Part 109 (1/2)

”Oh, you won't see her again to-day, you may be sure,” she rejoined; ”and it is just as well, you bear, if you mean to make love to her with that kind of countenance!”

But I would not be advised.

I strode straight up to her room, which I happened to know, and knocked at the door.

She answered ”Come in!” evidently not expecting me, and when she saw who it was she was furious.

”I cannot understand what you mean by such conduct!” she exclaimed.

”Well, then, I'll make you understand!” I retorted.

Mr. Hamilton-Wells insinuated afterward that Evadne only accepted me to save her life. But I protested against the libel. I have never, to my certain knowledge, uttered a rough word either to or before my little lady in the whole course of our acquaintance. But why, when she loved me, she should have gone off in that ridiculous tantrum simply because I did not begin by expressing my love for her, I shall never be able to understand.

She might have been sure that I should have enough to say on that subject as soon as I was accepted.

The day after the engagement was announced Diavolo called upon me.

Needless to say he found me in the seventh heaven. I had been walking about the house, unable to settle to anything, and when I heard he had come I thought it was to congratulate me, and I hurried down; but the first glimpse of his face caused my heart to contract ominously.

”Well, you have played me a nice trick,” he said, with concentrated bitterness, ”both of you. You knew what _my_ intentions were and you gave me no hint of your own. You preferred to steal a march on me. I could not have imagined such a thing possible from you. I should have supposed that you would have thought such underhand conduct low.”

”Diavolo!” I gasped, ”are you in earnest?”

”Am I in earnest!” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. ”Look at me! I suppose you think I am incapable of deep feeling.”

”If only I had known!” I exclaimed. ”Yet--how could I guess? The difference of age--and, Diavolo, my dear boy, believe me, I do sympathise with you most sincerely. This is a bitter drop in the cup for me.

But--but--even if I had known--will it make it worse for you if I say it?-- it is me she loves. She would not have accepted anyone but me. Even if I _had_ withdrawn in your favour--”

He waved his hand to stop me. ”Don't distress yourself,” he said. ”It is fate. We are to be punished with extinction as a family for the sins of our forefathers. My case will be the same as Uncle Dawne's--only,” he added suddenly, and clenched his fists, ”only, if you treat her badly, I'll blow your brains out.”

”I hope you will,” I answered.

He looked hard at me with a pained expression in his eyes. ”Ah, I'm a fool,” he said; ”forgive me! I don't know what I'm saying. I'm mad with disappointment, and grief, and rage. Of course, if she loves you, I never had a chance. Yet the possibility of giving me one, had you known, occurred to you. Well, I will show you that I can be as generous as you are.” He held out his hand. ”I--I congratulate you,” he faltered; ”Only, make her happy. But I know you will.”

He felt about for his hat, and, having found it, walked with an uncertain step toward the door, blinded with tears.

I stood long as he had left me.

Ah, brother! have you not full oft Found, even as the Roman did, That in life's most delicious draught _Surgit amari aliquid?_

Lady Adeline met me sadly the next time I went to Hamilton House.

”Do you blame me?” I faltered.

”No, oh, no!” she generously responded. ”None of us--not one of us--not even Angelica, suspected for a moment that he was in earnest. It had been his wolf-cry, you know, all his life. Evadne herself has no inkling of the truth.”

”I hope she never will,” I said.

”If it rests with Diavolo, she will not,” his mother answered, proud of him, and with good cause.