“You 'd have had your skull cracked with this cane, the next time I met you, for your pains,” said the other, really enraged, while he chucked a shilling at him.
“Success to your honor,—all's right,” said the boy. And touching his cap, he scampered off into the wood, and disappeared.
“You shall have a sea voyage, my friend,” said Linton, looking after him; “a young gentleman with such powers of observation would have a fine opening in our colonies.” And away he rode towards town, his brain revolving many a complex scheme and lucky stratagem, but still with ready smile acknowledging each salutation of his friends, and conveying the impression of being one whose easy nature was unruffled by a care.
CHAPTER XIX. THE DOMESTIC DETECTIVE CONSULTED.
Of “sweet fifteen” no mortal e'er afraid is,
Your real “man traps” are old maiden ladies.
The Legacy.
It was late of that same afternoon ere Cashel awoke. Mr. Phillis had twice adventured into the room on tiptoe, and as stealthily retired, and was now, for the third time, about to retreat, when Roland called him back.
“Beg pardon, sir; but Mrs. Kennyfeck's footman has been here twice for the answer to this note.”
“Let me see it,” said Cashel, taking a highly-perfumed epistle, whose tinted paper, seal, and superscription were all in the perfection of epistolary coquetry.
Dear Mr. Cashel,—Mamma desires me to convey her reproaches
for your shocking forgetfulness of yesterday, when, after
promising to dine here, you never appeared. She will,
however, not only forgive the past, but be grateful for the
present, if you will come to us to-day at seven.
Believe me, very truly yours,
Olivia Kennyfeck.