, or his head would be turned for ever." 66 Very simple words to do such a great thing." Ah, but the words of one who praises almost never,' as my little Irish cousin would say, are great things. Now, I must tell you something more of him; he had walked sixteen miles to-day already when he offered to take that note." "Then why ever, my love, did he offer ?" asked Mr. Wynne, with grave simplicity. 66 Oh, Frank," answered his wife half amused, half indignant, "as if you could not feel why! Because he was longing to do something for you after all yesterday's troubles." 66 Very forgiving of him," said Mr. Wynne, “but, indeed, if I had known it, I should have sent David instead." "And David would have come in and gone to bed as sulky as sulky could be, whilst Will will go up as blithe as a lark, dear fellow." Mr. Wynne took her hand and laughed, "Now, Barbara, I warn you, don't spoil Will in Gordon's stead." "I could not spoil him. No, you need not fear, I am often very hard on him, and never spare him. Only this very evening I sent him up to brush his hair, when he came in to our late tea,-such a disreputable figure he had made of himself, struggling with Harry Storey, I believe." "For all this, I believe that you will set your heart upon him in Gordon's place. You know in two years more the parting must come.' Will's future destination was in an uncle's office in New York. "I shall be ready for it, Frank," said Mrs. Wynne, stretching out her hand to her husband, and speaking quietly but far more cheerfully than he had done, "and so will Will; the Atlantic may lie between us, but our hearts will still be one, and I do not fear to trust him even in New York. His goodness is not only that of impulse, but founded upon desires so much more deep and trustworthy, imperfect, poor fellow, as their fulfilment is as yet. Besides," she added brightly, seeing her husband's grave, sad expression, "Gordon will not be put quite so easily out of my heart as you seem to expect; it will not be 'out of sight out of mind' I can tell you-but we have wandered far away from Thursday; then you have no objection to my taking all who care to go ?" 66 No, none, my love; why should I? except that I should wish you to have some older escort than Will. I will tell Hargrave I wish him to go, there is sure to be a crush coming home in Easter week." "If you do wish it I will certainly ask Hargrave to come with us or to fetch us, that will do, I suppose ?" 66 I might do that," said Paul, looking up from his book, a little glow on his cheek, a glow seemingly most uncalled for, since he abounded in such goodnatured offices towards his younger brothers, "I suppose, sir, I might reckon on being able to leave the office at four, and then I should be at the Palace before five, in good time to see you home, mother." "But you won't care to come at all, Paul ?" 66 Yes, mother, I should really like it." "Well, if you do like it, pray go earlier, Paul," said his father, "why not leave town at three? then you would have an hour and a half, or more, with your mother." "Thank you, sir," said Paul heartily. "Only pray agree upon a place of meeting, that's all; don't go beating about for them as poor Frank did last summer, never finding them after all." "Now, Frank, you ought to have forgotten that!" said Mrs. Wynne smiling, "you have never forgiven me that piece of stupidity." "Not you, but Hetty; the idea of bringing poor Frank all the way from Chelmsford for a day's pleasure at the Crystal Palace, and then never naming a meeting place!" "At any rate, we will profit by experience, and name the Pompeian Court, a quarter to four, at once." Just then was heard Will's knock. Paul went out and let him in, Mrs. Wynne just looked into the hall to beg him to go into the dining room to have some supper, and then went back to her husband. 66 Now, my love, you ought to be in bed.” Well, I am going, but I do not know, Frank, when I have felt so well, and health is such an inestimable blessing, that I can even see that poor Gordon's going to Harrow is quite right and necessary." CHAPTER XIV. A SPRING DAY'S PLEASURE. "Rest-rest-four little letters, one short word, DINAH MULOCH. MRS. WYNNE'S Crystal Palace proposal was the next day hailed with far more pleasure than its originator had anticipated. Isabella had never seen the palace, it having been yet unopened when she was last living in England; and the days were so sunny bright and mild, hedges and flowers becoming so green and gay, that there was no dissentient voice to Isabella's opinion, that indoors or out of doors, everything must be looking lovely. "As for you three boys," said Mrs. Wynne to Will, "you can do what you like. Come with us, or make any expedition of your own that you like better elsewhere." The result of a conference between Will, David, and Gordon, was that they should like very much better to go to town. "You too, Gordon ?" 66 Oh, yes, mamma," answered Gordon at once. He was certainly growing much more of a boy. "Very well; then Will, remember, I trust all to you, don't be home after dark if unnecessary, yet don't spoil your fun by coming away in the best of any pleasure, because I have said this. I can trust you." The twenty-fifth of April dawned kindlily for holiday makers. The Wynnes went to the nine o'clock service, and then just looking in for letters, started for the station: Isabella was very happy, for not only a letter from her mother, but St. John also, had awaited her. It was nearly twelve when they reached the end of their second railway journey, alighting with a crowd of others, many of whom being real Londoners, enjoyed that pure balmy air, and bright inspiriting scene even more than themselves. One o'clock was appointed as dinner time, and the desecrated screen of the kings and queens as meeting place, and then all started on their different ways, some through the gardens, and others up the long covered way, to the building itself. The day passed on merrily, the large party working round the courts in a body, thus hearing the band, and then straying in two's and three's elsewhere. Isabella and Barbara turned to one of the open galleries, whence they looked down some time upon the life and hum of the gardens, and then upon the calm beauty of the distant landscape stretching peacefully away to the horizon, in silence. 66 Ah, did you see that old lady ?" said Isabella, suddenly, as a party passed them, "it is the very same that so enjoyed the music; did not you see her keeping time with her hand, all through 'Robert toi que j'aime,' as if she so enjoyed it, and she must be eighty at the least; how bent she is!" "Yes, I saw her," answered Barbara, half sighing. "Now, why do you sigh ?" "I ought not. It is only because she is so old, too old to be here and enjoying music." "Do you think so ?" said Isabella, quietly and thoughtfully for her, "no, I cannot; I am so glad to think one will never be too old for music, that it will still be our enjoyment hundreds and hundreds of years on." |
