CHAPTER II.

VERNON, THE LOVER.

Few people who had only seen Vernon Blythe when in the pursuit of the manly exercises in which most sailors delight, and in which he especially excelled, would have recognised him now as he lay back in his chair, with his delicate profile clearly limned against the evening sky, and a look of abject pain in the eyes that watched the curling wreaths of smoke that ascended from his pipe. There were two distinct sides to this young man’s character, as there are to that of most of us. To the outside world, and in the pursuit of his profession, he was known as one of the most daring, courageous, and undaunted of natures,--a man who did not know what it was to fear danger, to dread a risk, or to leave an insult unavenged. He was brave, imprudent, and hot-headed, but strictly generous and honourable. With his mother, however, and in the sanctity of home, he was a different creature. There his heart rose uppermost, and he became less guarded in his looks and speech. There, as it were, he thought less of his manhood and men friends, and more of himself and his private feelings. And so the secret, which he believed to be entirely his own property, had slipped from him unawares, and become his mother’s. But who can hide a beloved child’s suffering from the eyes of his mother? And Vernon felt glad now that it was so.

‘Do you remember,’ he began presently, and in a lower voice than usual,--‘do you remember, mother, the time after my second voyage, when I had had that touch of Gold Coast fever, and you sent me up to Uncle Vernon’s in Selkirk for three months to recruit?’

‘Certainly, dear. What of it?’

‘That was the time that it happened.’

Mrs Blythe almost jumped with surprise.

‘But, good gracious, Vernon, you were too young for anything then! It must be--let me see--quite five years ago. You were not a day over twenty.’

‘I was old enough, it seems, to love--and to remember,’ he answered quietly.

‘And you have thought of the girl all this time? It appears incredible.’

‘Nevertheless it is true. But you must not infer from my words that I have been grieving after her all this time. That would be most unfair to Alice Leyton, and it would not be correct. I cannot forget her--I wish I could--but I have ceased to lament the inevitable. Only, it has cast a shadow over my life--which you seem to have perceived, and which I know will be there until I die.’

‘Oh, my dear boy, you mustn’t say that. Everybody has a love-affair or so before they settle down. Even _I_--dearly as I loved your father--had had several admirers before I met him.’

‘Of course you had,’ rejoined Vernon fondly, with the _old_ manner that seemed sometimes to sit so strangely on his youthful appearance; ‘heaps of them, I should say, if the young men of that day had any gumption about them. I often think, mother, what a dear, charming, genuine sort of girl you must have been.’

He pinched her cheek as he spoke, and Mrs Blythe felt happier at receiving his compliment, than she had ever done when the young men he alluded to had paid theirs.

‘Now don’t be foolish, my darling,’ she said, with an assumption of indifference, as she settled her head-dress. ‘But what I say is true. First love-affairs are seldom lasting.’

‘I daresay not; I hope not; although I fancy I have reached the climax of my forgetfulness. Five years is a long time to fret after a woman, and, indeed, I have tried hard to banish her from my mind. It is only fair to dear little Alice that I should do so.’

‘But what went wrong with it, my boy?’

‘Everything, mother! I met her at a friend of uncle’s, and I loved her from the very first. But she did not love me, and there was an end of it. In fact, there was another fellow in the way.’

‘Was she so very beautiful, Vernon?’

‘No, I think not--at least, I never heard any one else say so. But to me she seemed to have the most perfect face I had ever seen. When I think of it now, it looks like the face of an angel. And everything she said and did seemed right. I agreed with all her opinions. We liked the same things--the same people--the same pursuits. Oh! what is the use of thinking of it?’ he continued impatiently; ‘I suppose it was my fate to meet her, and love her, and carry her remembrance in my heart for ever afterwards. I have spoken of her this once, mother, because you asked me. But it must never be again. I cannot bear it!’

‘But why couldn’t she love you?’ said Mrs Blythe plaintively. ‘It was cruel of her not to undeceive you--such a lad as you were--from the very beginning.’

‘That was not her fault, mother. You must not blame her. I don’t think she was aware of my love until I confessed it to her. And then it was too late.’

‘How “too late”?’

‘She was already engaged to be married to another man--a man of fashion and means, and five years my senior--and two months afterwards she became his wife, and there was an end to my mad dream for ever. And perhaps it was better so than that she should have remained single, and I gone on hoping against hope.’

‘What is her name, Vernon?’

‘Mother dear, I cannot tell you her name. Don’t ask me to do it. It is sacred to me, as I thought my secret was, and I could not bear to think it had passed my lips. Remember her only as the one great love of your son’s life: it is the highest title you can give her.’

‘And do you know her husband?’ asked Mrs Blythe.

