Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 34

"I a.s.sure you I am all right," he said.

"And I refuse to accept your a.s.surance," said Lady Bell, with a little shudder at the streak of blood which oozed from his forehead. "Come, you will not refuse to obey a lady. I wish you to enter my brougham."

"No, I can't refuse to obey a lady," he said.

"Then come with me," said Lady Bell.

"Where to, my lady?" asked Jackson, who was used to her ladyship's willfulness, and sat, patient as Job, waiting for the issue of this strange adventure.

"To--where did you say?" asked Lady Bell.

"Spider Court," said Jack; "but I wish you'd let me go out and walk. It must be right out of your way."

"Spider Court, Temple," said Lady Bell, and the brougham rolled on.

Through it all Mrs. Fellowes had remained in the deep sleep which the G.o.ds vouchsafe to good women of her age, and the two--Lady Bell and Jack--were, to all intents and purposes, alone.

Lady Bell looked at him as he sat in his corner, the thin, red stream trickling down from his forehead, and shuddered; not at him, but at the blood.

"How did you come to be run over?" she asked. "Did you fall?"

"Must have done," he said, coolly; "anyway I'll swear it wasn't the coachman's fault."

"I am not going to blame the coachman," said Lady Bell, with the shadow of a smile.

"That's right," said Jack. "It was all my fault. I'd been--been to see a favorite aunt."

"You had been to your club," said Lady Bell.

"How did you know that?" he said.

Lady Bell smiled again, and Jack, his eyes fixed upon her, thought the smile wonderfully fascinating.

"A little bird told me," she said.

"The little bird was right," said Jack, shaking his head, with penitence and remorse written on every feature. "I have been dining at my club.

Perhaps the little bird told you everything else?"

"Yes; the little bird also whispered that you had----"

"Drank too much champagne? Confound those fellows! Wonderful little bird!" muttered Jack.

"It is very wicked of you," said Lady Bell, gravely, her eyes fixed on his face, that, notwithstanding its streak of red, looked wonderfully handsome.

While she looked, she almost convinced herself that she had never seen such a handsome face, nor such frank eyes.

"It was very wicked of you," she repeated, in a voice pitched in a low key, no doubt out of consideration for the sleeping watch dog.

"Yes," he said, "I am a bad lot; I am not fit to be here with you. I have been dining at my club; but how you knew it, I can't conceive.

And--and----"

"Don't tell me any more," said Lady Bell. "I am sorry that you should have been run over, and I hope you are not hurt. That--that is blood running down your face. Why do you not wipe it off? I can't bear it."

"I beg your pardon," said Jack, and he fumbled for his pocket-handkerchief, which at that moment was lying under the seat in the billiard-room.

"Here, take this," said Lady Bell, and she put her own delicate lace-edged one in his hand.

Jack mopped his forehead diligently.

"Is it all off?" he asked.

"No, it keeps running," replied Lady Bell, with a little thrill of horror. "I believe you are much hurt."

"I'm not; I give you my word," said Jack. "There--no, I'll keep it until it's washed." And he thrust the delicate cobweb into his pocket.

Lady Bell leaned back, but her eyes wandered now and then to the handsome face, pale through all its tan.

Presently, wonderfully soon, as it seemed to her, the brougham came to a stop, and Jackson, bending down to the window, said:

"Spider Court, my lady."

"Spider Court," said Jack. "Then I'm home. I'm very much obliged to you, and I wish I didn't feel so much ashamed of myself. Hark! who's that?"

for someone had come to the carriage door.

"It is I--Leonard. Is that you, Jack?"

"Yes," said Jack, and he got out and closed the door. "This lady----"

Lady Bell leaned out and looked at Leonard Dagle's anxious face earnestly.

"Your friend has met with an accident," she said, "and I have brought him home."

"Thank you, thank you," sighed Leonard.

"I hope he is not much hurt," said Lady Bell. "His forehead is cut. Will you--will you be so kind as to let me know if it is anything serious?"

"Anything serious! A mere scratch," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jack, carelessly.

But Lady Bell did not look at him.

"Here is my card," she said, taking a card-case from the carriage basket. "Will you please let me know? Good-night."

And she held out her hand.

Leonard did not see it, and merely raised his hat. But Jack, who was nearest, took the hand and held it for a moment.

"Good-night, good-night," he said. "I shall never forgive myself for causing you trouble."