Part 14 (2/2)
It was an entrancing night, warm and luscious and still, but for the lapping of the water against the boat, and the merry sounds from the other party. Overhead gleamed and glittered a million stars. All round, mysteriously grand, mysteriously lovely, towered the Mourne Mountains. Eileen felt herself breathing fitfully, under the spell of some ravis.h.i.+ng, dream-like ecstasy. He was so close to her that his coat brushed against her arm, and the touch thrilled through all her being. Yet she never moved nor spoke, looking out into the fathomless, mystical depths of the night, one little hand resting lightly on the edge of the boat, unconsciously near to her companion.
And something in the enervating atmosphere, and the dream-like charm, again had that dangerously soothing effect upon Lawrence. Look where he would, think as he would, he could not turn his consciousness from the sense of that little soft hand so temptingly close to him in the darkness. What would she do if he followed his impulse, and clasped his own over it.
He tried to think of other things and forget it. If it had been any other girl--but not Eileen--no, he dare not trifle with Eileen. Yet it was such a little thing, and he wanted desperately at the moment to feel the touch of the little warm fingers in his. One more effort to forget--one more failure--and in the shadows his thin, artistic fingers closed over those others.
Eileen did not move nor speak. For the moment she was too much taken aback, and then she was only aware of a swiftly beating heart, and a heavenly sense of delight. But in a few moments, out of the shadows, shot the other boat straight toward them, with Paddy leaning over the side. She reached out her hand, and grasping at the bow that held Lawrence and Eileen. Her grasp closed over a dim white object, two hands--a man and a woman's--clasped together.
”Ah!” said Paddy to the darkness, with rather startling suddenness, and then subsided into silence.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
THE BALL.
Paddy was dressed first, because Eileen did her hair for her, and when she was ready she surveyed herself with critical eyes in the long pier gla.s.s.
”I rather think Paddy will surprise them to-night,” she remarked.
”They'll be coming round and asking her where her snub nose and sallow skin are. I shall say, 'They are still there, good people, but don't you observe that her hair has entirely effaced everything but itself?'”
In truth she was right, for it would be hard to find lovelier hair than Paddy's, and under Eileen's skillful handling it had, indeed, overshadowed everything else.
It was of a rich auburn tint, as fine as silk, and had a way of waving and curling in thick ma.s.ses, with a beautiful natural wave, when given sufficient freedom. Paddy, in her perpetual haste, usually spoilt it by twisting it too tightly, but to-night Eileen had given the rich coils full play, and they curled themselves lovingly round Paddy's pretty forehead and slender neck in a way that somehow concealed her failings by drawing all attention to themselves. And then, too, she had the fine eyes of her country, and to-night they sparkled and danced in a way that was wholly bewitching. ”Daddy,” she called through into her father's room, ”you just won't know me I look so beautiful. You never thought I could look even pretty, did you?--but just wait till you see!”
Then she danced into his dressing-room, and swept him a low courtesy.
”Begorra!” exclaimed the old General delightedly, ”you'll take 'em all by storm yet. Get out your scouts, young men, and lay your plan of action, for there's a prize to be captured and carried off to-night, and no mistake.”
”No, there isn't, then, daddy, for I don't mean to be captured nor carried off, nor anything else, as long as I can just stay here at The Ghan House with you and the motherkins,” and she threw her arms round the old soldier's neck and hugged him until he cried out that he would be suffocated.
Then she smilingly surveyed her crumpled lace.
”I guess we'll get into trouble if we don't mind!” she remarked. ”See what you've done to my lace!”
”What _I've_ done, indeed! I should like to know who had a finger in that pie beside yourself.”
Paddy smoothed her lace and went downstairs a little thoughtfully, to see if Jack had come across yet from the rectory.
She found him standing in the hall, and when he saw her he exclaimed, ”Is that you, Paddy?--is that really you?”
”Yes,” with a little nod, ”it's really me. You've always been at great pains to impress upon me that I'm hopelessly plain, Jack. Perhaps, now, you'll have the politeness to own you were wrong,” and she looked up at him with her brilliant smile.
”I don't somehow feel sure that it's you yet, though,” he answered.
”Where did you get all that hair from?”
”It's been there all along, but I couldn't be bothered to do it properly, so to-night Eileen did it.”
”Isn't she dressed yet?”
”No; so I took the opportunity of coming down to be admired before I am outshone.” She tripped across the hall and stood where the full light of the lamps shone upon her, throwing back her small head triumphantly, and unconsciously striking an att.i.tude full of grace and piquancy.
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