CHAPTER III. Not speaking much, pleased rather with the joy WORDSWORTH. EDWARD and Captain Rutherford soon discovered that they were old acquaintances. They had been at school together but had not met since their school-days, and they found much to talk of on their way to Mr. Hardy's door. "I shall not go in," said Edward; "I am wet, and besides I want to see what is going on at Mr. Marshall's." "Oh, nonsense," answered his friend, "we sent a troop there too, and they are as 'safe as red coats can make them. Come and introduce me at least." Unless you are much altered, you will not mind introducing yourself," said Edward, laughing. "My dear fellow you have no idea how shy I am. I shall never get on without your support." "Pardon me for doubting you," and Edward glanced at the handsome, merry face before him, the expression of which denoted anything but painful bashfulness. "Ah! you never did justice to my merits, Ned," returned his friend carelessly, "but tell me at least what sort of people I am to prepare myself for. If you had not taken the game out of my hands, and left me no mob to disperse but your own individual self, I should have had some chance of an affectionate reception. I had set my heart upon being made much of as a hero by all the pretty daughters. Are there any pretty daughters here by-the-by?" "Mr. Hardy has one daughter," answered Edward shortly. "And you prefer changing your wet clothes, to going in to be thanked by her. I blush for you." Edward could not bear the idea of going in to be thanked, and this was the chief reason of his determination not to introduce the young officer. "I shall see you to-morrow, Rutherford," he said hastily, and left him. All was quiet at Holmdean. The military force had arrived just in time to prevent violence, and there was little doubt that as soon as the news of the abandonment of the strike at Allerton should have reached Mr. Marshall's pitmen they also would return peaceably to their work. Edward did not say much of his share in bringing about this happy result, but Mr. Marshall saw that it was mainly owing to his exertions. All that he would have said was put a stop to by the entrance of his wife and daughter, whose enthusiastic thanks for the opportune arrival of the soldiers, made Edward suddenly remember his wet clothes, (now nearly dry) and beat a retreat to his own room. Thither he was soon followed by Arthur Marshall, a boy of about thirteen, who looked upon Edward as the first of men, and who now made him relate the whole history of the day in the most minute detail. There was much to be done on the morrow. Everything was at work again, but a good deal of difficulty remained as to the employing and lodging of those men who had been brought from a distance, and it was late before Edward returned to the house, after an anxious and fatiguing day. He found that Mr. Hardy had been there, most desirous of seeing him, and that the whole party were to dine at Allerton. "Mr. Hardy was much disappointed at missing you," said Mr. Marshall; "he told me a great deal more about yesterday's proceedings than you had done, and he says he does not know what might have happened, the men were so furious, if you had not arrived just when you did." "It was a lucky accident," answered Edward," and that is all that can be said." "I mean that it should be a lucky accident for you too," said Mr. Marshall, nodding his head mysteriously. 66 Captain Rutherford came here with Mr. Hardy," said Miss Marshall; "how handsome he is, and so very gentleman-like-he says you were at school together," she added, in a slightly incredulous manner, which brought the blood to Edward's face. He was sensitive about his indefinite position, and he answered drily: "I had that honour extraordinary as it may seem, Miss Marshall." Mrs. Marshall, the most good-natured woman in the world, came to the rescue, and made matters considerably worse, by assuring Mr.Johnson that Anna Maria meant nothing. Her daughter, quite unconscious, went on. |