When she espied1 the young cadet she blushed slightly, and held out her hand, with a winning smile.
“This is indeed a pleasure, Miss Windom,” he said, with even more earnestness than the remark warranted.
“To me, Mr. Faraday,” the fair young girl replied, laughingly. “I have been longing2 for the time when I could return your visit of—of—when was it, Elna?”
“Such a long, long time ago,” responded her companion, mischievously3. “It was day before yesterday.”
“Only day before yesterday,” laughed Juanita Windom, with a shy glance at Cliff, who looked extremely self-conscious under the battery of such eyes. “Why, it seems months since you called at the house. And the dreadful adventure you had at the upper plaza4 when that horrid5 driver tried to rob you, and throw you down the cliff. It was in the papers yesterday. You must tell me all about it, Mr. Faraday.”
“I will be delighted——”
“Haw!”
The little group turned at the sound. The Englishman, monocle screwed tightly in his eye, was making a profound bow to Juanita.
“Haw! delighted, Miss Windom. Delighted to see you on board, don’t ye know. Beautiful—aw!—day; lovely weather, lovely girls, and you—aw!—the fairest of them all.”
“Haw!”
The exclamation6 did not come from the Briton, and he looked at Clif, finding that youth apparently7 engaged in the innocent occupation of arranging the strap8 of his cap.
Juanita and her friend repressed their laughter with difficulty.
“Haw! it must have been an echo, don’t ye know. Fawncy hearing one’s own voice when you didn’t speak. Deuced good joke, eh?”
And the Englishman burst into a hearty9 laugh. But there was something in it that did not ring true to Clif.
By skillful maneuvering10 Clif succeeded in bringing Juanita’s friend and J. Chesire-Cheshire Cate together, then he boldly walked off with the fair beauty of Lisbon.
“There is a splendid view of the river from the other side of the deck, Miss Windom,” he said, leading the way past the mainmast. “I fancied you did not care to remain with that gentleman,” he added, frankly11, when they were alone. “And, anyway, I wished to tell you all about my adventure of the day before yesterday.”
“And I am eager to hear it,” replied the girl. She continued gravely: “As for Mr. Cate, I do not like him. There is something about the man that repels12 me. He is a business acquaintance of father, and I met him while he was dining at our home.”
“A business acquaintance,” smiled Clif. “One would never connect business with—aw!—J. Chesire-Cheshire Cate, don’t ye know.”
Juanita laughed.
“It is not what you would call business exactly,” she replied. “Father is interested in pearls. It is a hobby and he has spent a long time and a great deal of money in collecting them. He has one of the largest collections in the world, I believe. This Mr. Cate is trying to complete a certain necklace, and he came all the way from London to see if father has one of the required size. He has, but I do not think he will part with it.”
“So that is the story of Mr. Cate, eh?” said Clif. “Well, we’ll talk on a more pleasant subject.”
“Tell me about your adventure with——”
She was interrupted by a commotion13 at the gangway. A splendidly equipped barge14, glittering with brass15 and polished wood, dashed alongside, and an officer fairly covered with gold lace ascended16 to the deck.
He was met by the executive officer and conducted to the cabin. A few minutes later he reappeared and was rowed ashore17.
Then orderlies ran here and there, officers hurried below, and a general air of excitement prevailed.
“Something is in the wind,” said Clif. “That officer brought an important message. Ah! there goes the boatswain’s mate to pass a call.”
A sturdy old sailor, with the insignia of a petty officer upon his sleeve, rolled to the vicinity of the mainmast and gave a long, shrill18 whistle, adding in a deep, salty voice that had been trained in many a gale19:
“A-a-all hands-s-s, dress ship! And st-stand by to man yards. Look lively!”
Like wildfire the word went along the deck:
“The king is coming on board!”
“I believe that is right,” Clif said to Juanita. “They are certainly excited enough. Well, I must leave you for a little while. Duty calls me up on one of those yards. Please do not go away until I see you again.”
“I am afraid I must,” the girl replied. “I promised to lunch with father in the city. I’ll stay a moment to see the king, though. By the way, Mr. Faraday, father would be pleased to have you call at the house this evening if you come ashore.”
“And you?” asked the lad, softly.
“What a question!” murmured Juanita, her eyes falling under his ardent20 gaze. “Why, I—I—that is—my father’s wish is law, you know. I must coincide with what he says.”
“No, that is not enough,” persisted Clif.
“Well, if you insist,” laughed the girl, “I’ll say——”
“Haw! here you are, my dear Miss Windom. Ha! ha! you quite escaped us. Deuced cruel of you, don’t ye know.”
The Englishman sauntered up, twirling his monocle in an affected21 manner. Turning to Clif, he added:
“What’s the row, dear boy? Are you going to bombard the blooming town?”
“No,” shortly replied Faraday. “The king is coming on board.”
The effect of this commonplace announcement upon the Englishman was remarkable22.
He started as if struck; his face became ashen23 in color, and he appeared to breathe with difficulty.
“What is the matter?” asked Clif, startled. “Are you ill?”
“No—no, a little attack, that’s all, don’t ye know,” replied Cate, recovering himself with an effort. Another moment and he had regained24
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CHAPTER XXIV. THE ENGLISHMAN WITH A “HAW!”
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CHAPTER XXVI. AUDIENCE WITH A KING.
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