Nell, of Shorne Mills Part 82

"Just now. He came to inquire. Nell, I can't understand it, though he has tried to explain why he hid his real name; and--and--Nell--he didn't tell me why you and he broke it off."

She flushed for a moment.

"There was no need," she said. "It does not matter."

d.i.c.k sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

"No, I suppose it doesn't; but it's a mysterious affair. I hear he is going to marry that fair woman, Lady Luce."

Nell inclined her head, her lips set tightly.

"It's a pity we can't get away from here," he said gloomily. "It's jolly awkward. Though Drake was more than friendly with me last night and just now. He's awfully changed."

They were standing by the window of the sitting room, and Nell was looking out with eyes that saw nothing.

"Changed?"

"Yes; he looks years older, and he's stern and grave as if----Well, he doesn't look the same man, and it strikes me that he's anything but happy, though he is the Earl of Angleford, and going to marry one of the most beautiful woman in England."

Nell stood with compressed lips and eyes fixed on vacancy.

"He got a nasty blow last night," said d.i.c.k, after a pause.

Her manner changed in a moment, and her eyes flew round to him.

"He was hurt?" she said, with a catch in her breath.

d.i.c.k nodded.

"Yes; that ruffian struck him with the revolver or something. And I say, Nell, I haven't heard your share in this affair yet. Drake told me that the fellow struck you."

"Did he?" she said indifferently. "I--I don't remember. Was Lord Angleford badly hurt? Tell me."

"Oh, no; I think not; not badly," replied d.i.c.k. "There's a bruise on his temple; but what's that to the damage poor Falconer suffered? Drake says that it was the pluckiest thing he's seen. Oh, Lord! what a sickening business it is! Thank goodness, they've got the fellow. It will be a lifer for him, that's one consolation."

Nell shuddered.

"And they've got the jewels back, that's another," said d.i.c.k, more cheerily. "Though I'd rather the fellow had got off with them than poor Falconer should have been hurt. What beastly bad luck, just after he'd struck oil and got a start! Drake says that Falconer will be a celebrity, if he lives; and you may depend Drake will do his best to make his words good. There'll be a 'Falconer boom,' mark my words. I never saw any one so concerned about a man as Drake is about him. He was here outside talking with the doctor before it was light. The whole of the remainder of the big house is to be placed at our disposal. In short, if it had been Drake himself who was stabbed, there couldn't be more concern shown. Here's the breakfast, and for the first time in my life, I don't want it. Why the deuce can't the swells look after their blessed diamonds?"

Nell gave him his coffee, and then stole up to her own room and flung herself on the bed.

Drake was hurt. It might have been Drake instead of Falconer lying between life and death. Her heart throbbed with thankfulness; but the next moment she hid her face in her hands for very shame. She tried to sleep, but she could not, and it was almost a relief when the servant knocked and said that two ladies from the Hall were downstairs.

"But I was not to disturb you if you was asleep, miss," she added, with navete.

Nell bathed her face and smoothed her hair quickly, and went down; and, as she entered the sitting room, was taken into Lady Wolfer's embrace.

"My dear, dear Nell!" she cried, in the subdued tones due to the sick room above. "Why, it's like a fairy story! Why didn't I or some of us know you were here, till last night? You remember Lady Angleford, dear?"

The countess came forward and held out her hand with her friendly and gentle smile.

"Come to the light and let me look at you," Lady Wolfer went on, drawing Nell to the window; "though it's scarcely fair, after all you have gone through. Nell, who would have thought that we were entertaining a heroine unawares? We knew you were an angel, of course; but a heroine--a heroine of romance! You dear, brave girl!"

Nell colored painfully.

"The whole place, the whole county, by this time, to say nothing of London and every other place where a telegraph wire runs, is full of it."

"Oh, I am sorry!" said poor Nell, aghast.

Lady Angleford smiled.

"It is the penalty one pays for heroism, Miss Lorton," she said; "and you must forgive me for being grateful to you for saving Lord Angleford's life."

"Oh, but I didn't--indeed I didn't!" exclaimed Nell, in distress.

"Oh, but indeed you did!" retorted Lady Wolfer. "Lord Angleford says so, and he ought to know. He says that but for you the wretch would have shot him--he was quite close."

Nell's face was white again now, and the countess came to her aid.

"We are forgetting one of the objects of our visit," she said. "You know how anxious we are about Mr. Falconer, Miss Lorton. I hope he is in no danger, my dear?"

She took Nell's hand as she spoke, and pressed it, and Nell colored again under the sympathy in the countess' eyes.

"When I heard that he had been injured, I wished with all my heart that the man had got clear off with the miserable diamonds--I was going to say 'my' miserable diamonds, but they are only mine for a time. But I am sure Lord Angleford joins me in that wish. All the diamonds in the world are not worth rescuing at such a price as Mr. Falconer--and you--have paid. I hope you can tell us he is better. We are all terribly anxious about him."

Now, even in the stress and strain of the moment, Nell noticed a certain significance in the countess' tone, a personal sympathy with herself, conveyed plainly by the "and you," and it puzzled her. But she put the faint wonder aside.

"I don't know," she said simply. "He is very ill--he was badly stabbed.

He has been delirious most of the night----"

"My poor Nell!" murmured Lady Wolfer, pressing her hand.

"I hope the nurse you have in to help you is a good one," said the countess, as if she took it for granted that Nell was also nursing him.

"If not, we will send to London for one; indeed, Sir William may bring one with him. I don't know what Lord Angleford telegraphed."

"I wish we could do something for you, Nell," whispered Lady Wolfer.

"Only last night, before the burglary, we were arranging that we would come down here and carry you--by main force, if necessary--up to the Hall. And now----But, dear, you must not lose heart! He may not be badly hurt; and the surgeons do such wonderful things now. Perhaps, when Sir William comes, he may tell you that there is no danger whatever, and that you will have him well again before very long."

Her eyes dwelt on Nell's with tender pity and womanly sympathy; and Nell, still puzzled, could only remain silent. As if she could not say enough, Lady Wolfer drew her to the window, and continued, in a lower voice:

"I meant to congratulate you, Nell, and I do. I--we all admired him so much the other night, little guessing the truth; and now that he has proved himself as brave as he is clever, one can understand your losing your heart to him. All the same, dear, I think he is a very--very lucky man."

The red stained Nell's face, and then left it pale again. She opened her lips to deny that she and Falconer were engaged, but at that moment a dogcart drove through the gate and stopped at the lodge.

"Here is Drake!" said the countess. "He has been to Angleford to see the police."

Nell drew away from the window quickly, and the countess went out as Drake got down from the cart.

"How is he?" Nell heard him ask. Though she had moved from the window, she could see him. He looked haggard and tired, and she saw the bruise on his temple. Her heart beat fast, and she turned away and leaned her arm on the mantelshelf. "And--and Miss Lorton?" he inquired, after the countess had replied to his first question.