He heard a sigh flutter from her lips, and had a boyish longing to tell her that he should like to share every penny he had, or every penny he ever would have, with her; that she might never have any fear that he would go away and leave her without a holiday. He was almost making up his mind to say that he would give her just such a holiday as this every day of his life, irrespective of weather, when the captain came down the path and joined them, followed by Homer staggering under the weight of the luncheon basket.
The captain had a new tie for the occasion, and was dressed in his best; he gallantly handed 'Linda in, and she and Comethup took their places at the back of the carriage, the captain facing them. The captain was in high feather; heard the regular beat of the horses' hoofs behind him, and held himself more erect in consequence. Comethup and 'Linda sat silent, except when they answered the captain's remarks, or when 'Linda said something about the beauty of the day, or of the scenery, on which occasions Comethup eagerly and cordially indorsed her opinion.
They were to drive to a little wood the beauty of which was celebrated in the neighbourhood, although neither the captain nor his companions had ever penetrated so far. It was some fifteen miles distant, near a little old-world village, and they leaned back contentedly in their seats with the prospect of a long and pleasant drive before them. Suddenly, from the side of the road, they heard a hail, and the horses were drawn up sharply. Comethup turned about, and saw a figure hurrying toward them--the figure of a man, with long coat-tails flapping in the wind and a hand waving to them. The captain frowned a little, and muttered something under his breath. The figure came rapidly nearer, and disclosed itself as that of Mr. Robert Carlaw, heated and flushed; a little more full of habit, Comethup thought, than in former days, and a little more red in the face, but the same smiling, swaggering Robert Carlaw as of old.
He stopped at the carriage door, and pulled off his hat with a flourish to 'Linda; saw Comethup, and fell back a step, in delighted amazement. "What!" he cried, "is it possible that I look again upon the little nephew of whom I have thought so often? And yet, little no longer. Alas! time works changes upon us all. My boy"--he spoke with some emotion--"give me your hand. Little Comethup! And so you've come back to your old haunts, you lucky man of fortune, to turn the heads of all the pretty girls, eh?" He glanced at 'Linda, and smiled and shook his head. "Gad! you make me wish my youth could come back to me, although I never had _your_ chances. With good looks, and fortune, and youth--well, the ball's at your feet now; you're a lucky rascal. And so we drive our carriage, do we?"
