"Father has a house in France--in a quaint little village called By--on
the edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau. Do you know Fontainebleau?"
"Oh, yes," he replied. "I went there from Paris once, with the guv'nor.
We stayed at the Hotel de France--I think it was--at Fontainebleau. We
went over the old palace and drove out to Barbison, and to Marlotte.
Awfully charming places."
"Ah! Barbison. That is the colony of artists. I know, I love it, and
have often cycled over there, where I have friends. Father is a bit of
a recluse, so I travel and look after my uncle."
"And Marlotte--by the river. Do you know the picturesque little hotel
there, and its al-fresco cafe--the garden with all the little
summer-houses?"
"Oh, yes," she laughed. "Do you know it, too? How gay it is on Sundays
in summer. All the artists come out from Paris for the day."
"It reminds me of Monkey Island, on the Thames. We used to go up there
when I was at Eton."
She looked at him suddenly with a fixed expression, and then said:
"You haven't told me your name. I only know you as Snookie's rescuer--
you know," and she laughed.
"My name's Remington--Raife Remington," he replied. "The guv'nor lives
at Aldborough Park, not far from Tunbridge Wells."
Her face changed in an instant. She seemed to suddenly hold her breath,
though quite imperceptibly. For a moment all the colour left her soft
cheeks, but as quickly she recovered all her self-possession, and
exclaimed, in a changed tone:
"Is your father Sir Henry Remington?"
"Yes. Why? Do you happen to know him?"
"I--er--oh, no, I don't!" she replied, endeavouring to conceal her
consternation at the discovery. "Only--well--I--of course, had no idea
that you were the son of a gentleman so well-known as Sir Henry."
"My misfortune, perhaps," he laughed, airily. "The guv'nor has brains--
has been a member of Parliament for twenty years, and all that--I
haven't any."
"You have."
"They say I haven't, at Cambridge."
She was silent for some moments. What strange freak of Fate had thrown
them together--he, the very last man on earth she desired to meet. And
yet, she had found him such a bright, cheerful companion!
Her eyes were turned to where Mutimer and her friend, Maud Wilson, were
strolling along the seafront.
The young fellow at her side was actually the son of Sir Henry
Remington! The baronet's name burned into her brain--it was branded
there, as though seared by a red-hot iron.
The amazing revelation staggered her. That man seated so idly in the
chair, his legs stretched out, displaying the latest make in 'Varsity
socks, was actually the son of Sir Henry!
She could not believe it.
Raife, on his part, was not exactly blind to the fact that mention of
his father's name had unduly surprised her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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