Volume I Part 37 (1/2)

It had been better for Linton's cause that he had omitted the last words, at least: as Laura turned away her head, a curl of insolent meaning was on her lip, but she did not speak, and they now walked along, side by side, in silence.

”You will go, then?” said he, at last, in a low whisper.

”Yes,” said she, faintly.

Linton stole a glance at her unperceived, and suddenly the sparkle of his eyes and the elation of his whole expression showed the transport of pleasure he experienced.

”Now for one word of caution,” said Linton, as, drawing closer to her side, he a.s.sumed the tone of sincere friends.h.i.+p. ”Lord Kilgoff has just revealed to me, in deep confidence, that he has been much offended by certain attentions shown to you by this Mr. Cashel, and which were of so marked a nature that he was almost determined never to admit his intimacy in future. Had his Lords.h.i.+p known you as well as I do, he might have spared himself this anxiety. I believe such savage excellence as his has few attractions for you; nor, save the admiration that all must yield you, has the youth taste or feeling to appreciate your excellence.

However, 'my Lord' is jealous; let it be your care, by knowledge of the fact, not to incur anything to sustain the suspicion.”

”How very absurd all this is! Do you know that Mr. Cashel did not condescend to pay me the poor compliment of a special invitation to his house, but asked my Lord to come, and hoped I would accompany him; just as people invite their humbler acquaintances, hoping that only half the request may be accorded.”

”He is underbred even to barbarism,” said Linton.

”He seems a most good-natured creature, and full of generosity.”

”Overwealth has sometimes that air. When the gla.s.s is brimful, none but the steadiest hand can carry, without spilling, the wine.”

”He does not appear even to make the effort. They tell me he has squandered some thousands already, making presents to every one who will accept them.”

”He gave me this cane,” said Linton, superciliously, exhibiting a little riding cane, which he had taken himself out of Cashel's hand, and was of no value whatever. ”Not any great evidence of exaggerated generosity,”

said he. ”As to his house, however, I trust its honors may be well done; he has given me _carte blanche_, and I must only try and not disgrace my prerogative.”

”How very late it is--nearly seven,” said Lady Kilgoff, looking at her watch.

”Shall I see your Ladys.h.i.+p to your carriage?” said Linton.

”I think not,” said she, blus.h.i.+ng slightly; ”as I left it unaccompanied, so I shall return to it Good-bye.”

She held out her hand as she spoke, but slightly averted her head, so that Linton could not mark the expression of her features. As it was, he pressed the gloved fingers to his lips, but, when doing so, contrived to unclasp her bracelet,--a singularly rich one, and a present from Lord Kilgoff on the day of her marriage. This he let fall noiselessly on the gra.s.s, and murmured, in a low voice, ”Goodbye.”

Lady Kilgoff, hastily wrapping her shawl about her, left the spot.

Linton watched her till he had seen her seated in the carriage, and continued to gaze after it, as it drove rapidly away, and so intently occupied by his thoughts, that he did not notice the approach of a horseman, who came up at a walking pace behind him.

”Eh, Tom!” cried out Lord Charles Frobisher, ”this is flying at high game!”

”You are mistaken, Charley,” said he, in some confusion. ”This 'meeting under the green-wood tree' was nothing less than a love affair.”

”Oh, hang your morality, Mr. Joseph; it's rather good fun to see the 'insolent beauty' of the season capitulating.”

”Wrong again,” said Linton, affecting a laugh. ”Everton is in a sc.r.a.pe, and his wife wants me to get him out of the way--”

”Nonsense, man, I saw the carriage; there is no need of mystifying here.

Besides, it's no affair of mine--I'm sure I wish it were! But come, what are the odds on Hitchley's colt--are seven to two taken?”

”Don't bet,” said Linton, knowingly; ”there is something 'wrong' in that stable, and I have n't found out the secret.”

”What a deep fellow you are, Tom.”