Uncle Max | Page 3

said wearily, 'and I would rather go home.
Give my love to Lesbia; I will see her another day.'
'Lesbia will be hurt,' remonstrated Sara. 'What a little misanthrope you
are, Ursula! St. Thomas's has injured you socially; you have become a
hermit-crab all at once, and it is such nonsense at your age.'
'Oh, let me be, Sara!' I pleaded; 'I am tired, and Lesbia always chatters
so; and Mrs. Fullerton is worse. Besides, did you not tell me she was

coming to dine with us this evening?'
'Yes, to be sure; but she wanted us to meet the Percy Glyns. Mirrel and
Winifred Glyn are to be there this afternoon. Never mind, Lesbia will
understand when I say you are in one of your ridiculous moods.' And
Sara hummed a little tune gaily, as though she meant no offence by her
words and was disposed to let me go my own way.
'The carriage can take you home, Ursula; we can walk those few yards,'
observed Aunt Philippa, as she descended leisurely, and Sara tripped
after her, still humming. But I took no notice of her words: I had had
enough dulness and decorum to last me for some time, and the Black
Prince and his consort Bay might find their way to their own stables
without depositing me at the front door of the house at Hyde Park Gate.
I told Clarence so, to his great astonishment, and walked across the
road in an opposite direction to home, as though my feet were winged
with quicksilver.
For the Park in that dim November light seemed to allure me; there was
a red glow of sunset in the distance; a faint, climbing mist between the
trees; the gas-lamps were twinkling everywhere. I could hear the
ringing of some church bell; there was space, freedom for thought, a
vague, uncertain prospect, out of which figures were looming
curiously,--a delightful sense that I was sinning against conventionality
and Aunt Philippa.
'Halloo, Ursula!' exclaimed a voice in great astonishment; and there,
out of the mist, was a kind face looking at me,--a face with a brown
beard, and dark eyes with a touch of amusement in them; and the eyes
and the beard and the bright, welcoming smile belonged to Uncle Max.
As I caught at his outstretched hand with a half-stifled exclamation of
delight, a policeman turned round and looked at us with an air of
interest. No doubt he thought the tall brown-bearded clergyman in the
shabby coat--it was one of Uncle Max's peculiarities to wear a shabby
coat occasionally--was the sweetheart of the young lady in black. Uncle
Max--I am afraid I oftener called him Max--was only a few years older
than myself, and had occupied the position of an elder brother to me.

He was my poor mother's only brother, and had been dearly loved by
her,--not as I had loved Charlie, perhaps; but they had been much to
each other, and he had always seemed nearer to me than Aunt Philippa,
who was my father's sister; perhaps because there was nothing in
common between us, and I had always been devoted to Uncle Max.
'Well, Ursula,' he said, pretending to look grave, but evidently far too
pleased to see me to give me a very severe lecture, 'what is the meaning
of this? Does Mrs. Garston allow young ladies under her charge to
stroll about Hyde Park in the twilight? or have you stolen a march on
her, naughty little she-bear?'
I drew my hand away with an offended air: when Uncle Max wished to
tease or punish me he always reminded me that the name of Ursula
signified she-bear, and would sometimes call me 'the little black
growler'; and at such times it was provoking to think that Sara signified
princess. I have always wondered how far and how strongly our
baptismal names influence us. Of course he would not let me walk
beside him in that dignified manner: the next instant I heard his clear
hearty laugh, and then I laughed too.
'What an absurd child you are! I was thinking over your letter as I
walked along. It did not bring me to London, certainly; I had business
of my own; but, all the same, I have walked across the Park this
evening to talk to you about this extraordinary scheme.'
But I would not let him go on. He was about to cross the road, so I took
his arm and turned him back. And there was the gray mist creeping up
between the trees, and the lamps glimmering in the distance, and the
faint pink glow had not yet died away.
'It is so quiet here,' I pleaded, 'and I could not get you alone for a
moment if we went in. Uncle