Read Ebook: Mr. Jervis Vol. 2 (of 3) by Croker B M Bithia Mary

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Ebook has 753 lines and 40710 words, and 16 pages

MR. JERVIS.

"TAKE A FRIEND'S ADVICE."

Outside ran a long verandah, lined with ill-shaped wicker chairs, overlooking the tennis courts and gardens, and commanding a fine view of the snows.

The six tennis courts were full, the band of the Scorpions was playing the last new gavotte, when Mrs. Brande walked up with head in the air, closely followed by her niece and Captain Waring. She felt that every eye, and especially Mrs. Langrishe's eye, was on her, and was fully equal to the occasion. Mrs. Langrishe, faultlessly attired in a French costume, and looking the picture of elegant fastidiousness, murmured to her companion, Sir Gloster Sandilands--

The girl was a lady, she had a graceful figure, and a bright clever face; and the old woman had not been suffered to dress her! Even her captious eye could find no fault in that simple toilet.

"How do you do, Miss Gordon? Had you a good passage out?" she asked urbanely.

"Yes, thank you."

"No doubt I did. There were three hundred passengers."

"And no doubt you had a very good time, and enjoyed yourself immensely."

"No, I cannot fancy any one enjoying themselves on board ship," rejoined Honor, with a vivid recollection of fretful children to wash and dress, and keep out of harm's way.

"Oh!" with a pitying, half-contemptuous smile, "seasick the whole way?"

Honor shook her head.

"Lalla!" to her niece, who was the centre of a group of men, "come here, and be introduced to Miss Gordon."

Lalla reluctantly strolled forward, with the air of a social martyr.

"I think we have met before," said Honor, frankly extending her hand.

Miss Paske stared with a sort of blank expression, and elevating her eyebrows drawled--

"I think not." But she also made a quick little sign.

Unfortunately for her, she had to deal with a girl who could not read such signals, who answered in a clear, far-carrying voice--

"Oh, don't you remember? I met you the other morning before breakfast up among the pine woods; you walking with Mr. Joy--surely you recollect how desperately our dogs fought!"

Lalla felt furious with this blundering idiot, and hated her bitterly from that day forth.

"It is too soon to know as yet."

"I see you have the bump of caution," with a little sneer; "now I make up my mind to like or dislike a place or a person on the spot. I suppose you are fond of riding?"

"I have never ridden since I was a child, but I hope to learn."

"Then that mount on Captain Waring's pony was your first attempt. How ridiculous you did look! I'm afraid you are rather too old to learn riding now. Can you dance?"

"Yes, I am very fond of dancing."

"How many ball dresses did you bring out?" demanded Miss Paske.

"Only three," replied the other, apologetically.

"I suppose that is the latest arrival?" said Sir Gloster, a big heavy-looking young man, who wore loose-fitting clothes, a shabby soft felt hat, and rolled as he walked.

"Yes--that is Miss Gordon, Mrs. Brande's niece. She has half a dozen, and wrote home for one, and they say she asked for the best looking; and people here, who have nick-names for every one, call her 'the sample.'"

"Excellent!" ejaculated Sir Gloster, "and a first-class sample. She might tell them to furnish a few more on the same pattern."

"Have all the people nick-names?"

"Most of them; those who are in any way remarkable," she answered, as they paced up and down. "That red-faced man over there is called 'Sherry,' and his wife--I don't see her--'Bitters.' Captain Waring, who is abnormally rich, is called 'the millionaire;' his cousin, the fair young man in flannels, who keeps rather in the background, is 'the poor relation;' Miss Clegg is known as 'the d?k bungalow fowl,' because she is so bony, and the four Miss Abrahams, who always sit in a row, and are, as you notice, a little dark, are 'the snowy range.'"

"Excellent!" ejaculated Sir Gloster.

"That man that you see drinking coffee," pursued the sprightly damsel, "with the great flat mahogany face, is 'the Europe Ham'--is it not a lovely name? Those two Miss Valpys, the girls with the short hair and immense expanse of shirt fronts, are called 'the lads;' that red-headed youth is known as 'the pink un,' and the two Mrs. Robinsons are respectively, 'good Mrs. Robinson' and 'pretty Mrs. Robinson.'"

"Excellent!" repeated the baronet once more. "And no doubt you and I--at any rate I--have been fitted with a new name, and all that sort of thing?"

"Oh no," shaking her head. "Besides," with a sweetly flattering smile, "there is nothing to ridicule about you."

She was certainly not going to tell him that he was called "Double Gloster," in reference to his size.

Sir Gloster Sandilands was about thirty years of age, rustic in his ideas, simple in his tastes, narrow in his views. He was the only son of his mother, a widow, who kept him in strict order. He was fond of ladies' society, and of music; and, being rather dull and heavy, greatly appreciated a pretty, lively, and amusing companion. Companions of this description were not unknown to him at home, but as they were generally as penniless as they were charming, the dowager Lady Sandilands kept them and their fascinations at an impracticable distance. She trusted to his sister, Mrs. Kane, to look strictly after her treasure whilst under her roof; but Mrs. Kane was a great deal too much occupied with her own affairs to have any time to bestow on her big brother, who surely was old enough to take care of himself! He was enchanted with India; and the change from a small county club and confined local surroundings, the worries of a landlord and magistrate, to this exquisite climate and scenery, and free, novel, roving life was delightful. He had spent the cold weather in the plains, and had come up to Shirani to visit his sister, as well as to taste the pleasures of an Indian hill station.

Meanwhile Mrs. Brande had introduced her niece to a number of people; and, seeing her carried off by young Jervis, to look on at the tennis, had sunk into a low chair and abandoned herself to a discussion with another matron.

From this she was ruthlessly disturbed by Mrs. Langrishe.

"Oh no, indeed, I'm sure I am not," protested the lady promptly, being reluctant to heave herself out of her comfortable seat.

"Well, please to look," rather sharply.

In the meanwhile Honor had been leaning over a rustic railing watching a tennis match in which her uncle was playing. He was an enthusiast, played well, and looked amazingly young and active.

"So you have been making friends, I see," observed Jervis.

"I don't know about friends," she repeated doubtfully, thinking of Lalla. "But I've been introduced to several people."

"That verandah is an awful place. Waring has extraordinary nerve to sit there among all those strangers. I am much too shy to venture within a mile of it."

"I believe he is quite at home, and has met no end of acquaintances. Have you paid any visits yet?"

"No; only one or two that he dragged me out to. I'm not a society man."

"And how will you put in your time?"

"I'm fond of rackets and tennis. Your uncle has given me a general invitation to his courts. Do you think we could get up a game to-morrow--your uncle and I, and you and Miss Paske--or Mrs. Sladen?"

"Yes; if we could get Mrs. Sladen."

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