The Star-Gazers Part 44

"Indeed, no," cried Lucy, indignantly, with a look that in no wise abashed the captain.

"Oh, come now, that won't do," cried Rolph. "There's nothing to be ashamed of."

"I'm not a bit ashamed," cried Lucy stoutly; and then to herself, "Oh yes, I am--horribly. What a fright, to be sure!"

"That's right," cried Rolph, "but I know you did come, and I say I'm awfully flattered, I am, indeed. I wish, you know, you'd take a little more interest in our matches and engagements: it would make it so much pleasanter for a fellow."

"Would it?" said Lucy.

"Would it? Why, of course it would. You see I should feel more like those chaps used, in the good old times, you know, when they used to bring the wreaths and prizes they had won, and lay 'em at ladies' feet, only that was confoundedly silly, of course. I don't believe in that romantic sort of work."

"Oh, but that was at the feet of their lady-loves," said Lucy, quickly.

"Never mind about that," replied Rolph; "must have someone to talk to about my engagements. It's half the fun."

"Go and talk to Glynne, then," said Lucy.

"That's no use, I tell you. She doesn't care a _sou_ for the best bit of time made in anything. Here, I believe," he said, warmly, "if that what's-his-name chap, who said he'd put a girdle round the globe in less than no time, had done it, and come back to Glynne and told her so, she'd just lift up her eyes--"

"Her beautiful eyes," said Lucy, interrupting.

"Oh, yes, she's got nice eyes enough," said Rolph, sulkily; "but she'd only have raised 'em for a moment and looked at him, and said--'Have you really.' Here, I say, Puck's the chap I mean."

"I don't think Glynne's very fond of athletic sports," said Lucy.

"No, but you are; I know you are. Come, it's of no use to deny it. I say I am glad."

"Why, the monster's going to make love to me," said Lucy to herself.

"You are now, aren't you?"

"Well, I don't dislike them," said Lucy; "not very much."

"Not you; and, I say, I may talk to you a bit about my engagements, mayn't I?"

"Really, Captain Rolph," replied Lucy, demurely, "I hardly know what to say to such a proposal as this. To how many ladies are you engaged?"

"Ladies? Engaged? Oh, come now! I say, you know, you don't mean that.

I say, you're chaffing me, you know."

"But you said engaged, and I knew you were engaged to Glynne Day," cried Lucy, innocently.

"Oh, but you know I meant engagements to run at athletic meetings. Of course I'm only engaged to Glynne, but that's no reason why a man shouldn't have a bit of a chat to any one else--any one pretty and sympathetic, and who took an interest in a fellow's pursuits. I say, I've got a wonderful match on, Lucy."

"How dare he call me Lucy!" she thought; and an indignant flash from her eyes fell upon a white-topped b.u.t.ton mushroom beside the road. "A pretty wretch to be engaged to poor Glynne. Oh, how stupid she must be!"

The mushroom was not s.n.a.t.c.hed up, and Rolph went on talking, with his hands far down in the pockets of his ulster.

"It's no end of a good thing, and I'm sure to win. It's to pick up five hundred stones put five yards apart, and bring 'em back and put 'em in a basket one at a time; so that, you see, I have to do--twice five yards is ten yards the first time, and then twice ten yards the second time; and then twice twenty yards is forty yards the third time, and then twice forty yards is eighty yards the fourth time, and--Here, I say, I'm getting into a knot, I could do it if I had a pencil."

"But I thought you would have to run."

"Yes; so I have. I mean to tot up on a piece of paper. It's five yards more twice over each time, you know, and mounts up tremendously before you're done; but I've made up my mind to do it, and I will."

"All that's very brave of you," cried Lucy, looking him most shamelessly full in the eyes, and keeping her own very still to conceal the twitching mischief that was seeking to make puckers and dimples in all parts of her pretty face.

"Well," he said, heavily, "you can't quite call it brave. It's plucky, though," he added, with a self-satisfied smile. "There are not many fellows in my position who would do it."

"Oh, no, I suppose not," said Lucy, with truthful earnestness this time; and then to herself: "He's worse than I thought."

"Now that's what I like, you know," exclaimed Rolph. "That's what I want--a sort of sympathy, you know. To feel that when I'm doing my best to win some cup or belt there's one somewhere who takes an interest in it, and is glad for me to win. Do you see?"

"Oh, of course I am glad for you to win, if it pleases you," said Lucy, demurely.

"But it doesn't please me if it doesn't please you," cried Rolph. "I've won such a heap of times, that I don't care for it much, unless there should be some one I could come and tell about it all."

"Then why not tell Glynne?" said Lucy, opening her limpid eyes, and gazing full in the captain's face.

"Because it's of no use," cried Rolph. "I've tried till I'm sick of trying. I want to tell you."

"Oh, but you mustn't tell me," said Lucy.

"Oh, yes I must, and I'm going to begin now. I shall tell you all my ventures, and what I win, and when I am going to train; and--I say, Lucy, you did come out this morning to see me train?"

"Indeed, I did not," she cried; "and even if I had, I should not tell you so."

"Oh, I don't mind," said Rolph, laughing. "I'm satisfied."

"What a monster for poor Glynne to be engaged to. I believe, if I were to encourage him, he'd break off his engagement."

"I am glad I met you," said Rolph, suddenly, and he went a little closer to Lucy, who started aside into the wet gra.s.s, and glanced hastily round. "Why, what are you doing?" he said.

"I wanted to pick that mushroom," she said.

"Oh, never mind the mushrooms, you'll make your little feet wet, and I want to talk to you. I say, I'm going to train again to-morrow morning.

You'll come, won't you. Pray do!--Who's this?"

Both started, for, having approached unheard, his pony's paces m.u.f.fled by the turf, Philip Oldroyd cantered by them, gazing hard at Lucy, and raising his hat stiffly to Rolph, as he went past.

"Confound him! Where did he spring from?" cried Rolph. "Why, he quite startled you," he continued, for Lucy's face, which had flushed crimson, now turned of a pale waxen hue.

"Oh, no; it is nothing," she said, as a tremor ran through her frame, and she hesitated as to what she should do, ending by exclaiming suddenly that she must go back home at once.

"But you'll come and see me train to-morrow morning," said Rolph.

"No, no. Oh, no. I could not," cried Lucy; and she turned and hurried away.

"But you will come," said Rolph, gazing after her. "I'll lay two to one--five to one--fifty to one--she comes. She's caught--wired--netted.