Our Admirable Betty Part 54

"'Tis a Daniel come to judgment! O excellent young man!'" she mocked.

Whereat the Viscount became a little grimmer as he continued:

"Yet, because my regard for you is true and sincere, I do most humbly implore you to forego this madcap whim----"

"Whim, Viscount Merivale, my lord?"

"Aye--whim, fancy, mischief--call it what you will! 'Tis impossible you can love the fellow and not to be thought on."

"Dear Pan," she sighed, "I vow there are times I could kiss you as I used, when we were children."

"Trust me instead, dear Bet! Confess, the fellow hath a hold over you?

Have you met him often at night?"

"Twice!"

"Shall you meet him again?"

"Thrice!"

"Alone? And--at midnight? Alone, Betty?"

"Quite alone."

"G.o.d!" he exclaimed, "what will the world think?"

"The world will be asleep."

"But how if you should be seen as I saw you--in the lane?"

"'Tis small chance," she answered, brushing her roses across red lips a-pout in thought. "'Tis why I choose a spot so remote and so late an hour."

"But alone--at midnight--with Dalroyd! By heaven, Betty, you run greater and more ugly risks than you know."

"I think not, Pan."

"But I tell you, and G.o.d forgive me if I misjudge the fellow--from what I know--from what I hear he's a very satyr--a----"

"Indeed I think he is!" she sighed. "So do I go prepared."

"How--how?" he demanded. "I say no maid should run such risk, willingly or no----"

"Pancras!" She turned and faced him suddenly. "You never doubt me--you?"

"Never Bet, never, I swear. But 'tis only that I've known you all your days and because I know you commit this folly and risk these dangers for Charles's sake. But Betty, in G.o.d's name what will the end be?"

"An end shall justify the means!"

"The means--the means! Aye, but there are some means so shameful that no end may ever justify--you never think to sacrifice yourself to----"

My lady laughed; then seeing the anxiety of his face, the tremor of his clenched fist, she took that fist in her soft, cool fingers and drawing him within the arbour made him sit beside her.

"Pan dear," she said gently, "O rest secure in this:--'tis true I love my brother but no tender martyr am I so brave or so unselfish, even for his dear sake, to yield myself up to--the beasts. This body of mine I hold much too precious to glut their brutish appet.i.te."

"Why then, Bet, promise me this folly shall cease, you'll see Dalroyd no more, at least at such an hour--promise me."

"No, Pancras."

"Ha! And wherefore not?"

"Because 'tis so my whim."

"Why then you leave me but one alternative, Betty."

"Prithee--what?"

"I'll stop it in despite of you."

"Cry you mercy, sir--how?"

"Very simply."

"Ah, Pancras, you mean a--duel? No no, not that--you shall not--I forbid such folly!" The Viscount smiled. "He'd kill you, Pan, I know it--feel it!" The Viscount's smile grew a little rueful.

"None the less, 'twould resolve the problem--at least for me," he answered.

"But, Pancras, see how clumsily! O Lud, these meddling men!" she sighed.

"Heavens, these wilful women!" he retorted.

"Still, Sir Wiseacre, being a woman I'll meet and outwit the beast with a woman's weapons. So now prithee let there be no thought of such clumsy weapons as this!" and tapping the ornate hilt of the Viscount's sword, she rose. "Come," said she, reaching him her hand, "take me within-doors and I will stay thee with flagons."

Now as they crossed the broad lawn together the balmy air was suddenly pierced by a shrill and flute-like whistle.

"Aha!" exclaimed the Viscount, stopping suddenly to glance about.

As he stood thus he was amazed by an object which, hurtling from on high, thudded upon the gra.s.s, and stepping forward he picked up a much worn and battered shoe. From this sorry object his gaze, travelling aloft, presently discovered a figure which had wriggled itself half out of a small dormer window beneath the eaves and, despite this perilous position, was beckoning to him vigorously.

"Oho!" exclaimed the Viscount, turning to my lady Betty. "So you have him here, 'tis as I thought!" But when he would have waved and saluted his lordship of Medhurst in return, Betty stayed him with a gesture.

"The servants, Pan--" she warned him.

"You'll take me up, Bet, you'll let me see the old lad?" the Viscount pleaded. "I've been scheming out ways and means of getting him first to my place in Suss.e.x and then over seas----"

"Phoh!" exclaimed my lady. "And yourself and him dungeoned in the Tower within the week. How should you know he was hereabouts--'twas that Major d'Arcy, I'll vow!"

"True, he mentioned the matter and moreover----"

"Ha!" cried my lady stamping her foot, "so he must be talking already!"