Nurse Elisia Part 2

"Don't--pray don't be angry, Ralph," said Aunt Anne softly.

"I told you to mind your own business, madam," said her brother shortly.

"If you'd do that, and look after the housekeeping, I should not have my digestion ruined with gutta percha kidneys and leathery toast. Now, look here, Alison, as this topic has cropped up, please understand me.

I don't like to speak so plainly about such delicate matters, but one must be clear when the future careers of young people are in question."

"Oh, dear me," muttered Alison. "More coffee, Isabel," he added aloud, while his father pushed away his plate, took off his gla.s.ses, and began to swing them round by the string.

"If that cord breaks, Ralph, those gla.s.ses will break something," said Aunt Anne, and Mr Elthorne uttered an impatient snort.

"Now, look here, Alison. I suppose you fully understand that I have a reason in encouraging the visits here of those two girls?"

"Yes, father, I suppose so."

"Humph--that's right; but don't be so indifferent. Dana is an exceedingly pretty, clever girl; a splendid horsewoman; of good birth; and she and Saxa have capital portions. One of them will have Morton, of course; in all probability Dana, for Saxa, when she marries your brother, will go to live in town. Now, I should like to know what more a young fellow of your age could wish for--the money you will get from me, Morton Court, Dana's portion, and a pretty, clever wife."

"I think you might have put the lady first, Ralph," said Aunt Anne.

"Mrs Barnett, will you be good enough to finish your breakfast, and let me speak," said Mr Elthorne cuttingly. "Then, by-and-by, you will be on the bench, and, before long, have a third of your aunt's money, for she cannot live long if she eats so much."

"My dear Ralph," cried the lady.

"Can you make any better plans, sir? If so, pray let me hear them, there is no coercion--I merely ask you all to do well, and be happy."

"Oh, no, I have no plans. I like Dana very well. She's a jolly enough girl."

"Then that's settled, sir; only just bear it in mind, and don't let Burwood be stuffing her head full of nonsensical ideas. Some girls would be attracted at once by the prospect of becoming `my lady,' but Dana is too shrewd."

"Almost a pity that the girls have no brother," said Alison carelessly.

"Why, sir?" said his father sharply.

"Because then he could have married little Isabel, and completed the combination," said Alison, looking meaningly at his sister.

"Don't be an a.s.s, boy. Hallo! Who's this?" cried Mr Elthorne, turning sharply in his chair as a bell rang.

"Only Beck, father. I asked him to come with us." Mr Elthorne turned upon his son mute with anger and annoyance; hence he did not notice the bright look and increase of colour in his daughter's face. "You asked him to come over--this morning?"

"Yes, father. Poor beggar, he only has a few more days before he sails for China, and I thought it would be neighbourly. Old Beck is always very nice to me."

"Oh, very well," said Mr Elthorne abruptly; and Isabel uttered a low sigh of relief as she busied herself over her aunt's cup, suddenly displaying great anxiety that the placid looking lady should have some more coffee.

"Better ask him in to breakfast, Al," said Mr Elthorne.

"Yes; I was going to," said Alison, rising and leaving the room, to return in a few minutes with a frank, manly looking young fellow of seven or eight and twenty, whose face was of a rich, warm brown up to the centre of his forehead, and there became white up to his curly chestnut hair, which was a little darker than his crisp, closely cut beard.

"Ah, Beck, come over for a ride with us?" said Mr Elthorne. "How is the vicar?"

"Quite well, sir."

"And Mrs Beck?"

"Oh, yes, sir. Alison was good enough to ask me to join your party."

He shook hands with the ladies, and there was rather a conscious look between Isabel and the visitor as their hands joined--one which did not escape the head of the family.

"Sit down, Beck, sit down," he said, cordially enough, all the same.

"Oh, I have breakfasted, sir."

"Yes; we're late," said Mr Elthorne, with a look at Aunt Anne.

"That means it is my fault, Mr Beck," said the lady; "but never mind, my dear, sit down and have some more. Sailors always have good appet.i.tes."

"Oh, well, just a drop of coffee," said the young man, for Isabel had quickly filled a cup, and was holding it out to him. "Thanks, Miss Elthorne; but really I did not mean--"

"You are on the vicar's cob?" said Mr Elthorne quickly, as he noted his daughter's heightened colour, and the young man's hesitation and evident pleasure.

"Try some of this game pie, Beck," cried Alison, pus.h.i.+ng over a plate.

"Aunt Anne finished the kidneys."

"Ally, my dear."

"Oh, thanks," said the visitor, taking the plate as he settled himself at the table. "Cob, sir? Oh, no; a friend sent me over one of his horses. I have had it these three days."

A curious look of trouble crossed Isabel's countenance, and she sat watching the speaker as he went on: "That's the worst of being ash.o.r.e.

Everyone is so kind. I am always spoiled, and it takes me a month to get over it when I get back to my s.h.i.+p."

"And when do you go?" said Mr Elthorne.

"This day fortnight, sir."

"For six months, isn't it?"

"There is no certainty, sir, I'm sorry to say. We may be ordered on to j.a.pan afterward."

"Isabel, my dear, I am sure Mr Beck will excuse you."

"Eh? Oh, yes, certainly," said the visitor with his lips, but with a denial of the words in his eyes.

"Go and put on your riding habit, my dear. Aunt Anne will pour out the coffee."

"Yes, papa," said the girl; and she rose, and, after exchanging glances with their visitor, left the room.

"Oh, yes, I'll pour out the coffee," said Aunt Anne, changing her seat.

"You are very fond of riding, Mr Beck, are you not?"

"Well, ye-es," said the young man, laughing, and with an apologetic look at his host and friend; "I like it very much, but I always seem such a poor horseman among all these hard riders, and feel as if I ought to congratulate myself when I get back safe."

"Oh, well," said Mr Elthorne condescendingly, "you would have the laugh at us if you got us to sea. Did you see anything of Sir Cheltnam?"