Part 42 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXII.

Jack called a hansom--of course he could have walked, but he had no idea of economy or the value of money--and was driven to Park Lane.

Half a dozen times on the way he felt inclined to stop the cab, jump out and go to the club--anywhere but Lady Bell's; but nevertheless, he found himself in Park Lane, and ascending the staircase. He saw at once, by a few unmistakable signs, that the party was a small and select one, and furthermore, judging by the tasteful magnificence of the appointments, that Lady Bell's wealth had not been very much exaggerated.

He made his way slowly, for a dance was just over, and the stairs were lined, as usual, with people mostly whom he knew, and had to stop to speak to. Amongst them were Sir Arkroyd Hetley, and Dalrymple, of course together.

”Hullo, here's the Savage!” cried Hetley. ”How do you do, Jack? You've soon got on the war trail, old fellow,” he added in a low voice and with a significant smile.

Jack growled something and made his way into the room.

For a moment he could see nothing of Lady Bell, then as she came out of the fernery and advanced toward him her dark eyes flas.h.i.+ng, or rather gleaming softly, with a faint, delicious color mantling on her cheeks, he felt almost the same shock of surprise which had fallen on Una.

He had scarcely noticed her the other night, had scarcely, indeed, seen her, and he now saw, as it were for the first time, her beauty, set off and heightened by the aid of one of Worth's happiest dresses, and Emanuel's diamonds. In spite of himself he was dazzled, and his frank eyes showed that he was.

And Lady Bell? Well, though his face had scarcely left her mind's eye since she had seen it, she was not disappointed.

Notwithstanding the rather bored and surly--not to say ferocious expression which set upon it--she thought him handsomer than even she had remembered him.

”This is very kind of you, Mr. Newcombe,” she said speaking first, for Jack had contented himself with bowing over her hand.

”Kind?” said Jack, in his straightforward way.

Lady Bell hesitated, and for the first time, perhaps, in her life, smiled shyly.

”I heard--they tell me--that it is as difficult to get Mr. Newcombe to a dance as a prince of the blood royal.”

”It isn't much in my way,” said Jack, quietly; ”I am not a dancing man--that is, I don't care for it.”

”Then it was kind,” said Lady Bell, recovering her courage and smiling at him with that wonderful smile which Hetley and all the rest of them talked so much about.

Jack looked at her. Yes, certainly she was very beautiful, and there was a subtle something in that smile.

His ill-temper began to disappear.

”I should say,” he said, ”that a man ought to feel lucky at the chance of getting here.”

”They also told me,” said Lady Bell, archly, ”that you never paid compliments.”

”Someone seems to have been taking a great deal of trouble to make me out a regular boor,” said Jack, with his curt laugh. ”Did they also tell you that I lived in the woods up a tree, and existed on wild animals?”

”Like a savage?” said Lady Bell, wickedly.

Jack flushed and looked at her; then her smile conquered and he laughed.

”Yes, that is what they call me, confound their impudence! But I'm a very tame kind of a savage, Lady Earlsley; I shan't scalp you.”

”It wouldn't matter much, would it?” she retorted. ”They make such beautiful false hair now.”

Jack looked down on the soft, glossy head, with its thick, light coils, and smiled.