Was he not a sort of hero to her? and ought not heroes to be perfect?
"It strikes me that I have been very egotistical, and that you must be very tired," he said at last, rousing her from her reverie, and turning his bright face full on her with such a kindly look that her brief disdain died from that moment. "Let us come and see how Ted has managed the luncheon; he always acts as my steward on these occasions."
"I wonder who Dora is," thought Queenie, as they walked leisurely back behind some laden trucks. "I wonder if Cathy has ever mentioned her. Dora Cunningham and her father at Crossgill Vicarage!"
CHAPTER XV.
QUEENIE'S COUNSELLOR.
"Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident,—
It is the very place God meant for thee;
And should'st thou there small scope for action see
Do not for this give room to discontent."—Trench.
Ted had proved himself an able steward, and a sufficiently luxurious luncheon had been conjured up for their refreshment.
Queenie had never in her life been present at a stranger picnic,—a table had been set at the base of a jutting cliff, and boxes and emptied hampers formed rude seats for the party. The brothers presided, and Ted's boyish face beamed with innocent satisfaction at the result of his successful management. "Isn't this first-rate," he whispered to Queenie who sat beside him. "Not a drop of rain to spoil enjoyment, and only enough wind to blow the table-cloth off once. We broke one bottle of cream, but that's nothing; you must have some champagne. Garth always does things handsomely for the ladies. Miss Cosie," persuasively, "you will have just half a glass to drink Garth's health?"
"My dear, not a drop; what an idea, and I a total abstainer!" and Miss Cosie's big curls quite shook with excitement. "I wish you and your dear brother would think with me on this subject. If only more of his men would sign the pledge; fancy Hepshaw without a single public-house! why it would be paradise over again," continued the little woman, patting his coatsleeve in her energy; "but there, there, my dear, we can't expect old heads on young shoulders."
After luncheon the party broke up into twos and threes. Garth had half-an-hour's business to transact; Ted volunteered to help Miss Faith and Cathy in their search for ferns; Langley and Miss Cosie superintended the repacking of hampers; while Captain Fawcett strolled with Mr. Chester across the moor, leaving his wife in delighted guard over the two children. Queenie had declined to join in the fern scramble, and she and Mr. Logan seated themselves on some granite boulders; there Garth found them on his return. More than an hour had elapsed, the rest of the party had disappeared. Nan and Emmie were playing at fortifications among the rocks. A merry voice from the cliff above called to Mr. Logan; he pushed his spectacles off his forehead in a perplexed way as he rose slowly in obedience to the summons.