The Shadow of Ashlydyat Part 142

"Shall we ever hear of you?" continued Charlotte, pus.h.i.+ng back Dolf with her elbow, and completely eclipsing his meek face with her sweeping scarlet feather.

"No doubt you will, Mrs. Pain, from one source or another. Not that I shall be a voluminous correspondent with England, I expect: except, perhaps, with Ashlydyat."

"Well, fare you well, George," she said, holding out both her gauntleted hands. "You seem rather cranky this morning, but I forgive you; it _is_ trying to the spirits to leave one's native place for good and all. I wish you all good luck with my best heart!"

"Thank you," he said, taking the hands within his own and shaking them: "thank you always. Good-bye. Good-bye, Mr. Pain."

Mr. Pain shook hands less demonstratively than his wife, and his leave-taking, if quiet, was not less sincere. George piloted them to the gangway, and saw them pulled ash.o.r.e in the little boat.

They ascended to the carriage, which to all appearance had been keeping up a perpetual commotion since they left it, the fault probably of its horses and dogs; and Charlotte, taking her high seat, dashed away in style; her whip flouris.h.i.+ng, the dogs barking, her red feather tossing and gleaming. What she will do when these feathers go out of fas.h.i.+on it's hard to say: Charlotte could hardly stir out without one.

And by-and-by, the anchor up, the tug attached, the good s.h.i.+p _Indus_ was fairly on her way, being towed smoothly down the river under command of her pilot. The pa.s.sengers were tormenting themselves still: the sailors seemed to be perpetually hurrying hither and thither, the steward was in a tumult: but George G.o.dolphin, wrapped in his grey plaid, remained in his place, quiet and still, gazing out over the bows of the vessel. What were his reflections, as his native land began to recede from his eyes? Did he regret it? Did he regret the position he had lost; the ruin he had wrought; the death of his wife? Did he, finally, regret the inevitable PAST, with all its mistakes and sins?--and think that if it could only come over again, he would act differently? Possibly so. Once he lifted his hat, and pushed the golden hair further from his brow, from his handsome face, not less bright or handsome than of yore--except in its expression. In that, there was an unmistakable look of weary sadness, never before seen on the features of gay George G.o.dolphin.

And when, hours after, the rest of the cabin pa.s.sengers were summoned to dinner, he never stirred, but kept his place there, looking far into the dusky night, glancing up at the stars that came glittering out in the blue canopy of heaven.

A safe landing to him on the sh.o.r.es of Calcutta! A safe and sure landing on a different sh.o.r.e that must come after it!

And Mr. and Mrs. Pain's dinner-parties in Belgravia are a great success.

THE END.