“You 're forgetting the bundle, Master Tony,” cried Waters, and he flung it towards him with all his strength; but it fell short, dropped into the sea, floated for about a second or so, and then sank forever. Tony uttered what was not exactly a blessing on his awkwardness, and, turning his back to the steamer, seized the tiller and steered for shore. CHAPTER XVI. AT THE ABBEY “Who said that Tony Butler had come back?” said Sir Arthur, as they sat at breakfast on the day after his arrival. “The gardener saw him last night, papa,” said Mrs. Trafford; “he was sitting with his mother on the rocks below the cottage; and when Gregg saluted him, he called out, 'All well at the Abbey, I hope?'” “It would have been more suitable if he had taken the trouble to assure himself of that fact by a visit here,” said Lady Lyle. “Don't you think so, Mr. Maitland?” “I am disposed to agree with you,” said he, gravely. “Besides,” added Sir Arthur, “he must have come over in the 'Foyle,' and ought to be able to bring me some news of my horses. Those two rough nights have made me very uneasy about them.” “Another reason for a little attention on his part,” said her Ladyship, bridling; and then, as if anxious to show that so insignificant a theme could not weigh on her thoughts, she asked her daughter when Mark and Isabella purposed coming home. “They spoke of Saturday, mamma; but it seems now that Mrs. Maxwell has got up--or somebody has for her--an archery meeting for Tuesday, and she writes a most pressing entreaty for me to drive over, and, if possible, persuade Mr. Maitland to accompany me.” “Which I sincerely trust he will not think of.” “And why, dearest mamma?” “Can you ask me, Alice? Have we not pushed Mr. Maitland's powers of patience far enough by our own dulness, without subjecting him to the stupidities of Tilney Park?--the dreariest old mansion of a dreary neighborhood.” “But he might like it. As a matter of experimental research, he told us how he passed an autumn with the Mandans, and ate nothing but eels and wood-squirrels.” “You are forgetting the prairie rats, which are really delicacies.” “Nor did I include the charms of the fair Chachinhontas, who was the object of your then affections,” said she, laughingly, but in a lower tone. “So, then,” said he, “Master Mark has been playing traitor, and divulging my confidence. The girl was a marvellous horsewoman, which is a rare gift with Indian women. I 've seen her sit a drop-leap--I 'll not venture to say the depth, but certainly more than the height of a man--with her arms extended wide, and the bridle loose and flowing.” “And you followed in the same fashion?” asked Alice, with a roguish twinkle of the eye. “I see that Mark has betrayed me all through,” said he, laughing. “I own I tried it, but not with the success that such ardor deserved. I came head-foremost to the ground before my horse.” “After all, Mr. Maitland, one is not obliged to ride like a savage,” said Lady Lyle.