Part 110 (2/2)
”Of course I heard it, but it was of what I saw I was thinking, not of what I heard.”
”Which, after all, was not quite polite, Harry.”
”Politeness was not much in my thoughts either,” said he. ”I couldn't believe any one could be so beautiful.”
”What a nice rough compliment, what a dear piece of savage flattery!
What would you say, Sir, if you had seen me, in my days of finery, decked out in lace and jewels, Harry? And, dear me, don't they make a wondrous difference! I used to come down to dinner at Dalradern at times powdered, or with my hair in short curls, a la Sevigne, and my costume all to suit; and you should have seen the wors.h.i.+pful homage of old Sir Within, as he presented me with my bouquet, and kissed the extreme tips of my fingers. Oh dear, what a delightful dream it was, all of it!”
”What a coquette you must be! What a coquette you are!” muttered he, savagely.
”Of course I am, Harry. Do you think I would deny it? Coquetry is the desire to please, as a means of self-gratification. I accept the imputation.”
”It means intense vanity, though,” said he, roughly.
”And why not vanity, any less than courage or compa.s.sion, or a dozen other things one prides himself on having?”
”I think you are saying these things to vex me, Kate. I'll swear you don't feel them.”
”No matter what I feel, Sir. I am certainly vain enough to believe I can keep _that_ for myself. Tell me of this man. Have you seen him?”
”No, he has not come; he _will_ not come.”
”Not come! And why?”
”Here's a letter from Cane will explain it all; a letter which I suppose you would not have let me read had you seen it first. You said you had no secrets, but it turns out that you had.”
”What do you mean?” said she, s.n.a.t.c.hing the letter eagerly from him.
”I read every word of it three times. I know it almost by heart,” said he, as he watched her running her eyes over the letter.
”When I said I had no secrets,” said she, gravely, ”I meant with regard to my past life. Of _that_ a.s.suredly I have told you all, freely and candidly. The future is my own, at least so far as what I intend by it.”
”And you persist in this scheme?”
”Don't look so sternly--don't speak so harshly, Harry. Let me enjoy the good news of Cane's letter, in so far as this priest is concerned. It is a great weight off my heart to know that my name is not to be bandied about by gossips and newsmongers--that name your poor father treasured with such care, and for whose safeguard he would have made any sacrifice.”
”Tell me you will give up this scheme, Kate; tell me you will make Arran your home,” cried he, earnestly. ”I mustn't tell you an untruth, Harry.
Arran is yours.”
”And if it be mine,” said he, seizing her hand, ”share it with me, Kate.
Yes, dearest, be mine also. Oh, do not turn away from me. I know too well how little I resemble those gifted and graceful people your life has been pa.s.sed with. I am a rough sailor, but remember, Kate, the heart of a gentleman beats under this coa.r.s.e jacket. I am a Luttrell still.”
”And the Luttrell's have pa.s.sed their ordeal, Harry. Three generations of them married peasants to teach their proud hearts humility. Go practise the lesson your fathers have bought so dearly; it will be better than to repeat it. As for me, my mind is made up. Hear me out, Harry. I promised my poor old grandfather to aid him on his trial. Illness overtook me, and I was in a raging fever on the day he was sentenced. It was not for months after that I was able to go to him, and the poor old man, who had believed himself forgotten and deserted, no sooner saw me than he forgave all, and pressed me to his heart with rapturous affection.
I told him then--I gave him my solemn pledge--that so soon as I had arranged certain details here, I would follow him across the seas. There are many ways by which a resident can lighten the pains and penalties of a prisoner. I learned these, and know all about them, and I have determined to pay off some part of the debt I owe him, for he loved me--he loved me more than all the world. The very crime for which he is suffering was committed on my behalf; he thought this property should have been mine, and he was ready to stake his life upon it.”
”And must he be more to you than _me?_” said Harry, sadly.
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