“Our carriage is in the road beyond, and aunt is there. I got out to walk with Walter, and to try and get some fern-roots. Come and see aunt; she wants to see you, and you have never come over to call.”
I strolled on with Miss Stanley and her young brother, whom I now saw looking at me with staring eyes and evident admiration. A gentleman cadet was in his eyes “somebody,” and he already seemed to regret his rudeness at our first meeting. A forest path led us out into the road, and we soon reached the carriage in which Mrs Holloway, or, as the country people styled her, “Mrs General Holloway,” was reclining, enjoying the view before her.
“Aunt,” said Miss Stanley, “whom do you think I’ve found in the forest?”
Mrs Holloway looked with an air of surprise, and I fancied of displeasure, at seeing me walking with her niece.
“I cannot imagine,” she replied. “Perhaps you had better introduce this gentleman to me.”
“Oh! aunt, can’t you guess? I thought you would know him at once! I did.”
Mrs Holloway looked at me for a few seconds, and shook her head, indicating her want of recognition.
“Why, don’t you remember Mr Shepard?” said Miss Stanley.
Mrs Holloway looked at me with a surprised air, then, holding out her hand, said, “What! is it possible that little Bob Shepard has in two years grown up to be you? What a splendid thing drill and going out in the world is for a boy! I should not have known you, Bob, or Mr Shepard—I ought to say Gentleman Cadet Shepard, perhaps. I’ve heard all about you, though—how you passed examinations that every one said you couldn’t pass, and how you have just succeeded at your last examination. Your friends must be very proud of you. But why have you not been over to see us?”
“I have only been home a few days,” I replied, “and have not been anywhere yet.”