It required some exertion, however, of the directors of the fête to set the guests in motion, or to keep them entertained in the variety of ways which had been prepared for their amusement. Among the most active who were thus engaged were Harry Castleton and his friend Headland, it being more in accordance with Algernon’s taste to devote himself to the guests of higher degree.
“I must go and get yonder crowd of rustics under weigh again,” Harry observed to Headland, on seeing a number of people standing idle near one of the spots devoted to dancing.
Dame Halliburt and her companions had taken up a position not far off it, on a grassy mound under the shade of a tree, where, a little removed from the crowd, they could observe all that was going forward. Harry was passing by when he saw the dame, who had recognised him, following him with her eyes. It is possible that at the same time he may have caught sight of May’s sweet countenance; at all events he stopped, and going up to the dame, said—
“I think I ought to know you.”
“Yes, please you, Mr Harry; and maybe you remember the trip you took in the Nancy with my good man here.”
“Ah, how fares it with you, my friend?” he said, shaking Adam by the hand. “I remember the trip right well.”
“You have pretty nigh grown out of remembrance, but I am right glad to see you, Mr Harry,” answered Adam.
“Maybe you recollect, sir, saving our Maiden May from a wild bull?” said the dame, looking towards May, who blushed as she spoke, for Harry glanced up, and her eyes met his fixed on her lovely countenance with an unmistakable expression of admiration.
“I was very glad, I know, to have been of service, though I suspect I ran very little personal risk in performing the exploit,” said Harry, still looking at May, and wondering at the delicate beauty and refined manner of the fisherman’s daughter.
“I suspect that I was too young to have thanked you for the service you rendered me as I ought to have done,” she said, “for my mother has since told me that had it not been for you I might have been killed by the fierce creature.”