A SURPRISE.
In the course of that evening they were surprised by a visit. It was from Mr. Craven Kyte, who came to call on Miss Cavendish.
He was invited into the drawing-room and introduced to the whole party.
Mr. Kyte was in the deepest state of despondency.
He told Miss Emma that a few days previous he had received a letter from Mrs. Grey, saying that she was about to leave Charlottesville for a little while, in order to give up her rooms to Miss Cavendish and her party, and that she did not know exactly where she should go, but that she would write and tell him as soon as she should get settled.
"And since that, Miss Emma, I have not heard one word from her, nor do I know where she is, or how she is, or how to find out," concluded Mr. Kyte, in the most dejected tone.
"How long has it been, Mr. Kyte?" inquired Miss Cavendish.
"Five days," answered the young man, as solemnly as if he had said five years.
"That is but a short time. I do not think you have cause to be anxious yet awhile," said Emma, with a smile.
"But you haven't heard from her yourself even, have you, Miss Emma?" he anxiously inquired.
"Certainly not, else I should have told you at once," replied Miss Cavendish.
"For mercy's sake, you never came all the way from Wendover to Charlottesville to ask that question, did you, Mr. Kyte?" inquired irrepressible Electra, elevating her eye-brows.
The lover, who had so unconsciously betrayed himself, blushed violently and stammered forth:
"No—not entirely. The fact is, for more than a year past I have been watching and waiting for an opportunity to change my business from Wendover to Charlottesville. And I came up partly about that also. But as a—a friend of Mrs. Grey, I do feel anxious about her mysterious absence and silence."
"I assure you, Mr. Kyte, that Mrs. Grey is quite capable of taking excellent care of herself," added plain-spoken Laura Lytton.
"Come, Mr. Kyte, cheer up! We are going on a pilgrimage to Monticello to-morrow and you must join our party," said Miss Cavendish, kindly.
But Mr. Kyte excused himself, saying that he could not leave his business long, and must start for Wendover the next morning.
And soon after this he took leave.
The next day was devoted by our party to a pious pilgrimage to the shrine of classic Monticello, once the seat, now the monument of Thomas Jefferson.
The whole party, young and old, gentlemen and ladies, went.
The bishop's widow forgot her housekeeping cares and took a holiday for that day.
And even Mrs. Fanning, who did not care to see the great University, could not miss the opportunity of a pilgrimage to that mecca.
The party was a large one, consisting of five ladies and four gentlemen.
And so it required two capacious carriages and two saddle horses to convey them.
They formed quite a little procession in leaving the village.
In the first carriage rode Mrs. Fanning, Emma Cavendish, Electra and Dr. Jones.
In the second carriage rode Mrs. Wheatfield, Laura Lytton and Mr. Lyle.
Alden Lytton and Victor Hartman rode on horseback, and brought up the rear.
Their way lay through the most sublime and beautiful mountain and valley scenery.
Monticello is built upon a mountain, some three miles south of the village.
Perhaps there is no private dwelling in the whole country occupying a more elevated site, or commanding a more magnificent panorama of landscape, than Monticello.
It is a fine country house of great architectural beauty and strength, built upon a lofty and slightly inclined plain, formed by grading the top of the mountain.
It commands a stupendous prospect, bounded only by the spherical form of the earth. And standing there, with the earth beneath and the heavens all around, one fully realizes that we live upon a great planet rolling in its orbit through immense space.
Our party spent a long summer's day up there in the sunshine, and then, after eating the luncheon they had brought with them, they set out on their return to the village, where they arrived in time for one of Mrs. Wheatfield's delicious early teas.
The remaining days of the week were passed in walking, riding or driving to the most interesting points of the neighborhood.
On Saturday morning they took leave of the bishop's widow and set out for Richmond, en route for Wendover and Blue Cliffs.
They reached the city late on the same night, and took up their old quarters at the Henrico House.
They staid over the Sabbath, and went to hear Mr. Lyle preach, morning and evening, to his old congregation.
On Monday morning the whole party resumed their journey, and arrived at Wendover early in the afternoon of the same day.
There the party were destined to divide.
There were carriages from Blue Cliffs waiting by appointment at the railway station to meet Miss Cavendish and her friends; and there was the hack from the Reindeer Hotel for the accommodation of any other travelers who might require it.
Mrs. Fanning, Emma Cavendish, Laura Lytton and Electra, attended by Dr. Jones and Alden Lytton, entered their carriages to go to Blue Cliff Hall.
Mr. Lyle and Victor Hartman took leave of them at their carriage doors, saw the horses start, and then set out to walk together to the bachelor home of Mr. Lyle, where Hartman was to be a guest.