Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 57

"She's the dearest old lady in the world," said Jack, enthusiastically, who would have loved a gorilla, much less Mrs. Davenant, if it had been kind to Una. "Why, she was a second mother to me until Stephen grew up--and she has been kind to you. I can see that for myself. But you must tell me all about it--all about everything tonight. Think, my darling! we shall be together here all the evening! No noisy crowd to prevent us talking--no interference. I shall want to know everything.

Hus.h.!.+ here she comes," and with another swift kiss he rose and went into the next room. Una stole out and upstairs to dress.

Quite unsuspicious, Mrs. Davenant came back smiling. She had ordered one or two of Jack's favorite dishes, and had come to ask him about the claret.

"There is some of the Chateau la Rose, Jack. Would you like to have it warmed a little?" she asked, anxiously.

"Let them put a bottle in the kitchen somewhere," said Jack. "It will get right there by dinner time. Eight o'clock you dine, I know. I'll just run home and dress, and be back punctually to the minute."

"It will be the first time in your life then," said Mrs. Davenant.

For the first time in his life then Jack was punctual. At five minutes to eight a hansom dashed up to the door, and Jack, in evening dress, with his light overcoat, strode up the steps and into the drawing-room.

It was empty, but a minute afterward he heard the rustle of a woman's dress, and turned as Una entered the room. She wore the dress she had worn at Lady Bell's, and Jack, who had not yet seen her in her "war paint"--as he would have described it--was startled; and Una, as she saw the look of surprise and rapt admiration, felt, like a true woman, a glow of satisfaction and pleasure. It was not that she was beautiful, but that he should think her so.

"My darling," he murmured, holding her at arm's length; "what magic charm do you possess that enables you to grow more beautiful every time I see you? Or is it all a mistake, and are you another Una than the Una of Warden Forest?"

Una put her hands on his shoulders trustfully, and turned her face up to him.

"Tell me," she murmured, "which Una do you like best?"

Jack thought a moment.

"I love them both so well," he said, "that I can't decide." And he kissed her twice. "One is for the Una of the Forest, and one for the Una of the world," he said.

She had only time to slip from his arms when Mrs. Davenant entered.

"What do you say to punctuality, ma'am?" he exclaimed, triumphantly, as he gave her his arm and lead her into the dining-room.

Jack was a favorite, for all his wickedness, wherever he went. It was no sooner known that he was to dine in the house, that the cook awoke to instant energy and enthusiasm.

"Master Jack's a gentleman worth cooking a dinner for," she declared.

"It's a waste of time to worry yourself for women folk; they don't know a good dinner from a bad one; but Master Jack--oh, that's a different thing! He knows what clear soup ought to be; and he shall have it right, too."

Mrs. Davenant herself was surprised at the elaborate little dinner.

"I wish you'd dine with us every day, my dear Jack," she said.

Jack glanced demurely at Una, in time to catch the sparkle in her dark eyes.

"I'm afraid you'd soon get tired of me," he said. "But, seriously, I should improve the cooking; not this day's, I mean, but the usual ones.

You've got a treasure of a cook, ma'am."

And, of course, this was carried down by Mary to the empress of the kitchen, and her majesty was rewarded for all her trouble.

"What did I tell you?" she demanded. "Master Jack knows."

Jack's appet.i.te was always good, in love or out of it, and this evening would have been the happiest in his life but for certain twinges of conscience.

What should he say to Leonard, the faithful friend, when he got home and was asked how he had parted from Una? However, he stifled conscience--it is always easy to do that at dinner time.

"Will you have some more claret?" asked Mrs. Davenant, as she and Una prepared to leave him. "You can smoke a cigarette, if you like; but open the window afterward."

"I won't have any more claret, and I won't smoke," said Jack. "I'll just finish this gla.s.s and come with you for a cup of tea."

Five minutes of solitude spent in going over every look and word of the lovely creature he had won, were enough for Jack.

He found them seated at the window; Una in a low chair, almost at Mrs.

Davenant's feet. They both looked up, as if glad to see him; and Mrs.

Davenant at once rang for tea and coffee.

Una rose, and officiated with calm self-possession and accustomed ease--no one would have guessed that her acquaintance with a London drawing-room, and its accompanying forms and ceremonies, was only that of a few weeks--and brought Jack his cup.

In taking it, he tried to touch her hand, and nearly upset the cup.

"Take care, my dear Jack," said Mrs. Davenant. "Has he spoiled your dress, my dear?"

"No," said Una, her face red as a rose. "It was my fault."

"Yes; it was her fault," said Jack, significantly.

"You always were clumsy, my dear Jack," said Mrs. Davenant. "You are too big."

"I'll get myself cut down a foot or two," said Jack.

Happy! They were as happy as any two women in London, notwithstanding Jack's wickedness.

Jack glanced at the piano.

"I wish you could play," he said to Una.

Mrs. Davenant looked at him.

"How do you know she cannot?" she said.

Jack looked embarra.s.sed.

"I rather fancy I heard U--Miss Rolfe--admit as much. But she can sing, I know."

"And you can play for her," said Mrs. Davenant. "You used to play very nicely when you were a boy," and she sighed.

Jack looked dubious for a moment, then, with sudden a.s.surance and confidence, jumped up.

"Let me try. Will you come, Miss Rolfe?"

Una followed him to the piano, and Jack turned out all the music from the canterbury on the floor.

"Come and see if there is anything you know," he said, and Una knelt down beside him.