Nell, of Shorne Mills Part 70

"But to me, Drake!" she whispered, with a pout. "I wanted to hear from you so badly! Just a line that would have given me an excuse for writing to you and telling you--explaining----"

He did not smile. He was not the man to remind a woman of her falseness, but something in his eyes made her falter and lower her own.

"I went away because I was tired of England," he said. "I came back because--well, because I was obliged."

"But you won't go away again?" she said, with genuine dismay in her voice and face. "I--I feel as if, as if it were my fault; as if--ah, Drake, have you not really forgiven me?"

Her eyes filled with tears, as genuine as her dismay--for think of the greatness of the prize for which she was playing--and Drake's heart was touched with a pity which was not wholly free from contempt.

"There shall be no such word as forgiveness between us, Luce," he said gravely. She caught at this, though it was but a straw, and her hand, from which she had taken her glove, stole over to his, and her eyes sought his appealingly.

But before he could take her hand--if he had intended doing so--Lady Angleford came up to them.

"Drake, they want you to lead the cotillon," she said.

He rose, but stood beside Luce.

"Directly Lady Luce has finished her supper, countess. Please don't hurry."

But Lady Luce sprang up at once.

"I have finished long ago; I was not hungry."

"Come, then," he said, and he offered her his arm, "Will you dance it with me?"

Her heart leaped.

"Yes. It will not be for the first time--Drake!" and as she entered the room with him, her heart thrilled with hope, and her blue eyes sparkled with a triumph which none could fail to notice.

CHAPTER x.x.x.

Certainly not poor Nell, who still remained in her dim corner in the gallery. Mrs. Hawksley had begged her to come down to the supper which had been laid for her and her brother and Falconer; but Nell, who felt that it would be impossible to make even a pretense of eating or drinking, had begged them to excuse her; and when they had gone and the gallery was empty, she leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes; for she was well-nigh exhausted by the conflicting emotions which racked her. She longed to go, to leave the place, to escape from the risk of Drake's presence; but she could not leave the house alone, and to go from the gallery and absent herself for the rest of the evening might attract notice and comment.

Was it possible that Drake had been near her, so near as to almost have touched her? She trembled--and thrilled--at the thought; then crimsoned with shame for the sinful thrill of joy and happiness which his nearness had caused her.

What was he to her now? Nothing, nothing! She had yielded him up to the beautiful woman he had loved before he saw her, Nell; and it was shameful and unwomanly that she should feel a joy in his proximity.

Falconer came up before the rest of the orchestra, and brought a gla.s.s of wine and a biscuit for her.

"I am afraid you have a headache, the lights and the music--they are so near; and it is hot up here. Will you drink some of this, Miss Lorton?"

His voice was low and tender, though he strove to give it a conventional touch and merely friendly tone.

"Thank you, yes," said Nell gratefully. "How good of you to think of me!

How magnificently you played! I can't tell you how happy your success has made me! And such a success! I was as proud as if it were I who was playing; and I was prouder still when I saw how quietly you took it.

Ah, you felt that it was just your due. I suppose genius always takes the crowd's applause calmly."

His face flushed, and his dark eyes glowed.

"There is some applause I, at any rate--who am no genius, however--cannot take calmly," he said. "I would rather have those words of approval from you than the shouting and clapping of a mult.i.tude. Yes, it made me happy; but I am happier now than words can express."

If Nell had looked up into the eyes bent on hers, she must have read his secret in them; but the band had begun to play, and at that moment Drake was leading Lady Luce to her place for the cotillon, and Nell's eyes were drawn, riveted to the fair face, the blue eyes shining triumphantly; and she forgot not only Falconer's presence, but his existence.

As he saw that she did not heed him, the color died out from his face, and the light from his eyes, and, with a sigh, he left her and went back to his place in the orchestra.

The dance proceeded through all its graceful and intricate evolutions, and even to the spectators in the gallery it was evident that Lady Luce had stepped into the position of the belle of the ball. The excitement of hope and fear, the gratification of vanity which sprang from her consciousness that she was occupying the most prominent place as the earl's partner, had given to her face the touch of warmth it needed to make its beauty well-nigh perfect. Her lips were parted with a smile, the blue eyes--ordinarily a trifle cold--were glowing, and the diamonds sparkled fiercely on her heaving bosom.

Nell could not remove her eyes from her, but sat like a bird held by the fascination of the serpent. She was blind to all else but those two--the man she loved, the woman to whom she had surrendered him.

The time pa.s.sed unheeded by her, and Falconer's voice sounded miles away as he bent over her.

"d.i.c.k has sent up to say that we can go," he said. "There's no fear of the lights now; indeed, the ball is nearly over. This is the last dance."

Nell rose stiffly and wearily.

"I--I am glad," she said.

"You are tired, very tired," he said. "Will you let me give you my arm?"

He felt her hand tremble as she put it on his arm, and he looked down at her anxiously.

"I wish I had taken you out of this before," he said remorsefully. "I have spoken to you--asked you--once or twice; but--but you did not seem to hear me. It is my fault. I ought to have insisted upon your going."

"No, no!" said Nell. "It is nothing. I am a little tired, and----Is it late?"

"Yes," he said. "Most of the people are leaving. It has been a great success. Is this the way?"

They had gone down the stairs leading to the lower hall, but here Falconer hesitated doubtfully. This second hall led into the larger one, through which the guests were pa.s.sing.

Nell caught a glimpse of them, and shrank back.

"Not there," she said warningly. "There must be a door----"

"Ah, here it is!" he said; and he led her through an opening between portiere curtains. They found themselves in a small conservatory, and Falconer again stopped.

"It is very stupid!" he said apologetically.

"There may be an opening to the terrace," said Nell nervously; "once we are outside----"

"Here we are, out in the open air."

Nell drew a long breath, and pushed the hair from her forehead.

"We must go down these steps, and then to the right. I remember----"