Witness to the Deed Part 15

"Indeed, Sir Mark."

"Oh, yes; but sit down, Stratton; you are quite a stranger. Want to see me on business?"

"Yes; I--"

But before he could get any further the admiral, who seemed in high spirits, interrupted him.

"Pity you were not ten minutes sooner. Barron was telling me a most amusing story of slave life in Trinidad in the old days. Wonderful fund of anecdote. But you said business or an appointment, my dear boy. Bad man to come to unless it's about the sea. What is it?"

Stratton made no answer for a few moments. The difficulty was how to begin. It was not that he was strange with the admiral, for, consequent upon the friends.h.i.+p formerly existing between Miss Jerrold and his mother, Sir Mark's house had been open to him times enough. Seeing his hesitation the old sailor smiled encouragement.

"Come, my lad," he said, "out with it. Is something wrong? Want help?"

"Yes, sir, yours," said Stratton, making his plunge, and now speaking quickly. "The fact is, Sir Mark, I have had news this morning--glorious news for me."

"Glad of it, my dear boy. But you looked just now as if you were going to court-martial for running your s.h.i.+p aground."

"I suppose it was natural, sir. Yesterday I was a poor struggling man, to-day I have had the letter announcing my appointment to the Headley Museum, and it is not only the stipend--a liberal one--but the position that is so valuable for one who is fighting to make his way in the scientific ranks."

The admiral stretched out his hand, and shook Stratton's warmly.

"Glad of it, my dear boy. My congratulations on your promotion. I shall see you an admiral among the scientific bigwigs yet. To be sure; of course. I have been so taken up with other things--being abroad--and so much worried and occupied since I came back, that I had forgotten all about it. But my sister told me she was moving heaven and earth, and going down on her knees to all kinds of great guns to beg them to salute you."

"Then it has been her doing," cried Stratton excitedly.

"Oh, yes; I think she has done something in it. Do the girls know?"

"No, sir; not yet," said Stratton hastily. "I felt that it was my duty to come to you first."

"Eh? Very good of you, I'm sure. I'll send for them. They'll be delighted."

He rose to ring, but Stratton interposed.

"Not yet, sir, please," he cried; "I have something else to say."

"Wants to borrow a hundred for his outfit," thought the admiral. "Well, I like the fellow; he shall have it. Now, my lad," he said aloud as he resumed his seat. "What is it?"

Stratton hesitated for a few moments, and then hurriedly:

"I have met Miss Myra Jerrold and Miss Perrin frequently at their aunt's, Sir Mark, and to a great extent you have made me free of your house. You will grant, I hope, that feelings such as have grown up in me were quite natural. It was impossible for me to be in their society without forming an attachment, but I give you my word, sir, as a man, that never by word or look have I trespa.s.sed upon the kindness you have accorded me; and had I remained poor, as I believed myself yesterday, I should never have uttered a word."

"Humph!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the admiral, gazing at him sternly.

"But now that I do know my position, my first step is to come to you and explain."

"And the young lady? You have not spoken to her on the subject?"

"Never, Sir Mark, I swear."

"A gentleman's word is enough, sir. Well, I will not profess ignorance.

My sister did once drop me a kind of hint about my duties, and I have noticed a little thing now and then."

"You have noticed, sir?" cried Stratton, looking startled.

"Oh, yes," said the admiral, smiling. "I'm not an observant man over such matters; in fact, I woke up only three months ago to find how blind I could be; but in your case I did have a few suspicions; for you young men are very transparent."

"Really, Sir Mark, I a.s.sure you," faltered Stratton, "I have been most guarded."

"Of course you have, my lad. Well, I am a poor pilot in love matters, but I don't see here why we should not go straight ahead. You are both young and suitable for each other. Rebecca swears by you, and I confess that I rather like you when you are not so confoundedly learned."

"Sir Mark!" cried Stratton, his voice husky with emotion, "in my wildest moments I never thought--"

"That I should be such an easy-going fellow, eh? But we are running too fast, boy. There is the young lady to think about."

"Of course--of course, sir."

"Not the custom to consult the s.h.i.+p about her captain, but we will here," cried Sir Mark with a laugh; "they generally appoint the captain right off. We'll have her down, bless her. A good girl, Stratton, and I congratulate you."

"But one moment, sir," faltered the young man; "is it kind--so suddenly--give me leave to speak to her first."

"No," said the old sailor abruptly; "she shall come down, and it shall be _yes_ or _no_ right off."

He rang the bell sharply, and then crossed back to Stratton, and shook his hand again.

"You've behaved very well indeed, my lad," he said; "and I like you for it. I never knew your father, but he must have been a gentleman. Your mother, Becky's friend, was as sweet a lady as I ever met."

The butler entered.

"Mr Barron gone?"

"No, Sir Mark."

"Don't matter. Go and ask Miss Perrin to step down here."

The butler bowed, and left the room.

Stratton started from his seat with his face ghastly.

"Hullo, my lad! what's the matter? Time for action, and afraid to meet that saucy little thing. I say, you scientific fellows make poor lovers. Hold up, man, or she'll laugh at you."

"Sir Mark!" gasped Stratton. "Ring again--a horrible mistake on your part."

"What the deuce do you mean, sir? You come and propose for my niece's hand--"

"No; no, Sir Mark," cried the young man wildly.

"What! Why I've seen you attentive to her a score of times. I say again, what the deuce do you mean? Why--why--you were not talking about my own child?"

"My words all related to Miss Jerrold, Sir Mark," said Stratton, now speaking in a voice full of despair. "I never imagined that you could possibly misunderstand me."