"Nothing at all," said Grace. "What did you hear?"
"Only a little drowning, and a compound fracture or two," said he,
relapsing into his languid ease as he gave his bridle to a groom, and
walked with them towards the house.
"There, how very annoying!" exclaimed Rachel, "though, of course, the
smallest adventure does travel."
"I may venture to hope that neither are you drowned, nor my sister's
leg broken, nor a celebrated professor and essayist 'in a high fever wi'
pulling any of you out of the sea.'"
"There, Grace," exclaimed Rachel; "I told you he was something
distinguished."
"My dear Rachel, if his celebrity be in proportion to the rest of the
story."
"Then there really was a rescue!" exclaimed Captain Keith, now with much
more genuine anxiety; and Rachel recollecting her desire that the right
version should have the precedence, quickly answered, "There was no
danger, only Don slipped down into that curved cove where we walked one
day with the boys. I went down after him, but he had broken his leg. I
could not get up with him in my arms, and Bessie called some one to help
me."
"And why could not Bessie help you herself?"
"Oh! strangers can never climb on our slippery rocks as we can."
"Moreover, it would have spoilt the predicament," muttered the brother
to himself; then turning round with a smile, "And is the child behaving
herself?"
Grace and Rachel answered in a eager duet how she was charming every
one, so helpful, so kind, so everything.
"Ah!" he said with real satisfaction, apparent in the eyes that were
so pleasant when open wide enough to be visible; "I knew she always did
better when I was not there."
They were by this time entering the hall, which, in the confident
fashion of the sea-side, stood open; and at the moment Fanny came
tripping downstairs with her dress looped up, and a shady hat on her
head, looking fearfully girlish, thought her cousins, though her attire
was still rigidly black.
"Oh, I am so glad to see you; Don is so much better, Rachel, and Conrade
wants to thank you. He went up yesterday, and was so sorry you were out.
Might it not have been dreadful, Alick? I have been so wanting to tell
you how very delightful that dear sister of yours is. All the boys are
distracted about her. Come out please. She has been teaching the boys
such a delightful game; so much nicer than cricket, for I can play with
them."
Alick and Rachel could not but exchange a glance, and at the same
moment, emerging through the screen of shrubs on the lawn, Bessie Keith,
Conrade, Francis, and Leoline, were seen each with a mallet in hand and
a gay ball in readiness to be impelled through the hoops that beset the
lawn.