"And does it lead to anything; is there any promotion from it?"

"Not that I know, except to a pension; but who wants anything better?

Who asks for a jollier life than rattling over Europe in all directions at the Queen's expense? Once on a time they were all sn.o.bs, or the same thing; now they are regular swells, who dine with the Minister, and walk into the attaches at billiards or blind hookey; for the dons saw it was a grand thing to keep the line for younger sons, and have a career where learning might be left out, and brains were only a burden!"

"I never heard of such a line of life," said she, gravely.

"I had it from the fellows themselves. There were five of them in the waiting-room, tossing for sovereigns, and cursing the first clerk, whoever he is; and they told me they 'd not change with the first secretaries of any legation in Europe. But who is this, mother, that I see coming down the hill?--he 's no acquaintance of ours, I think?"

"Oh, it's Mr. Maitland, Tony," said she, in some confusion; for she was not always sure in what temper Tony would receive a stranger.

"And who may Mr. Maitland be?"

"A very charming and a very kind person, too, whose acquaintance I made since you left this; he brought me books and flowers, and some geranium slips; and, better than all, his own genial company."

"He's not much of a sportsman, I see; that short gun he carries is more like a walking-stick than a fowling-piece." And Tony turned his gaze seaward, as though the stranger was not worth a further scrutiny.

"They told me I should find you here, madam," said Maitland, as he came forward, with his hat raised, and a pleasant smile on his face.

"My son, sir," said the old lady, proudly,--"my son Tony, of whom I have talked to you."

"I shall be charmed if Mr. Butler will allow me to take that place in his acquaintance which a sincere interest in him gives me some claim to," said Maitland, approaching Tony, intending to shake his hand, but too cautious to risk a repulse, if it should be meditated.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 182]

Tony drew himself up haughtily, and said, "I am much honored, sir; but I don't see any reason for such an interest in me."

"Oh, Tony," broke in the widow; but Maitland interrupted, and said: "It's easy enough to explain. Your mother and myself have grown, in talking over a number of common friends, to fancy that we knew each other long ago. It was, I a.s.sure you, a very fascinating delusion for me. I learned to recall some of the most cherished of my early friends, and remember traits in them which had been the delight of my childhood.

Pray forgive me, then, if in such a company your figure got mixed up, and I thought or fancied that I knew you."

There was a rapid eagerness in the manner he said these words that seemed to vouch for their sincerity; but their only immediate effect was to make Tony very ill at ease and awkward.

"Mr. Maitland has not told you, as he might have told you, Tony, that he came here with the offer of a substantial service. He had heard that you were in search of some pursuit or occupation."

"Pray, madam, I entreat of you to say nothing of this now; wait, at least, until Mr. Butler and I shall know more of each other."

"A strange sort of a piece you have there," said Tony, in his confusion; for his cheek was scarlet with shame,--"something between an old duelling-pistol and a carbine."

"It 's a short Tyrol rifle, a peasant's weapon. It 's not a very comely piece of ordnance, but it is very true and easy to carry. I bought it from an old chamois-hunter at Maltz; and I carried it with me this morning with the hope that you would accept it."

"Oh, I couldn't think of it; I beg you to excuse me. I 'm much obliged; in fact, I never do--never did--take a present."

"That's true, sir. Tony and I bear our narrow means only because there's a sort of ragged independence in our natures that saves us from craving for whatever we can do without."

"A pretty wide catalogue, too, I a.s.sure you," said Tony, laughing, and at once recovering his wonted good-humor. "We have made what the officials call the extraordinaires fill a very small column. There!"

cried he, suddenly, "is the sea-gull on that point of rock yonder out of range for your rifle?"

"Nothing near it. Will you try?" asked Maitland, offering the gun.

"I 'd rather see you."

"I 'm something out of practice latterly. I have been leading a town life," said Maitland, as he drew a small eyegla.s.s from his pocket and fixed it in his eye. "Is it that fellow there you mean? There's a far better shot to the left,--that large diver that is sitting so calmly on the rolling sea. There he is again."

"He 's gone now,--he has dived," said Tony; "there's nothing harder to hit than one of these birds,--what between the motion of the sea and their own wariness. Some people say that they scent gunpowder."

"That fellow shall!" said Maitland, as he fired; for just as the bird emerged from the depth, he sighted him, and with one flutter the creature fell dead on the wave.

"A splendid shot; I never saw a finer!" cried Tony, in ecstasy, and with a look of honest admiration at the marksman. "I'd have bet ten--ay, twenty--to one you 'd have missed. I 'm not sure I 'd not wager against your doing the same trick again."

"You 'd lose your money, then," said Maitland; "at least, if I was rogue enough to take you up."

"You must be one of the best shots in Europe, then!"

"No; they call me second in the Tyrol. Hans G.o.drel is the first We have had many matches together, and he has always beaten me."

The presence of a royal prince would not have inspired Tony with the same amount of respect as these few words, uttered negligently and carelessly; and he measured the speaker from head to foot, recognizing for the first time his lithe and well-knit, well-proportioned figure.

"I 'll be bound you are a horseman, too?" cried Tony.

"If you hadn't praised my shooting, I 'd tell you that I ride better than I shoot."

"How I 'd like to have a brush across country with you!" exclaimed Tony, warmly.

"What easier?--what so easy? Our friend Sir Arthur has an excellent stable; at least, there is more than one mount for men of our weight I suspect Mark Lyle will not join us; but we 'll arrange a match,--a sort of home steeple-chase."

"I 'd like it well," broke in Tony, "but I have no horses of my own, and I 'll not ride Sir Arthur's."

"This same independence of ours has a something about it that won't let us seem very amiable, Mr. Maitland," said the old lady, smiling.

"Pardon me, madam; it has an especial attraction for _me_. I have all my life long been a disciple of that school; but I must say that in the present case it is not applicable. I have been for the last couple of weeks a guest at Lyle Abbey; and if I were asked whose name came most often uppermost, and always in terms of praise, I should say--your son's."

"I have met with great kindness from Sir Arthur and his family," said Tony, half sternly, half sorrowfully. "I am not likely ever to forget it."

"You have not seen them since your return, I think?" said Maitland, carelessly.

"No, sir," broke in the old lady; "my son has been so full of his travels, and all the great people he met, that we have not got through more than half of his adventures. Indeed, when you came up he was just telling me of an audience he had with a Cabinet Minister--"

"Pooh, pooh, mother! Don't bore Mr. Maitland with these personal details."

"I know it is the privilege of friendship to listen to these," said Maitland, "and I am sincerely sorry that I have not such a claim."

"Well, sir, you ought to have that claim, were it only in consideration of your own kind offer to Tony."

"Oh, pray, madam, do not speak of it," said Maitland, with something nearer confusion than so self-possessed a gentleman was likely to exhibit "When I spoke of such a project, I was in utter ignorance that Mr. Butler was as much a man of the world as myself, and far and away beyond the reach of any guidance of mine."

"What, then, were your intentions regarding me?" asked Tony, in some curiosity.

"I entreat of you, madam," said Maitland, eagerly, "to forget all that we said on that subject."