‘No, certainly not,’ he answered roughly, ‘and, from all I have heard of him, I never wish to know him. Let us drop the subject. But you will understand better now my anxiety to marry Alice Leyton. Nothing could contribute more to the healing of this mental wound than the constant presence of a woman who loves me. The sunshine she will bring with her will chase the last shadow away.’

‘It is terrible to hear you talk of “shadows” at your age, Vernon,’ replied Mrs Blythe, wiping her eyes.

‘Nonsense!’ he cried lightly, as he sprang from his chair; ‘we all have them, more or less. My lot is no worse than that of other men. If you treat my confidence in this serious strain, I shall never give you another.’

‘No, don’t say that, my boy,’ replied his mother. ‘I love you for having spoken to me as you have, and from this day I will never open my lips upon the matter.’

‘That’s right,’ said Vernon, as he kissed her. ‘And now I’m going down to the beach to have a look at the _Water Witch_, that is anchored against the pier. I’ll be back to supper,’ and, with his pipe in his mouth, and a forced smile upon his lips, he left her to herself.

Having thoughtfully traversed the common that lay between them and the sea, Vernon Blythe sat down on a bench just opposite where the yacht was anchored, and surveyed her carefully. She certainly was a very pretty little craft. Her narrow black hull, with its golden stripe, and her tapering mast so gracefully raked, showed she was built for speed and fine-weather sailing, and the very sight of her made Blythe wish that he could retract his promise to the shipowner.

‘Guess who it is!’ cried a merry voice behind him, as a pair of hands were laid upon his eyes.

‘It’s Alice, and you may belay that,’ replied Vernon, in the same tone. ‘You, have nearly pulled my moustaches out by the roots, and blinded me with my own tobacco ash. Be sensible for once if you can, and come round and sit down on the bench beside me.’

Alice Leyton, who was attired somewhat gaily for a promenade in a garrison town, wriggled coquettishly to the front of the seat, and stood smiling at her lover. She was just what he had called her to his mother--one of the merriest, brightest girls in existence. She was only eighteen years old. Her sunny hair hung in waving curls about her face, and her laughing blue eyes, which never seemed dull or weary, played fearful havoc with the weaker sex. Yet Alice Leyton was no coquette. She flirted and romped with every one she could enlist under her banner, but it was with a view to general enjoyment, rather than to individual triumph. But with all her prettiness (which was undeniable) she did not look high-class. She was dressed to attract attention--innocent, maybe, but still attention--and she made the very most of her neat ankles and small waist and well-developed bust. Yet, after all, her charms were natural, and so were her manners. The ringing laugh and happy, youthful face, the waving hair, and the fresh colour, were all her own, and few men would have been found to deny their fascination.

‘Kiss me, Jack,’ she said effusively, as she held her rosy mouth towards him.

‘Not just yet, my dear child,’ he answered, smiling. ‘Why, there are a dozen people looking at us. Wait till I get you to myself at home, and I’ll show you what kissing means.’

‘Horrid boy! Perhaps I sha’n’t be in the humour then. “Paddy, take me in the mind, and that’s just now,”’ pouted Alice.

‘Well, you shouldn’t get in the mind in the middle of the common,’ returned Jack. ‘You come and sit down, like a good girl, and behave yourself properly.’

‘I’ve got something to tell you,’ she said, as she nestled up against him.

‘Spin away, Pussie! I’m all attention.’

‘You see the _Water Witch_ lying there?’ continued Alice. ‘Bob Reynolds has bought her, and he is going to have a water-party to-morrow, and wants me to join it; but I told him I couldn’t go without you.’

‘Oh! I see now why Reynolds was so anxious for my company,’ said Jack. ‘I thought it queer he should ask me to sail the _Water Witch_ for the first time, when he boasts so much of his own seamanship.’

‘He _has_ asked you then!’ cried Alice. ‘And you will go, won’t you, dear Jack?’

‘I am sorry to say I cannot promise,’ said Blythe, pulling his moustaches. ‘I may be obliged to go up to town. I told Reynolds so an hour ago.’

‘And I sha’n’t be able to go then,’ said Alice, in a tone of vexation.

‘But why not, dear? Do you think that I cannot trust you, or that I am so selfish as to grudge you any enjoyment in which I cannot take part myself. We must not begin life on those terms, Alice. A sailor must always be prepared to part from his wife, and our marriage must be one of perfect trust on both sides, or it had better never take place at all.’

‘Oh, bother marriage!’ cried Alice. ‘Who was thinking of such rubbish? Not I. All I meant was, that I should be afraid to trust myself to Bob Reynolds without you. Do you know that one day last year, when you were in Calcutta, he took me out in a boat, and toppled me into the water, and if it had not been for old Jerry Sparks, the waterman, pulling off in his punt, I might have been drowned.’

