Preparing for a Walk. 49 A walk through the streets; a visit to Westminster Abbey; a close view of those wonderful London shops; and a crown to spend in them! Rosamond was no less delighted at the idea than her cousins; nor did she need Maurice's repeated injunctions, to 'make haste, or the afternoon would be over,' to inspire her to don hood and mantle with a speed which almost kept pace with his impatient wishes; and which was so far superfluous, that she had to stand for some minutes waiting for the conclusion of the Colonel's conversation with his wife, before he finally took her hand in his, and bidding Maurice be careful of Rachel, set forth on the much-wishedfor expedition. Ꭰ CHAPTER V. THE GENTLEMAN IN GREY. 'The surprise That sprung at first to his arrested eyes, Seemed now subsided; neither sunk nor raised, BYRON. T was a beautiful afternoon, the first bright day since the Carewes' arrival a week ago; one of those clear, fine December afternoons when the sky is pale blue and perfectly cloudless, and the air a little bit frosty, but not unpleasantly sharp,-in fact, the very day for a long walk. The children's spirits rose more and more as they struck across the park, over the crisp grass and withered leaves. Rosamond, hanging on her uncle's arm, could hardly manage to walk soberly, although she was extremely anxious to keep up the dignity of her position; and even the demure Rachel was skipping along, more like little Alice than her own steady self. Colonel Carewe and his merry party had only just entered the park, when they came in sight of The meeting in the Park. 51 the Lady Elizabeth walking with her little brother Henry, and accompanied by Lady Carlisle and some of her other attendants. The Duke of York was a little behind, at some distance from the gentleman in attendance on him, walking at a slow and rather listless pace, with his eyes fixed on the ground, and amusing himself by kicking away the stones and dead leaves that happened to lie in his path. 'Has your Highness any commands for us?' asked the Colonel, in the kind yet thoroughly respectful and courteous manner with which he invariably addressed the little princess. 'We are now on our way to the Abbey; but, if my little Rachel's walking powers do not fail her, my young folk intend to see something of the streets of London this afternoon, and will be most happy to fulfil any commission your Highness can give them.' Elizabeth thanked him with her usual gentle politeness, and said that she wanted nothing. Unless,' she added, turning to Rosamond, 'you would be kind enough to get me another copy of Thomas à Kempis' De Imitatione Christi. I left mine at Sion House, and I have wanted another copy ever since.' Rosamond eagerly undertook the commission; and, after a few polite speeches had been interchanged between the Colonel and Lady Carlisle, the two parties were separating, when the little Duke of Gloucester observed 'Why should not I go with Rachel, and see London too? I want to go.' 'Your Highness could not walk so far,' interposed Lady Carlisle hastily, taking the child's hand to lead him away. 'I can walk as far as Rachel. She is only a little girl,' persisted the boy. 'I am two years older than your Highness,' observed Rachel, who never could refrain from putting in her word, especially where her own dignity was in question. 'Come, Harry,' called out James, impatiently; come and help me feed the ducks in the pond yonder,' and, with a hasty gesture of farewell, he turned his back abruptly on the rest, and marched off towards the pond, followed, half reluctantly, by his little brother. Lady Carlisle glanced at the Colonel with a scarcely perceptible shrug of the shoulders; and Mr. Kirkpatrick, one of the Duke's attendants, began to stroll in a sort of absent, nonchalant way, towards the same point. 'Poor lad!' said Colonel Carewe, after they had continued their walk for some time in silence-' poor lad! I daresay he is tired enough of the Spring Gardens and the park. He is just of an age to feel the irksomeness of his situation. I would he were no older than his little brother. Things would not weigh on him then as heavily as they do now. How dost thou like him as a companion, Maurice?' 'Oh! well enough,' said Maurice. 'I do not know how it is that we never agree on any one subject. I suppose it is my fault,' he added, with an impatient sigh, feeling at the same time rather Maurice and his Father. 53 ashamed of the fact that dislike should be the most prominent feeling of his mind in regard to James, and that the compassion which his father expressed so readily was always the second and not the first thought which rose to his mind, and influenced his conduct in his intercourse with the Duke of York. The Colonel smiled a little at Maurice's remark, and acknowledged that the Duke's manner was not prepossessing; but observed that it was hardly necessary for him to say that, situated as the Duke of York was, treated as a prisoner in his father's own palace, with his attendants and companions chosen from among those whom he naturally considered as his enemies, he could not be judged by the same rules as other people; and that any amount of forbearance and patience which Maurice might be called upon to exercise towards him, would be no more than his misfortunes entitled him to, and ought therefore to be unhesitatingly granted him by Maurice as a matter of common courtesy and right feeling. Maurice fully assented to this in theory, thinking at the same time how little Colonel Carewe knew of the difficulty he had in carrying it out in practice. He said nothing further, however, for at that moment the arrival of the party at the place of their destination completely changed the current of his thoughts, and stopped entirely all conversation not immediately connected with the Abbey itself. He and Rosamond thoroughly enjoyed, and entered into all that they were called upon to admire and revere |