Hornung Ernest William - A Bride from the Bush стр 5.

If I did not hope for such surprisingly good looks, said he to himself, yet even I was not prepared for quite so much vulgarity! Poor dear Alfred!

And Granville

sighed, complacently.

Yet, as she leant upon the rail in the summer sunlight, silent and pensive, there was certainly no suggestion of vulgarity in her attitude; it was rather one of unstudied grace and ease. Nor was there anything at all vulgar in the quiet travelling dress that fitted her tall full form so closely and so well. Nor was her black hair cut down to within an inch of her eyebrows as, of course, it should have been or worn in a fringe at all. Nor was there anything the least objectionable in the poise of the small graceful head, or in the glance of the bold dark eyes, or in the set of the full, firm, crimson lips; and thus three more excellent openings for the display of vulgarity were completely thrown away. In fact, if she had never spoken, Granville would have been at a loss to find a single fault in her. Alas! about her speech there could be no two opinions it bewrayed her.

Presently Alfred sat down beside his brother, and began to tell him everything, and did all the talking; while the Bride still stood watching the shifting panorama of the banks, and the golden sunlight upon the water, and the marvellous green of all green things. It was practically her first experience of this colour. And still she asked no questions, her interest being perhaps too intense; and so the showman-business was forgotten, to the great relief of Granville; and the time slipped quickly by. At last and quite suddenly the Bride clapped her hands, and turned with sparkling eyes to her husband: they had entered that splendid reach below Richmond, and the bridges were in sight, with the hill beyond.

I give this best! she cried. It does knock spots out of the Yarra and the Murray after all!

Alfred glanced uneasily at his brother, but found an impassive face.

Come, old fellow, said Alfred, do your duty; jump up and tell her about these places.

So at last Granville made an effort to do so; he got up and went to the side of the Bride; and presently he was exercising a discreet if not a delicate vein of irony, that was peculiarly his own.

That was Kew we passed just now you must see the gardens there, he said; and this is Richmond.

Kew and Richmond! exclaimed the Bride, innocently. How rum! We have a Kew and a Richmond in Melbourne.

Ah! said Gran. I dont fancy the theft was on our side. But look at this gray old bridge picturesque, isnt it? and I dare say you have nothing like it out there. And there, you see up on the left yonder is Richmond Hill. Rather celebrated, Richmond Hill: you may have heard of it; there was a lass that lived there once.

Yes what of her?

Oh, she was neat and had sweet eyes or sweet, with neat eyes I really forget which. And there was a somebody or other who said hed resign any amount of crowns the number wasnt specified to call her his. He was pretty safe in saying that unless, indeed, he meant crown-pieces which, now I think of it, would be rather an original reading.

Alfred, said the Bride abruptly, are we nearly there?

Not far off, said Alfred.

Granville bit his lip. We are very nearly there, he said; this is the beginning of Twickenham.

Then wheres the Ferry? said the Bride. I know all about Twickenham Ferry; we once had a storekeeper a new chum who used to sing about it like mad. Show it me.

There, then: it crosses by the foot of the island: its about to cross now. Now, in a minute, Ill show you Popes old place; we dont go quite so far in fact, here we are but youll be able just to see it, I think.

The Pope! said Gladys. I never knew he lived in England!

No more he does. Not the Pope Pope ; a man of the name of Pope: a scribbler: a writing-man: in fact, a poet.

The three were leaning over the rail, shoulder to shoulder, and watching eagerly for the first glimpse of the Judges retreat through the intervening trees. Granville was in the middle. The Bride glanced at him sharply, and opened her lips to say something which judging by the sudden gleam of her dark eyes might possibly have been rather too plain-spoken. But she never said it; she merely left Granvilles side, and went round to the far side of her husband, and slipped her hand through his arm. Granville walked away.

Are we there? whispered Gladys.

Just, my darling. Look, thats the house the one with the tall trees and the narrow lawn.

Hoo-jolly-ray!

Hush, Gladdie! For Heavens sake dont say anything like that before my mother! There she is on the lawn, waving her handkerchief. Well wave ours back to her. The dear mother! Whatever you do, darling girl, dont say anything of that

sort to her . It would be Greek to my mother and the Judge, and they mightnt like it.

CHAPTER III PINS AND NEEDLES

I am very happy to see you, he said, when Alfred had introduced them the Judge waited for that. Welcome, indeed; and I hope you have received agreeable impressions of our River Thames.