Alone at that leading boat does he look: with eyes in which, as he continues to gaze, surprise becomes wonderment, dashed with something like displeasure. The boat he has recognised at the first glance the Gwendoline as also the two ladies in the stern. But there is also a man on the mid thwart, plying the oars.
"Who the deuce is he?"
Thus to himself George Shenstone puts it. Not old Joe, not the least like him. Nor is it the family Charon who sits solitary on the thwarts of that following. Instead, Joseph is now by Mr. Shenstone's side, passing him in haste making to go down the boat stair!
"What's the meaning of all this, Joe?" asks the young man, in stark astonishment.
"Meanin' o' what, sir?" returns the old boatman, with an air of assumed innocence. "Be there anythin' amiss?"
"Oh, nothing," stammers Shenstone. "Only I supposed you were out with the young ladies. How is it you haven't gone?"
"Well, sir, Miss Gwen didn't wish it. The day bein' fine, an' nothing o' flood in the river, she sayed she'd do the rowin' herself."
"She hasn't been doing it for all that," mutters Shenstone to himself, as Joseph glides past and on down the stair; then repeating, "Who the deuce is he?" the interrogation as before referring to him who rows the pleasure boat.
By this it has been brought, bow in, to the dock, its stern touching the bottom of the stair; and, as the ladies step out of it, George Shenstone overhears a dialogue, which, instead of quieting his perturbed spirit, but excites him still more almost to madness. It is Miss Wynn who has commenced it, saying,
"You'll come up to the house, and let me introduce you to my aunt?"
This to the gentleman who has been pulling her boat, and has just abandoned the oars soon as seeing its painter in the hands of the servant.
"Oh, thank you!" he returns. "I would, with pleasure; but, as you see, I'm not quite presentable just now anything but fit for a drawing-room. So I beg you'll excuse me to-day."
His saturated shirt-front, with other garments dripping, tells why the apology; but does not explain either that or aught else to him on the top of the stair, who, hearkening further, hears other speeches, which, while perplexing him, do nought to allay the wild tempest now surging through his soul. Unseen himself for he has stepped behind the tree lately screening Joseph he sees Gwen Wynn holding out her hand to be pressed in parting salute hears her address the stranger in words of gratitude, warm as though she were under some great obligation to him!
Then the latter leaps out of the pleasure boat into the other brought alongside, and is rowed away by his waterman: while the ladies ascend the stair Gwen lingeringly, at almost every step, turning her face towards the fishing skiff, till this, pulled
around the upper end of the eyot, can no more be seen.
All this George Shenstone observes, drawing deductions which send the blood in chill creep through his veins. Though still puzzled by the wet garments, the presence of the gentleman wearing them seems to solve that other enigma, unexplained as painful the strangeness he has of late observed in the ways of Miss Wynn. Nor is he far out in his fancy, bitter though it be.
Not until the two ladies have reached the stair head do they become aware of his being there; and not then, till Gwen has made some observations to the companion, which, as those addressed to the stranger, unfortunately for himself, George Shenstone overhears.
"We'll be in time for luncheon yet, and aunt needn't know anything of what's delayed us at least, not just now. True, if the like had happened to herself say some thirty or forty years ago she'd want all the world to hear of it, particularly that part of the world yclept Cheltenham. The dear old lady! Ha, ha!" After a laugh, continuing: "But, speaking seriously, Nell, I don't wish any one to be the wiser about our bit of an escapade least of all, a certain young gentleman, whose Christian name begins with a G., and surname with an S."
"Those initials answer for mine," says George Shenstone, coming forward and confronting her. "If your observation was meant for me, Miss Wynn, I can only express regret for my bad luck in being within earshot of it."
At his appearance, so unexpected and abrupt, Gwen Wynn had given a start, feeling guilty, and looking it. Soon, however, reflecting whence he has come, and hearing what said, she feels less self-condemned than indignant, as evinced by her rejoinder.
"Ah! you've been overhearing us, Mr. Shenstone! Bad luck, you call it. Bad or good, I don't think you are justified in attributing it to chance. When a gentleman deliberately stations himself behind a shady bush, like that laurestinus for instance, and there stands listening intentionally "
Suddenly she interrupts herself, and stands silent too this on observing the effect of her words, and that they have struck terribly home. With bowed head the baronet's son is stooping towards her, the cloud on his brow telling of sadness not anger. Seeing it, the old tenderness returns to her, with its familiarity, and she exclaims: