“I recognised Mr Castleton at once yesterday,” said May without hesitation. “I should have been ungrateful had I not,” and May turned her blue eyes towards the young officer.
His met them, and, strange to say, May speedily withdrew hers, while a slight blush rose on her cheeks.
“I am indebted to Miss Halliburt for finding my way here so easily,” observed Harry, “for I have never been in this part of Hurlston before, and did not know where your cottage was situated. What a beautiful spot it is. If I ever settle on shore, it is the sort of place I should like, with just that peep through the trees to remind me of the ocean which I have been wont to live on. Perhaps if peace lasts I shall be compelled to take up my abode on shore.”
“Grant that it may,” said Miss Jane. “I should think the nations of Europe must be sick of the fearful strife which has raged so long, and will be very unwilling to recommence it.”
“Things do not look much like it,” answered Harry. “The First Consul has shown no great love for peace; and as I wish to obtain my promotion, I confess that I should like to have a little more fighting before long.”
“I suppose that is but a natural wish for you to entertain,” observed Miss Jane with a sigh. “Yet I would that you saw the case in a different light, and might thus be led to reflect how contrary is the love of fighting to the religion of mercy and peace which we profess. And even though I acknowledge that fighting may be necessary for the defence of one’s country, we should mourn the stern necessity which compels men to engage in it.”
Harry had no wish to dispute the point with his cousins, although perhaps he did not quite enter into their views on the subject.
He gladly accepted their invitation to remain to luncheon. As he watched May attending to Miss Mary, he could not help remarking how lady-like and graceful was every movement she made; he could scarcely believe that she had been born and bred in a fisherman’s cottage, for honest and worthy as Adam and his wife appeared, they were plain and blunt in their manners, though the dame was in some respects certainly above her class.
“We must show you the grounds,” said Miss Jane, when luncheon was over, “if you are not in a hurry to return home.”
Harry was sure he should not be missed at Texford, and would very much like to see their garden.