The Spider and the Fly. Garvice Charles

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СКАЧАТЬ nice people, and Mr. Leicester Dodson a well-informed person."

      Violet looked at her plate. She did not echo the captain's praise or qualify it, so one could not tell whether she thought Mr. Leicester clever or not.

      "Violet made their acquaintance in quite a romantic fashion," said Mrs. Mildmay, harping upon the subject, and she proceeded to recount the adventure of the parasol upon the cliffs.

      While they were talking, Violet, who was facing the window which overlooked the lawn, saw the tall, graceful figure of Leicester Dodson sauntering up the path toward the house, in the indolent way which distinguished him.

      "There is Mr. Dodson," she said. "I'll tap at the window; he may as well come in this way as walk up to the front."

      And so she tapped.

      Mr. Leicester looked over the whole of the house, as usual, before settling upon the right window, then, when he did, he lifted his hat, with a grave smile that was also a very pleased one, and came across the lawn.

      "Will you consent to make such an undignified entry?" said Violet.

      "Yes," said Mr. Leicester, and, stooping, stepped into the room. "I'm afraid I'm too early," he said, shaking hands with Mrs. Mildmay and the captain. "But I thought if I left it till the middle of the day it would be too hot, and if I left it till the evening it would be too near dinner, and that after dinner – "

      "We should be all asleep," said Violet, quietly.

      "Exactly," assented Mr. Leicester, gravely.

      "We are very glad to see you at any time," said Mrs. Mildmay. "And I think it is very kind of you to take the trouble on such a warm day, to come and see Violet's dog; poor fellow! we cannot think what ails his leg."

      "We shall perhaps be able to find out," said Mr. Leicester.

      "Will you take a cup of coffee?" asked Violet.

      "Yes, I will, please," he said. "Coffee is a good antidote to the heat, is it not, Captain Murpoint?"

      "Yes," said the captain, who had taken the opportunity to scrutinize the young man's face during the exchange of remarks; "yes, with a little curry powder added. We used to take it with chillies every morning at Madras."

      Mr. Leicester sipped his coffee and chatted in his grave way; then, when the coffee had disappeared, Violet rose to conduct him to the stables.

      When they reached the stables, where Violet was welcomed by many a groom and stable-help with smiles and hat-touchings, the great mastiff Leo came limping out of his kennel, baying and throwing up its head, with mingled pain and pleasure.

      "Poor old fellow," said Violet. "See, isn't it a pity? He is very fierce," she added, as the dog eyed the stranger with suspicious, threatening aspect.

      "I'm not afraid of a dog," said Mr. Leicester, quietly, and without hesitation he knelt down and stroked the thick, smooth neck. The dog growled and put its paws on his shoulder.

      "Oh, please be careful!" said Violet, apprehensively. "Quiet, Leo! Quiet, sir."

      Mr. Dodson, however, did not seem at all nervous and, with a grave, "Poor old man!" took hold of the bad foot and examined it.

      "There's a thorn in this foot, or there was, and it is festering. I prescribe a poultice," he said.

      "Oh, dear me! who is to put it on?" said Violet.

      "I will," said Mr. Leicester, "if you will be kind enough to order some warm water and linseed."

      Violet, without any further fuss, sent one of the grooms for the required articles, and Mr. Leicester seated himself on the top of the kennel and talked to the dog until they came.

      Then he mixed the poultice, applied it, and washed his hands, all with the same self-composed gravity which half amused Violet and half awed her.

      This Mr. Leicester, whom she had once almost despised for being the son of a tallow melter was gradually winning her respect and setting her thinking.

      "How kind of you," she said. "I am really very grateful. But I am ashamed that you should have had so much trouble."

      "Not at all. I am very fond of dogs," said Mr. Leicester, and the speech, though it seemed ungracious, was pleasantly spoken.

      "If you are fond of horses, come and see my ponies," said Violet, in her frank way, and they turned to the stables.

      "They are a pretty pair; they'd go well in tandem," said Mr. Leicester, thoughtfully.

      "Would they?" said Violet, eagerly. "How I should like to drive them. Is it difficult?"

      "No," said Mr. Leicester, "not at all, when you have acquired the knack. If you will allow me, I will show you how to drive the ponies tandem."

      "Thank you so much," said Violet, gratefully; "but are you sure that it will not bore you? I know gentlemen dislike being bored."

      "No, it will give me great pleasure," he said, simply. "When will you take the first lesson?"

      "Oh, you shall say the time."

      "This afternoon, at five?"

      "Yes," said Violet; "I shall be delighted! Oh, I forgot!" she added, quickly, and with an unmistakable air of disappointment. "I am to drive Captain Murpoint over to the village, and perhaps he would not care to risk his neck."

      Captain Murpoint came from the house at that moment to answer the question.

      "Will you be present at a little equestrian experiment, Captain Murpoint?" asked Mr. Leicester.

      The captain smiled.

      "Are you going to ride three of Miss Mildmay's horses a-row?" he said, with his smooth smile.

      "No; Mr. Dodson has been kind enough to offer to teach me how to drive tandem," said Violet.

      "I shall be only too delighted to make a spectator."

      "Will you come into the house again?" she asked, as Mr. Leicester raised his hat and paused at the walk leading to the gate.

      "No thank you," he said. "I am going down to the village for my mother. Good-morning. Good-morning, Captain Murpoint." And he sauntered off.

      They repaired to the drawing-room, that being the coolest part of the house, and there the captain was most attentive. The conversation got on to the topic of music, and Violet turned over her new songs, and at last, in answer to a question whether he sang or not, the captain offered to sing.

      He seated himself at the piano, struck a few chords, and commenced a barcarole in so sweet and yet powerful a voice that Violet was charmed.

      The music drew Mrs. Mildmay into the room from another part of the house, and the morning, which Violet had feared would be extremely dull, promised to pass away most pleasantly.

      While he was singing, Violet heard her door open.

      She was standing at the piano, and she did not turn her head, but raised her eyes to a mirror which hung over the instrument, and which reflected the whole of the room.

      As she did so, she saw that the door was opened by the captain's СКАЧАТЬ