Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 44

"Because she has the misfortune to be my companion, and I worry her to death."

"A pleasant death," he muttered.

"Thanks," she said. "That is the second compliment you have paid me. And yet they say you are not gallant, as the French have it."

"It's the heat," said Jack, in his grim way.

"You will find some ices in the ante-room there, behind that lace curtain."

"Shall I get you one?" said Jack.

She nodded.

"Thanks! Yes, that is the way," and she rose to point to a winding path made through the rows of ferns and tropical plants.

He had to pa.s.s her in going, and in doing so he struck a spray of a palm with his head; it recoiled, and caught some of its soft, spiky leaves in her hair.

She uttered a half-laughing cry, and Jack turned.

"I beg your pardon," he said. "I am awfully clumsy. Allow me."

She bent her head toward him, laughing, and Jack disentangled the silken threads from the great clinging leaf. In doing so he again proved his clumsiness, for the silken threads got round his fingers.

He could feel her soft, peach-like face against his wrist, and being human his blood thrilled.

Lady Bell looked up. Her face was pale, and her eyes drooping and languid.

"Are you going to scalp me after all?" she murmured.

Jack's heart beat strangely.

"I--I am very sorry," he muttered below his breath, and with lowered eyes he went on.

Lady Bell looked after him and drew a long breath. A sigh that almost echoed hers startled her, and turning she saw Una, sitting where she had left her, with her hands clasped in her lap.

"My child," said Lady Bell, "I had almost----"

"Yes, you had quite forgotten me," said Una, with a strange smile.

Lady Bell flushed and looked at her. Her lovely face was pale and her eyes clouded with a strange look of pain and weariness.

"Forgive me, my child," she said. "You are quite pale--you are tired. It is too hot. Wait! there are some ices coming."

"No, no," said Una, with a sudden shrinking. "Please leave me--do not bring him here--I mean----" she stammered, "I would rather be alone. Go and dance, Lady Bell."

"What a timid fawn it is," said Lady Bell, caressingly. "There, go and sit in the shade there. Don't be frightened; I promised to take care of you."

"I am not frightened," said Una, quietly, "but I would rather----"

"I understand," said Lady Bell, quickly; then she said, trying to speak carelessly and toying with her fan: "Did you see the gentleman I was speaking to, dear?"

"Yes," said Una, calmly.

"Don't you think that he is very handsome?"

Una's heart beat so fast that she could scarcely speak.

"Yes," she answered, at last.

"What a cold Diana it is!" said Lady Bell, caressingly. "What an icy 'yes.' My dear, he is the handsomest man in the room."

"Yes," said Una, sadly.

Lady Bell looked at her.

"I see, for all your yesses, that you don't think so," she said, with a laugh. "Do you know they call him the Savage, and that it is quite an achievement on my part to get him here? I made his acquaintance by accident. Mrs. Fellowes is quite shocked over it. But I always do as I like. I've got a fancy, Una--you'd never guess it."

"What is it?" said Una, raising her dark eyes gravely to the beautiful, witching face.

Lady Bell smiled.

"I have a fancy for taming the Savage," she said, more to herself than to Una; "it will be so amusing."

Una turned her head aside.

"For him, do you mean?" she asked, in a low voice.

Lady Bell stared at her, and her color came and went amusedly.

"What a strange child it is! For him? No, for me! And--yes, for him too.

What right has he to pretend to be invincible? Do you think I shall succeed?"

Una looked at her with an aching heart.

"Yes," she answered; "I think you will succeed."

"What a flatterer it is!" said Lady Bell, playfully. "Hus.h.!.+ here he comes; half tamed already. Now for the first lesson," and, to Una's surprise she glided from the recess and was instantly lost in the crowd.

A moment after Una saw her dancing with the duke.

She drew back into the shadow and watched Jack. He came along slowly, the ice in his hand, and looked around for Lady Bell, with astonishment and something like anger in his face for a moment. Then he saw her dancing with the duke in the center of the room, looked round for some place to put the ice down, and, seeing none convenient, gently pitched it, plate and all, into a fountain, to the considerable astonishment of the gold fish.

Then he sat down and thrusting his hands into his pockets, seemed lost in thought; his head thrown back, almost touched Una's arm, and she wondered whether he would be glad or sorry, or simply indifferent, if she rose and stood before him, or called him by name.

Yes, there he sat, within reach of her hand. She had often dreamed of him as being near her, but it was no dream now.

An infinite longing to touch, to speak to him, possessed her, and if he would but turn and look at her as he had looked that morning by the lake!

She struggled hard against the temptation, and sat motionless, all her heart going out toward him.