‘He’s an awkward landlubber,’ said Jack, as he passed one of her curls through his fingers.

‘That’s a cool way of taking it, Jack. But it’s true, I can tell you. He “cracked on” till the gunwale was under water, and we all had to sit up to windward, and then played pranks with the sail until he overturned the boat. And you wouldn’t like to see me drowned, would you, Jack?’ she continued insinuatingly.

‘No! That would not be nice at all,’ replied her lover; ‘besides, it would spoil that pretty dress.’

‘Well, then, will you go and take care of me?’

‘I suppose I shall have to in the end; that is, if you are determined to have your own way. Like the blessed Saint Anthony, I have resisted all the other temptations, but the last one always proves too much for me. Do you know that I have a chance of going out with you to New Zealand, Alice, as second officer in the _Pandora_?’

‘Have you really? Oh, that will be great fun. But I hope they won’t let you do what you like with the ship, or you may run us on a rock, or something horrid.’

‘Thank you for the compliment. But I think you may feel perfectly safe--not with me, but in the _Pandora_.’

‘Is she such a good ship then?’

‘She is an iron clipper, registered A1 at Lloyd’s.’

‘Now I am as wise as before.’

‘You will soon find out all about her when you get aboard. And I hope sincerely I may be there too. You can guess the reason I am so anxious to visit New Zealand, Alice.’

‘I can’t. What is it?’ demanded Alice, with open eyes.

‘Because I want to make the personal acquaintance of your father, and get him to fix some definite time for our marriage. I think it is time we were married, Alice.’

‘_I_ don’t!’ cried the girl, shrugging her shoulders.

‘Oh, yes, you do. That is only a little bit of mock modesty, put on for the occasion. At any rate, that is my intention, in applying for a berth in the _Pandora_. Your mother is all kindness to me, but I think she is just a little afraid of what your father may say to our engagement.’

‘You see,’ said Alice, kicking the stones with her feet, ‘father is very well off, and there are only two of us, and mother thinks perhaps--’

‘That he will not consider me a good enough match for his eldest daughter. Well, with regard to money, that is true enough, although my birth is second to none.’

‘But _I_ love you Jack, remember,’ said Alice, ‘and I mean to marry you, whatever any one may say against it.’

‘Well, dearest, it will be better to get the matter settled any way. I am sorry now that your mother has not been more explicit with Mr Leyton, but she preferred to speak to him herself on the subject. If I am lucky, I shall be there too, and between us all, we must carry the day.’

‘Unless father thinks that, as mother is such an invalid, it is my duty to remain with her and take care of her. Baby is of no use, you know.’

‘Alice!’ exclaimed Blythe suddenly, ‘tell me the truth! Do you _want_ to marry me?’

‘Why, of course I do, Jack. Didn’t I fall in love with your handsome face the first day we met?’

‘Oh, bother my handsome face!’ cried the young man impetuously. ‘_Do you love me?_ That is the question? Does your heart speak to mine?’

‘How tiresome you are to-night,’ returned Alice. ‘What have I ever done to make you think I don’t love you? Haven’t we talked of being married, and told all our friends about it for a year past? Why,’ she continued in a shy tone, ‘I marked one of my handkerchiefs A. B. the other day, just to see how it looked, and I thought it was _lovely_.’

‘Dear girl,’ said Jack patronisingly, ‘that is finally settled then. Whether I sail in the _Pandora_ or not, I shall make my way out to New Zealand and ask your father to give you to me for my wife.’

‘But that will not be for a long time yet, and so we need not talk of it any more,’ replied Alice. ‘Here is your mother, Jack, coming across the common to meet us.’

Vernon rose as his mother advanced towards them. His politeness to her was as great as it was to other women.

‘Here is a letter for you from Stern & Stales, my dear,’ said Mrs Blythe, ‘so I thought you would wish to see it at once.’

‘Thanks,’ cried Vernon, as he tore open the envelope. ‘Mother! you have joined us most opportunely. Listen.

‘“DEAR SIR,--An accident has happened to the second officer of the _Pandora_ through the snapping of an iron chain, which will prevent him from sailing in the vessel.

‘“I am able, therefore, most unexpectedly to offer you the appointment you desire. If you will be at the shipping office on the seventeenth instant at twelve o’clock to meet Captain Robarts, you can sign the necessary articles.”

‘There’s good luck, mother. Won’t you wish me joy? Alice! we are to be shipmates, and I can make up my mind now. I will join the party on the _Water Witch_ to-morrow, and see that you behave yourself steadily. Mother! I shall want all my things to be ready by the twenty-third.’

But Mrs Blythe was already half-way back across the common, sobbing as if her heart would break.

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