Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 56

He had not been near her for some months, nearly a year, all through Stephen, and she had almost given him up; but Jack's kiss revived all the old tenderness. And what woman could resist his handsome face and frank, manly way?

"Well, ma'am," he said--and "ma'am" sounded in her ears and in Una's almost like "mother"--"and how are you? And aren't you glad to see me?"

"Yes, Jack," said Mrs. Davenant, nervously.

"Then why do you keep me in the draughty hall for half an hour? Do you want me to catch cold?"

"Half an hour?" murmured Mrs. Davenant. "I'm sure you haven't been there three minutes."

"Two minutes and a half too long," he said, smiling. He was giving Una time to recover herself.

"You never come to see me now, Jack," said Mrs. Davenant, looking up at him sadly.

"And now I do, you keep me outside. Besides, you never ask me. Who's that in the back room, ma'am?"

Mrs. Davenant started; she had almost forgotten Una.

"You know her!" she said.

Jack had got his cue.

"Oh, it's Miss Rolfe," he said, and then he crossed the room and held out his hand.

Una rose, and without a word put her hand in his, her eyes downcast, lest the love which beamed in them should escape against her will.

"Yes," said Jack, "I have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Rolfe once or twice lately."

Then he turned away from her and began talking to Mrs. Davenant, as if Una were not in the room.

It was just what Una wanted. She felt that she could not speak, and for the present it was happiness enough to have him in the same room with her, and to hear his voice.

And Mrs. Davenant, now that the first shock was over, was glad enough to sit down and listen to the frank, musical voice--so unlike Stephen's measured, modulated tone.

Presently she said in a low, nervous tone:

"Jack, I am so sorry!"

Jack nodded, and his face dropped.

"About the poor squire? Yes! Never mind. It is all right. No! It's all wrong for me, but all right for Stephen."

"But Stephen doesn't--doesn't want it all," she murmured.

Jack looked another way; he had a different opinion.

"Never mind," he said, "don't let us worry about it--you and I. It's all past and gone, and there's no help for it."

"But you have worried," she said. "You don't look so well as you did, Jack. I hope--I do hope," and her voice faltered.

Jack's face flushed for a moment.

"You are going to scold me, as usual," he said. "Well, go on, it will be your last opportunity, ma'am. I've reformed."

There was something in his tone, something so earnest and grave, that she looked at him anxiously.

"Oh, Jack, I wish--I wish you would be more steady."

"Wait and see," he said, gravely, and in a low voice.

Mrs. Davenant wiped her eyes, and glanced at the clock. It was near the dinner hour.

"Do you want me to go?" said Jack, in his blunt way, and he took up his hat and gloves.

Mrs. Davenant hesitated a moment.

"You wouldn't stop to dinner, if I asked you," she said, with a faint smile.

Una's heart gave a great leap.

"Try me," said Jack. "Yes, I'll stay. Now don't look frightened and disappointed, or I'll go."

Mrs. Davenant rose, with her rare laugh.

"I must go and tell them," she said, "or you'd be starved," and she left the room.

Jack went and stood beside the silent, motionless figure and looked down at her with infinite yearning and infinite sorrow. He had come resolved to tell her the truth and to bid her to forget him.

"Una," he said, in a low voice.

She raised her eyes, and in an instant his grand resolution, built up with such care for the last two days, crumbled into dust. With something like a groan he was on his knee and caught her to his breast.

For a moment she resigned herself to the exquisite joy of his embrace, and with downcast eyes drooped beneath his pa.s.sionate kisses, then with an effort she regained possession of the soul which had slipped from her into his, as it were, and gently disengaged herself.

"No, no, you frighten me!" she murmured, as Jack's arm drew her toward him again.

"My darling! There!" and he kissed her hands. "How can I do it? It is too much to ask of mortal man."

"Do what?" she murmured.

Jack's face paled.

"Nothing--nothing," he said.

"And are you really going to stay?" she murmured, her eyes beaming with pleasure.

"Yes," he said, "I came on purpose. If she had not asked me I meant to ask her."

"And you love her, don't you? Is she not good--and isn't it cruel to deceive her," said Una, and she hung her head.