He went on playfully bantering Andrew, till quite a little passage of give-and-take ensued, which made Frank think of what a strange mixture of clever, vain boy and thoughtful man his fellow-page seemed to be, while his own heart sank as he began to make comparisons, and he felt how thoroughly young he seemed to be amongst the clever men by whom he was surrounded.
But all the time his ears were active, and he listened for remarks that would endorse his suspicions of the principles of the members. Still, not a word reached him save such as strengthened Andrew’s assurance that Mr Selby was one of a party of clever men who liked to meet for social intercourse. The fight must have been with other people who occupied the room, he thought, and in all probability had nothing to do with this club at all.
The evening passed rapidly away, and before Frank realised that it was near the time when they ought to be back at Saint James’s Mr Selby turned to him.
“We are early birds here,” he said; “so pray excuse what I am about to say, and believe that I am delighted to have made your acquaintance, one which is the beginning, I feel, of a life friendship. Gentlemen,” he said, rising, “it is time to part till our next meeting. Hands round, please, and then adieu.”
He turned to Frank, and held out his hand with a smile.
“Our little parting ceremony,” he said.
The boy involuntarily held out his, ready to say good-bye; but it was clasped warmly by Selby in his left and retained, while Andrew with a quick, eager look took his other.
Frank stared, for the rest, who had increased by degrees to nearly forty, all joined hands till they had formed a ring facing inward.
What did it mean? For a moment the boy felt ready to snatch his hands away; but as he thought of so doing, he felt the clasp on either side grow firmer, and in a clear, low voice their host said:
“Across the water.”