"Dorothy and Reginald," she said in a short, sharp voice of command, "bid good-bye to your Auntie Lisbeth and accompany me home at once.""No, no," cried Lisbeth, with hands stretched out appealingly, "you will not leave us like this, Aunt - for the sake of the love I shall always bear you, and - and - ""Elizabeth, I cared for you from your babyhood up. Ingratitude is my return. I watched you grow from child to woman. I planned out a future for you; you broke those plans. I might tell you that I am a lonely, disappointed old woman, who loved you much more than she thought, but I won't!""Dear, dear Aunt Agatha, did you love me so much, and I never guessed; you wouldn't let me, you see. Ah! do not think me ungrateful, but when a woman comes to marry she must choose for herself as I have done; and I am happy, dear, and proud of my choice - proud to have won the true love of a true man; only do not think I am ungrateful. And if this must be good-bye, do not let us part like this - for my sake and your sake and the sake of my - husband."Lady Warburton had turned away, and there ensued a somewhat embarrassing pause.
"Elizabeth," she said suddenly, "if I don't mistake, somebody is frying bacon somewhere, and I'm ravenously hungry.""So am I," cried the Imp.
"And so am I," Dorothy chimed in.
"Then suppose we have breakfast," I suggested, and in almost less time than it takes to tell I was leading the way across the green with Lady Warburton on my arm - actually leaning on my arm. It all happened soquickly that Heaven and Lisbeth alone know how she got there.
And now who so surprised to see us as honest Amos Baggett, ushering us with many bows and smiles into the Sanded Parlour, where breakfast was soon ready; and who so quick and dexterous in attending to our wants as the rosy-cheeked chambermaid?
And what a breakfast that was! Never had the antique andirons on the hearth, the pewter plates and dishes upon the walls, the brass-bound blunderbuss above the mantel seemed so bright and polished before, and surely never had they gleamed upon a merrier company. To be sure, the Imp's remarks were somewhat few and far between, but that was simply on account of the blackberry jam.
"I suppose you are both ridiculously happy," said Lady Warburton, eyeing us over her coffee cup.
"Most absurdly!" answered Lisbeth, blushing all in a moment. "Preposterously!" I nodded.
"Of course!" said Lady Warburton, and setting down her cup, she sighed, while I wondered what memories her narrow life could hold.
"Uncle Dick," said the Imp suddenly, "do you s'pose Scarlet Sam ever ate blackberry jam?""Undoubtedly, my Imp, when he could get it." This appeared to greatly relieve his mind; for he took another helping.
But all things must have an end, alas!-even such a breakfast as this, and presently we were out in the sunshine again, standing beneath the weather-beaten sign whereon three faded fishermen fished with faded rods in a faded stream; while away down the road we could see Peter already approaching with the carriage.
"And now I suppose you are going?" said Lady Warburton. "There is a train at half-past ten," I answered.
"An' we are going, too !" said Dorothy.
"Yes, we're quite ready, Uncle Dick," cried the Imp, thrusting his pistols into his belt.
"But you wouldn't leave me all alone, would you, children?" asked Lady Warburton, and there was a certain wistfulness in her sharp face thatseemed new to it.
"'Course not," sighed the Imp, "only - "
"We must stay and take care of her, Reginald," nodded Dorothy decisively.
"Yes, I'll take care of you, Aunt, with lance, battle-axe, an' sword, by day an' night," said the Imp, "only - I should have liked to see Uncle Dick's wonderful house, with the real swords an' armour, in the Land of Heart's Delight - some day, you know.""And so you shall," cried Lady Warburton, and she actually stooped to kiss him, and then Dorothy, rather 'pecky' kisses, perhaps, but very genuine kisses notwithstanding.
"Richard," she said, giving me her hand, "we shall come down to your wonderful house - all three of us next week, so be prepared - now be off - both of you.""Then you forgive me, Aunt?" asked Lisbeth, hesitating.
"Well, I don't quite know yet, Lisbeth; but, my dear, I'll tell you something I have never mentioned to a living soul but you; if I had acted forty years ago as you did to-day, I should have been a very different creature to the cross-grained old woman you think me. There - there's a kiss, but as for forgiving you - that is quite another matter; I must have time to think it all over. Good-bye, my dear; and, Richard, fill her life with happiness, to make up for mine, if you can. Children, bid good-bye to your Auntie - and Uncle Dick!""You won't forget the sword with the 'deadly point,' will you, Uncle Dick?""I won't forget, my Imp!" Hereupon he tried to smile, but his trembling lips refused, and snatching his band from mine he turned away; as for Dorothy, she was sobbing into the fur of the fluffy kitten.
Then I helped Lisbeth aboard The Joyful Hope, loving her the more for the tears that gleamed beneath her long lashes, and 'casting loose,' we glided out into the stream.
There they stood, the two children, with the white-haired figure between them, Dorothy holding up the round-eyed "Louise" for a partingglimpse, and the Imp flourishing his cutlass, until a bend of the river hid them from view.
So Lisbeth and I sailed on together through the golden morning to "The Land of Heart's Delight."
