'I hope you told him to mind his own business!' cried Geraldine, with a great start of indignation.
'I told him he was a sheep,' said Lance. 'But, I say, Cherry, I want to know what you think of it.'
'Think? I'm not so ready to think nonsense!'
'Well, when the old giant was getting some tea for _her_, I saw two ladies look at one another and wink.'
'Abominably ill-mannered,' she cried, growing ruddier than the cherry.
'Impossible!' she said breathlessly. 'He is only kind and civil to her, as he is to everybody. Think how young he is!'
'I'm sure I never thought old Blunderbore much younger than Methuselah. Twenty-one! Isn't it about the age one does such things?'
'Not when one has twelve brothers and sisters on one's back,' sighed Geraldine. 'Poor Felix! No, there can't be anything in it. Don't let us think of foolish nonsense this wonderful day. What a glorious hymn that was!'
Lance laid his head lovingly on the sofa-cushion, and discussed the enjoyment of the day with his skilled appreciation of music. Geraldine's receptive power was not inferior to his own, though she had none of that of expression, nor of the science in which he was trained. He was like another being from the merry rattle he was at other times; and she had more glimpses than she ever had before of the high nature and deep enthusiasm that were growing in him.
'Hark! there's somebody coming,' she cried, starting.
'Let him come. Oh, it is the Pater.--Here is some capital tea, Mr. Harewood. Have some? I'll get a cup.'
'You are taking care of your sister. That is right. A good colonist you would make.--Come in, Lee,' said Mr. Harewood, who, to Cherry's increased consternation, was followed by another clergyman. 'We are better off than I dared to expect, thanks to this young gentleman. Miss Geraldine Underwood--Mr. Lee.--You knew her father, I think.'
'Not poor Underwood of Bexley? Indeed! I knew him. I always wished I could have seen more of him,' said Mr. Lee, coming up and heartily shaking hands with Cherry, and asking whether she was staying there, &c.
Meantime Lance had fetched a blue china soup-plate, a white cup and pink spotted saucer; another plate labelled 'Nursery,' and a coffee-cup and saucer, one brown and the other blue; and as tidily as if he had been lady of the house or parlour-maid, presented his provisions, Mr. Harewood accepting with a certain quiet amusement. His remarkable trim neatness of appearance, and old-school precision of manner, made his quiet humorous acquiescence in the wild ways of his household all the more droll. After a little clerical talk, that reminded Cherry of the old times when she used to lie on her couch, supposed not to understand, but dreamily taking in much more than any one knew--it appeared that Mr. Lee wanted to see something in the Library, and Mr. Harewood asked her whether she would like to come and see Coeur de Lion's seal.