Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 48

"Generally have to produce it, too."

Then there was much dragging about of hampers, and arranging of shawls and boat cushions to provide seats for the ladies; but at last all were seated, and Dalrymple, brandishing a knife in dangerous proximity to Lady Pierrepoint's head, cut the first slice of raised pie.

Then it was discovered how easy it is to make jokes at a picnic. You can't be stately and ceremonious sitting cross-legged on the gra.s.s, and balancing your plate on your knees; especially when, in consequence of there not being quite enough knives, you have to lend the one you are using to your next-door neighbor.

As usual, too, there were not quite enough plates and those dainty gentlemen, who went into fits if a fly fell into their winegla.s.ses at the club, bent down on their hands and knees and washed plates in the river.

"And there is no rain," said Lady Bell.

"Then one of us will have to fall into the river," said the viscount, solemnly. "Must have rain or an accident at a picnic, you know. Will you have some more cream, Lady Earlsley?"

Lady Bell shook her head, laughingly.

"No, thanks; I have enjoyed it all immensely. Why cannot we have a picnic every day?"

But Una, who sat next her, had noticed that she scarcely touched anything.

"Let us go into Bushey Park, and turn savages," said Dalrymple. "Halloa; speaking of savages, what a pity the Savage isn't here. This is just in his line."

Lady Bell bent down suddenly to take a flower from the cloth.

"Mr. Newcombe was detained in town," she said, calmly; but Una could detect the faint quiver in her voice.

"Poor old Jack," said Dalrymple, after a pause, "seems to be cut up about something lately. Do you remember how queer he was that night he came back from the country, Arkroyd?"

Lady Bell looked up suddenly.

"Let us go for a ramble. You may smoke, gentlemen," she added. "Now don't shake your heads as if you never did such a thing. I can see your cigar-case peeping out of your pocket, Lord Dalrymple."

And linking her arm in Una's, she sauntered away.

They strolled in silence for some minutes, until Una, happening to look up, saw that Lady Bell's face was quite pale, and that something suspiciously like tears were veiling the brightness of the dark eyes.

"Lady Bell!" she murmured.

"Hush!" said Lady Bell, gently. "Don't notice me, child! Oh, how sick I am of it all! What a long day it seems! How can they sit there laughing and chattering like a set of monkeys?"

"What is the matter?" said Una, in her low, musical voice.

"Nothing," said Lady Bell, softly; then she paused and tried to laugh.

"Una, my sweet, innocent, I've got a complaint which you know nothing of; it is called the heartache. There is no cure for it, I am afraid; at least, not for mine. Tut! there, there! your great, grave eyes torture me; they seem to go to the bottom of my soul. Not a word more. Here they come!"

And the next instant she turned round, all life and gayety.

Una sauntered on, her heart beating wildly. Was Lady Bell's heartache produced by the absence of Jack Newcombe? Yes, that must be it!

With a sigh she drew away still further from the rest, and seating herself on the trunk of a tree by the riverside, watched the silver stream as it flowed past and was lost in the setting sun.

Suddenly she saw in the distance a white speck that looked like a bird, flitting up the middle of the stream. The speck grew larger; and she saw that it was a light boat putting toward the island.

Gradually it came nearer and nearer, and she saw that it contained one man only, and that he was clad in white flannel.

It was a light water-boat--a mere speck of white it looked now on the golden stream--and to Una, who had never seen an outrigger before, it seemed an almost impossible feat to sit in it.

But the sculler managed it with the greatest ease, and with every stroke sent it flying forward.

With regular rhythmical action he pulled on, and very soon she could see his great arms bared to the shoulders.

She watched it absently for some minutes, but presently the rower turned his head, and something in the movement struck her and made her heart bound.

Agitated and trembling she rose and stood staring down the stream.

A curve of the island hid the boat suddenly, and she stood watching for it to appear again; but the minutes pa.s.sed on and it did not come. Then suddenly she heard a peal of laughter and the clatter of voices, and she knew that the boat had pulled into the island.

With a vague hope and dread commingled she sank to the seat again, and sat striving to still the wild beating of her heart.

Presently she heard her name called. It was Lady Bell's voice, and how changed; there was no false ring in it now; clear and joyous it rang out:

"Una! Una! Where are you?"

There was no escape. She knew she must go, but she waited for full three minutes. Then, nerved to an unnatural calm, she rose and moved slowly forward. They were all seated again; she could see them.

Dalrymple and Sir Arkroyd were stretched at full length, smoking; the ladies, in their dainty sateens and pompadours, were grouped near them, and a little apart sat Lady Bell, a cup in one hand and a knife in the other, her face turned toward someone eating. Though his back was toward her, Una recognized him. It was Jack Newcombe. He had turned down his sleeves and put on his white flannel jacket, and was eating and chatting at one and the same time.

"Yes, better late than never," she heard him say, and with every word of his deep, musical voice her heart leaped as if in glad response. "I found I could get away, and I jumped in the train, to learn at Richmond that you had just started. I got an outrigger, and here I am."

"Just in time to help wash up," said Dalrymple. "We've eaten all the strawberries, old man, and there isn't much cream. It's lucky for you there is any pie."

"Don't pay any attention to them, Mr. Newcombe," said Lady Bell, and how soft and sweet her voice sounded, with its undertone of tenderness. "I am so sorry you are late. Do not let them hurry you. You must be so tired. Let me give you some ham--some tongue, then?"

And she herself cut a slice and put it on his plate.

"Don't let me stop the fun," said Jack, in his grave way. "Go on with your games. What was it--kiss-in-the-ring?"

There was a laugh; the lightest joke will serve at a picnic.

"I was haunted by the dread that I should come just in time to find everything cleared up. What a beautiful day! No, no more, thanks."

"Let me give you some champagne," said Lady Bell, and reached forward with the goblet in her hand.

Jack took it, and nodded over it in true picnic fashion.

"Thanks," he said, and raised it to his lips.

At that moment Lady Bell looked up, and, seeing Una standing still and motionless, beckoned her.

Mechanically Una went round to her, and so stood in front of Jack.

His eyes were fixed at the bottom of the cup at the moment, but presently he lifted them, and, with a sharp cry, he let the cup fall to the ground and sprang to his feet.