It was a great satisfaction to Mrs. Wormbury and her children to hear this good report of the deceased husband and father; and Walker left, sincerely grieved at the death of his friend, whom he highly esteemed.
In the winter Leopold went to the "academy," and studied hard to improve his mind and increase his knowledge. He applied himself diligently to German, under the instruction of Herr Schlager, so that he could talk in that language with Rosabel when she came the next season, for it must be confessed that he thought a great deal of her.
The spring came, bringing nearer to Leopold the coming of Rosabel. In June a letter from the honorable Mr. Hamilton arrived, announcing the intended visit of the family to the Sea Cliff House, and fixing the time at about the first of July. He engaged his own rooms, and three others for his party and they were to come in the Orion. This was the best of news to Leopold. He was a year older than when he had last seen Rosabel, and had grown much taller and stouter. An incipient mustache was coming on his upper lip,—though he was not yet eighteen,—on which he bestowed some attention. The young ladies in the academy had declared among themselves that he was the handsomest young man in Rockhaven; and with this indorsement there can be no doubt that he was a very good-looking fellow. He dressed himself neatly, out of his own funds, and was very particular in regard to his personal appearance.
As the first of July approached, he was even more particular than usual. The dawning mustache was carefully trained, so that each hair was in the most eligible position to produce an effect. For a boating dress, he wore a gray woolen shirt, trimmed with pink, and secured in front with black studs. But even in this garb, with his hair nicely combed, his mustache adjusted, his broad shirt-collar, open down to his breast, and held in place by a black handkerchief, tied in true sailor style,—in this garb, even, he was a fellow upon whom a young lady would bestow a second and even a third look, if the circumstances were favorable.
From early morning till dark, on the first day of July, Leopold kept an eye on the sea-board side of the town, looking out for the Orion. She did not appear; but on the afternoon of the next day, he discovered the yacht as she rounded the point on which stood the light-house. Captain Bounce knew his way into the river this time, and in a few moments more the Orion reached the anchorage off the wharf. As soon as Leopold recognized the vessel, he hastened to the Rosabel, his heart beating wildly with the pleasant excitement of the occasion. Embarking in the sloop, he was soon alongside the Orion. The accommodation-steps were placed over the side for him, and he ascended to the deck.
"I am glad to see you, Leopold," said Mr. Hamilton, extending his hand to the boatman.
"Thank you sir; we are all glad to see you and your family here again," replied Leopold, as he glanced towards the quarter-deck in search of Rosabel. "Are Mrs. Hamilton and your daughter on board?"
"Yes, both of them; but I have a smaller party than I had last year."
At this moment Leopold saw Rosabel emerging from the companion-way. His brown face flushed as he approached her, and she was as rosy as a country girl when she offered him her little gloved hand, which he gratefully clasped in his great paw.
"I am very glad to see you again, Miss Hamilton," said Leopold; and certainly he never uttered truer words in his life.