Part 51 (1/2)

”No, I'll take your place in this boat; I can see you are longing for mine. Here, get in”; and before Dalrymple could refuse, Jack had almost lifted him into the outrigger, and leaped into his place in Lady Bell's boat.

All the darkness vanished from his brow. He was sitting opposite Una; so near, that when he leaned forward to make the stroke, his hand almost touched her dress.

”Are you coming with us?” said Lady Bell; ”I am so glad.”

”So am I,” said Jack; but his eyes went to Una's face.

”Now, then,” said Jack, as he bent forward.

”Steady, old man,” said Sir Arkroyd; ”we haven't all got blacksmith's muscles!”

But Jack was wild, delirious with joy, and he pulled, heart and soul, his great, strong arms bare to the elbows.

”What a lovely night!” said Lady Bell. ”Won't anybody sing?”

Of course no one replied.

”Sing something, my dear child,” she said to Una. ”You have a singing face. You have no idea how beautiful it sounds on the water.”

”Oh, no, no,” said Una, shrinking modestly.

Jack looked up.

”Sing,” he murmured, pleadingly. As if he had uttered a command, she looked at him with meek obedience, and began the song he had heard her singing in the forest.

Is there anything more exquisite on earth than the voice of a young girl? Una knew nothing of the science of song; she had had no master, no instruction of any sort; but her voice was clear and musical as a young thrush's and she sang straight from her heart.

No need to tell Jack to pull slower! He ceased rowing, and rested on his oar, his eyes fixed on her face, his lips half apart.

The other boats stopped also as the music of the sweet, young voice floated down the stream, and one and all felt the spell.

Lady Bell sat with lowered lids and pale face, and when the last note died away and she looked up, her eyes were moist.

”My dear,” she said, in a low voice, ”where did you learn to sing like that?”

Una, half frightened at the effect she had produced, flushed and sank back into her seat.

”I have never learned,” she said, quietly.

There was a murmur, and Lady Clarence turned and looked at her curiously.

”You have a beautiful voice,” she said, ”and exquisite taste, or you could not sing as you do. It is a pity you have not been thoroughly trained. You should have a master.”

”She shall!” said Lady Bell, impulsively. ”She shall have the best. It would be criminal to let such a gift be wasted!”

Jack looked up with a flush of pleased grat.i.tude, and Lady Bell happened to catch that glance.

With a slight start she turned pale, and looked from his face all aglow with the fervor of loving admiration to Una's downcast one, and then, with something like a shudder, she, too, sank back into the seat.

”Isn't--isn't it cold?” she said, in a strangely changed voice.