Part 29 (1/2)
I lifted her hand and kissed it.
”You are my queen, and I am your most loyal and devoted servant.”
”For always, Kenn? When you are meeting the fine ladies of London will you love a Highland la.s.sie that cannot make eyes and swear choicely?”
”Forever and a day, dear.”
Aileen referred to the subject again two hours later when we arose from the table at the Manchester ordinary. It was her usual custom to retire to her room immediately after eating. To-night when I escorted her to the door she stood for a moment drawing patterns on the lintel with her fan. A fine blush touched her cheek.
”Were you meaning all that, Kennie?”
”All what, dear heart?”
”That--nonsense--in the forest.”
”Every bit of it.”
Her fan spelt Kenneth on the door.
”Sometimes,” she went on softly, ”a fancy is built on moonlight and laughing eyes and opportunity. It iss like suns.h.i.+ne in winter on Raasay--just for an hour and then the mists fall.”
”For our love there will be no mists.”
”Ah, Kenn, you think so now, but afterward, when you take up again your London life, and I cannot play the lady of fas.h.i.+on, when you weary of my simpleness and are wis.h.i.+ng me back among the purple heather hills?”
”That will be never, unless I wish myself there with you. I am no London Mohawk like Volney. To tramp the heather after muirc.o.c.ks or to ride to hounds is more my fancy. The Macaronis and I came long since to the parting of the ways. I am for a snug home in the country with the woman I love.”
I stepped to the table, filled a gla.s.s with wine, and brought it to her.
”Come, love! We will drink together. How is it old Ben Jonson hath it?
”'Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss but in the cup, And I'll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise Doth seek a drink divine; But might I of Jove's nectar sup I would not change from thine.'
”Drink, sweetheart.”
She tasted, then I drained the gla.s.s and let it fall from my fingers to s.h.i.+ver on the floor.
Before we parted Aileen had one more word for me, ”Kennie.”
”Yes, dear heart,” I cried, and was back at her side in a moment.
”What you said in the woods--I am knowing it all true. It is great foolishness, but my heart is singing the same song,” and with that she whipped the door to in my face.
I sauntered into the common room, found a seat by the fireplace, and let my eye wander over the company. There were present some half dozen yokels, the vicar's curate, a country blood or two, and a little withered runt of a man in fustian with a weazened face like a wrinkled pippin. The moment I clapped eyes on him there came to my mind the dim recollection of a former acquaintance and the prescient fear of an impending danger. That I had seen him I was ready to take oath, yet I could not put my finger upon the circ.u.mstances. But the worst of it was that the old fellow recognized me, unless I were much mistaken, for his eyes never left me from the first.
From my mother I have inherited a Highland jauntiness which comes stealing over me when sobriety would set me better. Let the situation be a different one, uncertain of solution, with heads tipping in the balance, and an absurd spirit of recklessness straightway possesses me. But now, with this dear child on my hands, carelessness and I were far apart as the poles. Anxiety gripped me, and I sweated blood. Yet I must play the careless traveller, be full of good stories, unperturbed on the surface and apparently far from alarm. I began to overdo the part, recognized the fact, and grew savage at myself. Trying to conciliate him, I was free with the ale, and again overdid it.
He drank my ale and listened to my stories, but he sat c.o.c.king on his seat like an imp of mischief. I rattled on, insouciant and careless to all appearances, but in reality my heart like lead. Behind my smiling lips I cursed him up hill and down dale. Lard, his malicious grin was a thing to rile the G.o.ds! More than once I wake up in the night from dreaming that his scrawny hand was clapping the darbies on my wrists.