Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 46

"Oh, no, no!" breathed Una, with a sudden pallor. "Perhaps I shall never go again."

Mrs. Davenant looked at her curiously, and relapsed into silence until they reached home.

Then, as they entered the drawing-room, she said, with a little nervous smile:

"I have heard from my son Stephen, Una."

"From your son?"

"Yes," said Mrs. Davenant. "It is good news. He has become very rich.

His uncle, Squire Davenant, has left him everything he possessed."

Una started and turned pale. Then Jack had been left nothing! That was why he had looked so grave and troubled.

"Everything?" she asked.

"Everything," said Mrs. Davenant, with a sigh: "the Hurst and the estate, and all the money, and he is very rich--very rich indeed."

Una looked before her dreamily. She could not say, "I am very glad."

Mrs. Davenant waited a moment.

"There is a message for you, my dear," she said timidly, fingering the letter.

"For me!" said Una, looking up with a start.

"Yes; Stephen is so thoughtful! He never forgets others even in the midst of his great prosperity. He sends his kind regards, and trusts that you do not miss Warden, and that you will not find our quiet life too dull. He little thinks how we have plunged into gayety already. He would be surprised if he knew it."

Indeed Stephen would, with a vengeance!

"It is very kind of him," said Una, in a low voice.

Mrs. Davenant sighed.

"He is always kind and thoughtful. He tells me that he will not be able to come home just yet awhile. It seems that there is a great deal to see to. The estate was greatly neglected, and there's some business to be done with the lawyers; that keeps him there. But he says he will come as soon as he can, and, meanwhile, I am to make you as happy as I can. I hope I have done that already, dear," she added, with simple affection.

Una rose and kissed her.

"Indeed, yes; I am very happy."

Then she turned her face away to hide her tears.

"Come, you must go to bed," said Mrs. Davenant, "or you will lose all your fresh roses."

And she put her candle in her hand, and kissed her tenderly.

It was some time before Una fell asleep. The events of the night flitted like phantom visions across her eyes, and Jack's face rose to haunt her, with its tender, troubled look in the dark eyes.

The squire had willed all to Stephen then, and Jack was poor and forgotten.

The sun was high in the heavens when she awoke, and breakfast was on the table by the time she had got down.

Mrs. Davenant looked up with a smile.

"I am so glad to have you safe, dear," she said. "Come, you have got all your roses back again; and, see here, you cannot guess whom this is from;" and she held up a note. "It is from Lady Bell. It is an awful scolding for your running away last night. She says that you flew away like a bird, and that she had no sooner missed you than she heard that you had gone."

Una colored.

"Was it rude of me?" she said. "I am sorry."

"Never mind, my dear; she has evidently forgiven you, or she says she will, if you will go with her for a water picnic to-day."

Una turned pale again.

"I!" she said, below her breath.

Mrs. Davenant opened the note.

"Yes; she says she will take no denial. They are going to drive down to Richmond, and she will call for you on the way. Would you like to go, my dear?"

Una thought a moment. She longed for, yet dreaded, the meeting which she knew must take place between Jack and her if she went.

Mrs. Davenant took her silence for consent.

"There is no need of an answer, my dear," she said, with a little laugh; "Lady Bell will take no heed of a refusal. There's the note."

And she threw it across the table.

Una read the kindly-imperative little letter, and sighed as she examined the brilliant crest stamped at the head of the paper.

"It is very kind," she said. "Yes, I will go, if you are sure you do not mind my leaving you."

After breakfast, Mrs. Davenant and Jane entered into a consultation as to what Una should wear, Una standing by with a quiet smile.

At last they decided that a dainty-figured satin should be honored; and both of them, notwithstanding Una's protests, insisted upon a.s.sisting at her toilet.

They could not have chosen anything more suited to her fresh, virginal beauty than the simple, delicate dress; and when Jane had brushed the soft, silken hair until it shone and flashed like strands of golden haze, and coiled it into a knot, Mrs. Davenant could not suppress an exclamation of satisfaction and admiration.

As for Una, she had not yet learned to view her changed self without surprise, and stared at the tall, beautiful woman which the gla.s.s reflected as though she could not believe that it was herself.

They were still looking at her, and Jane's restless fingers were touching a bow here and a fold there, when they heard the rattle of heavy wheels outside, and Mrs. Davenant hurried her downstairs.

Lady Bell was already in the drawing-room, and took Una in her arms as if she were a school-girl, instead of a woman taller than herself.

"My child, I came to scold you--I meant to have a fearful scene; but you have taken it all out of me!" And she held Una by her elbows, and looked at her admiringly. "Child, you are a picture! I've half a mind to drive off without you. What will become of me? Mrs. Davenant, don't you think I am very stupid to commit suicide in this way?"

Mrs. Davenant smiled, and looked at Lady Bell's beautiful face, all bright as if with sunlight, and shook her head gently.

"Bah!" said Lady Bell, pouting. "I am nothing but a foil to her; but I shall be useful, at least. Come, we must be off. What is that--milk?"