Part 41 (2/2)

_Chorus_.--Let dogs delight To bark and bite, But we'll be jolly, my lads, to-night.'”

During this last little diversion Brooke never turned his eyes toward Talbot. She was close by his side; but he stood looking out of the window, and in that att.i.tude kept rattling on in his most nonsensical way. It was only in this one fact of his careful manner of eluding the grasp, so to speak, of Talbot's eyes, that an observer might discern anything but the most careless gayety. To Talbot, however, there was something beneath all this, which was very plainly visible; and to her, with her profound insight into Brooke's deeper nature, all this nonsense offered nothing that was repellent; on the contrary, she found it most touching and most sad. It seemed to her like the effort of a strong man to rid himself of an overmastering feeling--a feeling deep within him that struggled forever upward and would not be repressed. It rose up constantly, seeking to break through all bounds; yet still he struggled against it; and still, as he felt himself grow weaker in the conflict, he sought refuge in fresh outbursts of unmeaning words. But amidst it all Talbot saw nothing except the man who had gone forth to die for her, and in all his words heard nothing except the utterance of that which proved the very intensity of his feelings.

”Oh yes,” continued Brooke, ”there are lots of authorities to be quoted in favor of mirthfulness. I've already mentioned Bunyan and Watts. I'll give you all the rest of the old divines.

”'Oh, Baxter is the boy for me, So fall of merriment and glee: And when I want a funny man, I turn to any old Puritan:-- A Puritan, A funny man, I read the works of a Puritan!

Among the Puritan divines Old Cotton Mather brightest s.h.i.+nes, And he could be a funny man, Because he was a Puritan:-- A Puritan, A funny man, Old Mather was a Puritan!

The old Blue-Laws, of all the best, Od Calvin made in solemn jest; For fun he never could tolerate.

Unless established by the State:-- A Puritan, A funny man, John Calvin was a Puritan!”

This eccentric song Brooke droned out in nasal tones and with a lachrymose whine to the strangest tune that ever was heard. At its close he heaved a sigh, and said:

”Well, it's dry work singing hymns all by myself, and you won't even 'jine' in the choruses, and so--I'll stop the machine.”

Saying this, he turned away and went to the opposite side of the small loft, where he sat down with his head against the wall.

”Does any lady or gentleman present object to smoking?” said he, after a brief pause, as he drew forth his pipe and smoking materials.

”Because I propose to take a smoke, and I should like to know, just out of curiosity.”

To this Talbot made no reply, but sat down opposite Brooke, in the same att.i.tude, and watched him as he smoked, which he proceeded to do without any further delay.

”You don't smoke, I believe, sir,” said he, with all gravity.

Talbot said nothing.

”Well,” said Brooke, ”I wouldn't advise you to begin;” and with that he went on puffing away.

Brooke at last finished his smoke, after which he put his pipe in his pocket, and then, throwing his head back, sat with his eyes obstinately fixed on the ceiling.

Talbot remained in the same att.i.tude, without moving. She had kept her eyes all this time fixed on Brooke, and knew that he was avoiding her glance. All the same, however, she continued watching him, and was waiting patiently till she should catch his eye. But Brooke, as though aware of her purpose, avoided her, and still locked away.

Thus these two sat in utter silence for a long time.

It was Talbot who first broke the silence.

”Brooke,” said she, in a soft, low voice, which sounded like a sigh.

”Well, Talbot,” said Brooke, in a voice which was strangely altered from the somewhat hard tones of forced gayety in which he had last been speaking.

”Brooke,” said Talbot, ”I am miserable.”

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