Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 50

"I have been searching for you everywhere, Una. Did you think I should not come back? I went to Warden----"

"Yes," she said eagerly.

"And I found the cottage shut up and your people gone."

"Gone?"

"Yes, gone, and I did not know what to do. So I came to town, and--and I looked for you everywhere. Ah! you thought that I had forgotten you, as you had forgotten me."

Her lovely face flushed, and she turned her dove-like eyes upon him, with a reproachful look in their depths.

"Forgotten him!"

"I cannot understand it," he went on, drawing still nearer to her, his eyes eagerly scanning her face.

She smiled faintly. A great joy welled up in her heart, every nerve was tingling with happiness, she scarcely heard him. The words, "I have been searching for you," rang in her ears.

"I scarcely understand it myself," she said; "it seems like a dream."

Jack glanced toward the bank. They had finished the packing, and would interrupt them in another minute.

"Where are you staying? You are on a visit?"

"I am staying with Mrs. Davenant," said Una, in the same low voice.

Jack started, and the unlit pipe nearly fell from his hand.

"With Mrs. Davenant?" he exclaimed. "With Stephen's mother?"

Una nodded.

"Yes; he has been very kind and good to me."

Jack stared breathless.

"Stephen good to you!" he said, fiercely. "What do you mean? Am I dreaming?"

"It was he who came to Warden with Mrs. Davenant," said Una, vaguely, troubled by the stern look of suspicion which had settled like a cloud on Jack's face.

"I don't understand," he said grimly. "Stephen--Stephen! How did he know of your existence?"

"Some friend," said Una; "I do not quite know. At any rate, it was through him. And I like Mrs. Davenant."

Jack nodded.

"Yes, she is a good woman. But Stephen----"

And he pa.s.sed his hand over his brow.

Una looked at him timidly.

"Are you angry?" she asked.

"Angry! with you!" he exclaimed, bending nearer, with a look of tender devotion. "How could you think it? No, I am not angry--only puzzled. I cannot make it out. Never mind! don't look so troubled, my dear--Miss Rolfe, I mean. At any rate, I have found you. Oh, Una!--Miss Rolfe, I mean--if you knew how I have searched for you, and"--with a groan--"what a fool I have been!"

"I thought you had forgotten me," said Una, with that sweet humility of love.

Jack's eyes gleamed.

"I have not forgotten you for one moment--not for one moment! Una, I----Oh, confound it! here they are."

He broke off impatiently, as Lady Bell and the rest came back.

"What are we going to do now?" she said, with her bright smile. "Some of them have gone to the palace. Shall we wait for them, or go and meet them! What do you say, Mr. Newcombe?"

But Jack would not stir.

"They'll come back," he said, absently, his eyes drawn toward the downcast face.

How lovely it was! If they would only all go away, and leave them alone!

He had so much to say--so much to ask.

But Lady Bell showed no sign of going; instead, she threw herself down on the gra.s.s beside them, and commenced to talk.

Had he enjoyed the pull up? Why had he not driven down with them? She didn't believe in particular business; and so on.

Jack pulled at his pipe, and returned absent, scarcely civil answers. At last Lady Bell noticed his abstraction, and turned her head away in silence.

Meanwhile Una sat speechless, her face turned toward the river, her whole soul absorbed by his presence. It frightened her, this feeling of absorption. She found herself waiting and listening for every word that dropped from his lips as if her life depended on it. She trembled lest he should touch her.

His manner filled her with an ecstasy of pleasure that was almost pain.

How handsome he looked, stretched out at full length, his tanned face turned to the sky, his tawny mustache sweeping his clear cut lips; she felt, rather than knew, that his eyes sought her face, and she dared not turn her eyes toward him, though she longed to do so.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Presently, to the relief of Una, at least, the other boats came back; the third boat was got ready, the hampers put on board, and the ladies seated.

Jack stood near the stern, and took Una's hand in his to help her to embark.

"Take care," he said, aloud, then in an undertone, he added: "I shall see you at Richmond."

"Are you going to row the outrigger down, Savage?" said Dalrymple, eying the first boat enviously.

Jack turned to him eagerly.