Chapter 10
"Mind," he said at parting. "Keep away from political mobs."
"I will," said Frank to himself, as he turned back. "Well, it will be all right going with Drew this afternoon, as it is only to feed the ducks."
CHAPTER SIX.
FRANK FEEDS THE DUCKS.
Something very nearly akin to a guilty feeling troubled Frank upon meeting his fellow-page that afternoon; but his father's promise, in conjunction with his words respecting Andrew's actions being merely those of an enthusiastic boy, helped to modify the trouble he felt, and in a few minutes it pa.s.sed off. For Andrew began by asking how his friend's father was, and praising him.
"I always liked your father, Frank," he said; "but he's far too good for where he is. Well, we're off duty till the evening. Ready for our run?"
"Oh yes, I'm ready," said Frank, laughing; "but you won't run unless somebody's carriage is being mobbed. You could go fast enough then."
"Well, of course I can run if I like. Come along."
"Where's the bread?" asked Frank.
"Bread? What bread? Are you hungry already?"
"No, no; the bread you talked about."
"The bread I talked about? What nonsense! I never said anything about bread that I can remember."
"Well, you said we were going to feed the ducks."
"Oh-h-oh!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Andrew; and he then burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Of course: so I did. I didn't think of it. Well, perhaps we had better take some. Ring the bell, and ask one of the footmen to bring you some."
Frank thought it strange that his companion, after proposing that they should go and feed the ducks, had forgotten all about the bread.
However, he said no more, but rang, and asked the servant to get him a couple of slices.
The man stared, but withdrew, and came back directly.
"I beg your pardon, sir," he said; "but did you wish me to bring the bread here?"
"Certainly. Be quick, please. We are waiting to go out."
The man withdrew for the second time, and the lads waited chatting together till Andrew grew impatient.
"Ring again," he cried. "Have they sent to have a loaf baked? It's getting late. Let's start. Never mind the bread."
"Oh, let's have it now it's ordered. How are we to feed the ducks without?"
"Throw them some stones," said Andrew mockingly. "Come along. We'll look at other people feeding them--if there are any. Look here; it's twenty minutes by that clock since you gave the order."
At that moment another footman opened the door, and held it back for one of his fellows to enter bearing a tray covered with a cloth, on which were a loaf, a b.u.t.ter-dish, knives, plates, gla.s.ses, and a decanter of water.
"Oh, what nonsense!" cried Andrew impatiently. "There, cut a slice, Frank, put it in your pocket, and come along, or we shall be late."
"I did
Andrew hesitated for a moment, and then s.n.a.t.c.hed a handkerchief from his pocket, wrapped the slice in it, and thrust the handkerchief back.
"Perhaps I had better take one too," he said aloud; and then to his companion as they went out: "Makes one look so ridiculous and childish before the servants. They'll go chattering about it all over the place."
"Let them," said Frank coolly. "I don't see anything to be ashamed of."
"No," said Andrew, with something like a sneer, "you don't; but you will some day. There, let's make haste."
It did not strike the lad that his companion's manner was peculiar, only that he felt it to be rather an undignified proceeding; but he said nothing, and accommodating his stride to Andrew's long one, they crossed the courtyard, went out into the Park, and came in sight of the water glittering in the sun.
"There's a good place," said Frank. "Plenty of ducks close in."
"Oh, there's a better place round on the other side," said Andrew hastily. "Let's go there."
"Anywhere you like," said Frank, "so long as we're out here on the fresh gra.s.s again. What a treat it is to be among the green trees!"
"Much better than the country, eh?"
"Oh no; but it does very well. I say, I wish we might fish."
"Oh, we'll go fis.h.i.+ng some day. Walk faster; we're late."
"Fast as you like. What do you say to a run? You can run, you say, when you like."
"Oh no, we needn't run; only walk fast."
"Or the ducks will be impatient," said Frank, laughing.
"Yes, or the ducks may be impatient," said Andrew to himself, as he led on toward the end of the ornamental water nearest to where Buckingham Palace now stands, and bore off to the left; and when some distance back along the farther sh.o.r.e of the lake and nearly opposite to Saint James's Palace, he said suddenly:
"Look, Frank, there is some one beforehand;" and he pointed to where a gentleman stood by the edge of the water shooting bits of biscuit with his thumb and finger some distance out, apparently for the sake of seeing the ducks race after them, some aiding themselves with their wings, and then paddling back for more.
The two lads walked up to where the gentleman was standing, and as he heard them approach he turned quickly, and Frank saw that he was a pale, slight, thin-faced, youngish-looking man who might be forty.
"Ah, Andrew," he said, "you here; how are you? You have not come to feed the ducks?"
"Oh yes, I have," said Andrew, giving the stranger a peculiar look; "and I've brought a friend with me. Let me introduce him. Mr Frank Gowan, Captain Sir Robert Gowan's son, and my fellow-servant with his Royal Highness. Frank, this happens to be a friend of mine--Mr George Selby."
"I am very glad to meet any friend of Andrew Forbes," said the stranger, raising his hat with a most formal bow. "I know Sir Robert slightly."
As he replaced his hat and smiled pleasantly to the salute Frank gave in return, he took a biscuit from his pocket, and began to break it in very small pieces, when, apparently without any idea of its looking childish, Andrew took out his piece of bread, and after a moment's hesitation Frank did the same, the ducks in his Majesty's "ca.n.a.l," as he termed it, benefiting largely by the result.
"Any news?" said Andrew, after this had been going on for some minutes, and as he spoke he turned his head and looked fixedly at Mr Selby.
"No, nothing whatever; everything is as dull as can be," was the reply, and the fixed look was returned.
There seemed to be nothing in these words of an exciting nature, and Frank was intent upon a race between two green-headed drakes for a piece of crust which he had jerked out to a considerable distance; but all the same Andrew Forbes drew a deep breath, and his face flushed up. Then he glanced sharply at Frank, and looked relieved to find how his attention was diverted.