The Happy Adventurers — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Happy Adventurers
John Stuart Mill · en
Mollie blushed, and the boys giggled. "Look here," said Dick, "if we
stand here till midnight discussing Major Campbell's age we won't get
home to tea, and then Aunt Mary will send out a search party, and we'll
look pretty asinine. Long John's getting baity, he'll bolt in a minute.
Take the reins, Mollie. Don't eat all the strawberries, and tell Aunt
Mary that cherry jam is my fancy. Come on, Young Outram."
Major Campbell saw the boys start before taking the reins from Mollie.
Long John gave his head an impatient toss, and set off with the
determination that he would not stop again for anybody till he was in
sight of his stable.
A hundred thoughts chased each other through Mollie's mind. Of course
this could not possibly be _that_ Hugh Campbell. It would be altogether
_too_ queer. And yet--after all, nothing could be much queerer than the
experience they had already had. Putting one thing and another together
it did seem to be more than a coincidence that a Hugh Campbell should
be on his way to see someone who had a green diamond set in a ring
given to her "long, long ago". She stole a look at her companion as he
sat opposite her, his eyes fixed on the road ahead and his thoughts
obviously elsewhere. Hugh the inventor had not passed even thirteen
years without gathering various little mementoes of his inventions in
the shape of scars here and there, and these had not escaped the sharp
observation of Mollie, the Girl Guide. There had been a tiny gap in his
left eyebrow, the result of inventing a new pattern of firework--a
crooked little finger on his left hand--a funny star-shaped mark on his
right jaw. Some of these and other remembered marks might have been
obliterated by time, but if even one remained she would recognize it.
He had removed his hat and disclosed a head of closely cropped grey
hair, which made him look older. Yes--there was the gap in his eyebrow
_and_ the crooked finger. Mollie felt certain that this was indeed the
inventor.
"Have you ever been in Dublin?" she asked abruptly, forgetting for the
moment that asking questions was forbidden.
"In Dublin?" echoed Major Campbell, bringing his eyes and his thoughts
from the winding road and concentrating both upon Mollie. "Are you a
thought-reader, Miss Mollie? For I was thinking of Dublin at that very
moment. Yes, I have been there. Indeed, it was there that I first met
Miss Gordon, at a ball at Dublin Castle. I was visiting some people she
knew, and later on she joined us. My sisters were over here at that
time too. Has Miss Gordon ever mentioned the O'Rourkes to you?"
"Yes," said Mollie, feeling absolutely giddy with excitement, "that is,
no--not exactly----" she felt very confused--"I mean--was there a
Desmond O'Rourke?"