Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir Part 64

Not that these young lovers spent all their time in silently watching each other. Every day Jack arrived with some plan for their amus.e.m.e.nt and enjoyment. Sometimes it would be:

"Well, what are you going to do today? What do you say to taking the coach to Guildford, getting a snack there, and back in the evening?"

Una's face would light up, and Mrs. Davenant would smile agreeably, and in half-an-hour they would be ready, and Jack, as proud of Una's beauty as if it were unique, would escort them to the "White Horse" in Piccadilly, and away they would spin through the lovely Surrey valleys to that quaintest of old towns in the hills. Sometimes Jack himself would take the ribbons, and, with Una by his side, "tool the truck," as he called the handsome coach, back to town.

Then, again, he never came without a box for one of the theaters or a stall for a concert; and though not over fond of cla.s.sical music himself, was quite content to sit and watch the look of rapt delight in Una's face as she listened absorbed in Joachim's wonderful violin.

But most of all, I think, they enjoyed their days on the river, when Jack, attired in his white flannels, would pull the two ladies up to Walton or Chertsey, and give them tea in one of the quiet, river-side inns.

Ah! those evenings, those moonlight nights, when the boat drifted down stream, and the two young people sat, hand in hand, whispering those endless exchanges of confidence which go to make up lovers'

conversations.

It was wonderful that Mrs. Davenant did not catch cold, but Jack took great care of her, and wrapped her up in his thick ulster; and she never seemed to grow tired of witnessing their happiness.

Sometimes Jack would ask Stephen to join them, but Stephen would always find an excuse. Now it was because he had an engagement with the lawyers; at another time he had promised to speak at some philanthropic meeting, or had promised to dine at the club. He would, however, occasionally dine at the Square, or drop in and take a cup of tea; and wore always the same friendly smile and genial manner.

Jack had become quite convinced that he had done Stephen a great deal of injustice, and now thought that Stephen was everything that was kind and thoughtful.

It was only at chance times, when Jack happened to catch the pale face off its guard, that the old doubts rose to perplex and trouble him; but then he always set them to rest by asking himself what Stephen could possibly have to gain by acting as he did.

Of course, all these outings by land and water cost a great deal of money, but Jack had found Moss, the money-lender, most suddenly and strangely complaisant.

Instead of dunning him for what was owing, Moss actually pressed him to borrow more, and Jack, always too careless in money matters, was quite ready to oblige him.

"I can pay him out of my salary, when I get the appointment," he said to Leonard, in response to the latter's remonstrances and warnings.

"Yes, when you get it," said Leonard.

"What do you mean?" said Jack. "Do you mean to hint that Stephen isn't to be relied upon?"

"I haven't the honor of knowing much of Mr. Davenant," said Leonard, "and so can't say whether he is more reliable than most public men who promise places and appointments; but I do know that men have grown gray-headed while waiting for one of those said places."

"You don't know Stephen," said Jack, confidently. "He can manage anything he likes to set his mind on. He is not one of my sort. He can't let the gra.s.s grow under his feet. There, stop croaking, and come and dine at the Square."

And Leonard would go, for he and Una had, as Jack said, "cottoned to one another."

Una felt all sorts of likings and grat.i.tude for the man who had always been Jack's friend, and none of the jealousy which some girls feel for their lover's bachelor acquaintances.

"I am sure he is good and true, Jack," she said.

"Good! There isn't a better man in England," Jack affirmed. "And he's as true as steel. Poor old Len!"

"Why do you pity him?" said Una, who had not altogether lost her way of asking direct questions.

"Well, you see, there's a lot of romance about Len," said Jack; and he told her about Leonard's meeting with Laura Treherne.

"And he has never found her?" said Una.

"Not from that day to this," answered Jack.

"And yet he still remembers and loves her," murmured Una. "Yes, I like your friend, Jack, and I do hope he will meet with this young lady and be happy. I should like all the world to be as happy as I am!"

"Ah, but don't you see all the world aren't angels like you, you know,"

retorted Master Jack, kissing her.

Though, in accordance with Stephen's advice, the engagement had not been made public, the outside world was beginning to get an inkling of what was going on in Walmington Square.

Jack's friends at the club chaffed him on the unfrequency of his visits.

"There's some mischief the Savage is planning," said Dalrymple. "You scarcely ever see him here now; he doesn't play, and shuns the bottle as if it were poison, and he's altogether changed. I shouldn't be surprised if he were to take to public meetings like that distant cousin of his, Stephen Davenant."

"It is my opinion," said Sir Arkroyd Hetley, "that he spends all his time at Walmington Square, for my man sees him going and coming at all hours. The Savage is in love."

And gradually those rumors spreading, like the ripple of a stone in a pool, reached Park Lane, and got to Lady Bell's ears.

She had gone out of town for a week or two, and had, of course, seen nothing of Jack or Una, but on her return she drove to the Square.

Una and Mrs. Davenant were sitting by the tea table, and wondering whether Jack would come in.

Lady Bell's entrance made quite a little flutter.

"How do you do, Mrs. Davenant, and how do you do, Wild Bird?" and she kissed Una, and holding her at arm's length, scanned her smilingly.

"What have you been doing to look so fresh and happy?" Here Una's face over-spread with blushes. "What a child it is! But see, here I am just from the seaside, and as pale, or rather as yellow as a guinea, while you are like a dairy-maid. My dear girl, you positively beam with happiness."

Mrs. Davenant and Una exchanged glances--glances that were not lost upon Lady Bell's acuteness.

"Is there a secret?" she said, quickly. "Have you come into a fortune?

But, no, that can't be it, for I know that I've never been thoroughly happy since I came into mine."

"You always look happy, Lady Bell," said Mrs. Davenant.

"My dear, don't judge by appearances," said Lady Bell, in her quick way.

"I am not always happy; most of my time I am bored to death; I am always worried and hurried. Oh, by-the-way, speaking of worries, can you recommend me a maid? My own, a girl who came from the colonies with me, and swore, after a fas.h.i.+on, never to leave me, has gone and got married.

I should be angry if I didn't pity her."

"Don't you believe in the happiness of the married state, then?" asked Mrs. Davenant, while Una looked on smilingly.

"No," said Lady Bell, shortly. "Men are tyrants and deceivers; there is no believing a word they say. A woman who marries is a slave, and----"

She broke off sharply, for the door opened and Jack entered. A warm flush rose to Lady Bell's face, and she was too much occupied in concealing it to observe the similar flush which flooded Una's cheeks.

Jack was striding in with Una's name on his lips, but he stopped short at sight of Lady Bell, and the flush seemed an epidemic, for it glowed under his tan.

"I thought you were at Brighton, Lady Bell," he said, as he shook hands.

"So I was--three hours ago. I came away suddenly; got tired and bored of it before I had been there three days. If there is one place more unendurable than another it is the fas.h.i.+onable watering-place. I bore it until this morning, and then poor Mrs. Fellowes and I made a bolt of it, or rather I bolted and dragged her with me. I left Lord Dalrymple and Sir Arkroyd in happy unconsciousness of our desertion."

"Then, at this moment, they are wandering about the Parade in despair,"

said Jack, laughing. And, as he laughed, he looked from one girl to the other, making a mental comparison. Yes, Lady Bell was beautiful, with a beauty undeniable and palpable, but how it paled and grew commonplace beside Una's fresh, spiritual loveliness.