Part 2 (1/2)
Launce has thrown himself upon the gra.s.s almost at Belle's feet, and is talking in his low musical voice.
”Tantalizing the poor little thing!” Honor says to herself, as she peeps across at them from her nest among the branches.
She is very fond of Belle Delorme, and she knows that not in all Ireland could her brother find a sweeter, truer little wife. Perhaps he is of the same opinion--perhaps not. It is not easy to read the thoughts behind that square, masterful brow of his.
Presently they stroll away together, leaving Honor alone.
As she lies there in her low hammock, the shadows of leaf and bough flickering on her face, a hand parts the branches, and a man looks in at her.
She flushes deeply in her surprise at the sight of him, and then sits up with a jerk that nearly brings her out of her nest with more speed than grace.
”I'm sorry to have disturbed you,” he says, smiling; ”but I thought you were asleep, and I could not help envying the good fortune of the fairy prince who might be lucky enough to awaken you after the fas.h.i.+on of fairy princes.”
Something in his voice or in his eyes as he looks down at her makes the light words seem almost tender.
”But no fairy princess ever come to Ireland, Mr. Beresford; it's only a 'fine country spoiled,' you know, and 'sunk in semi-barbarism'--not at all the sort of place for a fairy prince to come to.”
”I don't know that at all, Honor.”
It is the first time he has called her Honor, and she looks up at him half startled as he continues:
”It seems to me the fairy prince might travel farther and fare worse.”
”But he might not think so, particularly if he was an English fairy prince,” the girl says dryly.
”Why are you so hard on us, Honor? Why are you so hard on me? I should say. For you are sweetness itself to that little curate of Drum, and he's about the poorest specimen of the c.o.c.kney I ever met.”
”You couldn't expect that any but the 'poorest specimen' would condescend to be a curate at Drum,” she returns flippantly.
Taking no heed of her interruption, he goes on:
”You have grudged every kind word, every little attention lavished on me since I've been here. Often and often I've said to myself, 'I will go away and never look upon her face again.' But I have not gone.”
”No,” the girl says, feeling curiously abashed and contrite under the gaze of those calmly accusing eyes. ”I'm sorry if--if I have been rude to you.”
”I am glad to hear you say so. You have been rude certainly, but I am quite ready to forgive all that--quite ready to shake hands and be friends, if you care to have it so. If not, it is better that I should go away--at once.”
She most certainly is not fond of this man; and yet she feels pained at the mere thought of his going away ”at once.” She holds out her hand almost pleadingly.
”Oh, do not go away, please!” looking at him with sweet, grave eyes. ”I would rather shake hands and be friends.”
”So be it!” he says, taking her hand, and holding it for a second in both his own.
He is a man of the world, strong and self-repressed; yet now he turns suddenly pale, and his eyes darken.
”Heavens, child, how I love you!” he cries; and the next instant he has stooped and kissed her on the lips. It is done in a second. The girl looks up at him from among her pillows, as hurt and angry as if the kiss had been a blow; and he looks back at her, amazed at his own audacity.
”On my honor, I did not mean to do it!” he says, almost humbly. ”I did not know I should be such a weak fool as to yield to temptation in that mad fas.h.i.+on, only I love you so, and you----”
”And I am 'only an Irish girl,'” she interrupts him vehemently--”little better than a savage in your eyes. If I had been an English lady you would never have taken such a liberty--never!”