“Well, really, I don’t see why we should refuse so pressing an invitation,” said Will with a smile.
“You may go in; I’ll wait for you,” said Mr Cupples.
In another minute our hero was in the lobby of the cottage, and then he discovered,—on the words “walk in” being reiterated very gruffly,—that it was a grey parrot which had been thus taught to use the language of hospitality! Will laughed, and was about to turn on his heel when he observed a female reclining on a couch in one of the rooms. She looked up quickly on hearing his step and laugh, and Will, hesitating for a moment, advanced with the intention of explaining and apologising.
“Forgive my apparent intrusion, madam,” he said, “but your parrot deceived—what!—am I—Flora—Miss Westwood!” he exclaimed in amazement, leaping forward and seizing her hand.
“Mr Osten!” said Flora, with a look of unfeigned surprise, “can it be—I—I—did not know—really—”
Now, reader, it would be ungenerous were we to give you a detailed account of all the absurd things that were uttered at the commencement of the conversation. Suffice it to say that Will and Flora stammered and blushed, and grew hot and cold, and tried to look cool and failed, signally, and then, feeling how very awkward their position was, made a desperate effort to be commonplace, and so began to talk with intense solicitude about “the weather!” Will soon perceived, however, that in the circumstances this was utterly ridiculous, so he made another effort and asked about Flora’s father and mother, and then, happy thought, he suddenly remembered Buckawanga, and began to descant upon him, after which he naturally slid into ships and voyaging, and so came abruptly to the question:—
“By the way, Miss Westwood, is it true that you are trying to secure a passage to England just now?”
“We have succeeded in securing one,” said Flora, with a deep blush and a peculiar look. “We sail to-morrow.”
“To-morrow!” cried Will, in consternation.
There was for a moment a great swelling of something in our hero’s breast; then a sudden thought occurred, “Never venture never—;” next instant he seized Flora’s hand. “Oh, Miss West— Flora, dearest Flora—forgive—nay, do not turn away, I entreat, I beseech—”