Part 86 (1/2)

”I have seen this coming, have seen my way to it for months past; I have swept every barrier away----” He stopped suddenly and bit his lip--”and now for our plans, mother. Try and collect yourself; this has surprised and upset you,” he said, sharply.

Mrs. Davenant sat up and looked at him attentively.

”Tomorrow we start, without fuss or bother, for Clumley. I have ordered them to take a pair of horses to the half-way house, so that we can change without loss of time. I have also sent a letter to the clergyman telling him to be prepared for us, and keep his own counsel. We shall reach Clumley, traveling easily, by half-past ten. There will be no wedding breakfast--thank Heaven! no fuss or ceremony. We shall go straight from the church to London, and thence to Paris. Excepting ourselves and clergyman no one can know anything of the matter until the marriage is over, then----” and he drew a long breath and smiled.

Mrs. Davenant, pale and trembling, stared up at him.

”And--and Una? Does she agree to all this?”

”Una agrees to everything,” he said, impatiently. ”She herself stipulated that it should be done quietly, and”--with a smile--”if this is not quietly, I do not know what is. And now, my dear mother, go and make what preparations are absolutely necessary, and make them yourself, and unaided. Remember there must be no approach to any wedding party. We are only going to take an outing for a day or two. You understand?”

”I understand,” she faltered; ”and when will you be back, Stephen?” she asked, pitiably. ”I--I--you won't be away long, Stephen? I shall miss her so.”

Stephen patted her on the shoulder.

”Don't be afraid, mother. We shall not be away too long. I am too proud of my beautiful bride to hide her away. I want to see her here, mistress of the Hurst. My wife! my wife! Hus.h.!.+ here she comes. Do not upset her.”

And, with a quick, noiseless step, he went out as Una entered.

Framed in the doorway, she stood for a moment like a picture. Paler and slighter than in the old days, she had lost none of her beauty. Stephen had cause to be proud of his bride. There would be no lovelier woman in Wealds.h.i.+re than the future mistress of the Hurst. And yet, if Jack could have seen her that moment, what agony her face would have cost him; for his eyes, quickened by his pa.s.sionate love, would have read and understood that subtle change that had fallen on the beautiful face; would have read the settled melancholy which sat enthroned on the dark eyes, and gave them the dreamy, far-away look which never left them for a moment.

”Communing with the past, she walked; Alive, yet dead to all the world.”

Slowly she crossed the room, and stood just where Stephen had stood, and looked into the fire; but not as he had looked--triumphantly, joyfully; but with an absent, dreamy air.

Mrs. Davenant put out her hand, and touched her arm.

”Una!”

She turned her head, and looked at her questioningly, with a weary, uninterested gaze.

”Una, he--Stephen has told me. Oh, my darling, I hope you will be happy!”

Una smiled--a cold, mechanical smile.

”Happy? Yes, he says I shall be happy. Do you think,” and she looked calmly at the anxious, nervous face, ”do you think I shall be happy?”

Mrs. Davenant drew her toward her.

”My dear, you frighten me. You--you are so--so strange and cold. Cold!

Your hands are like ice. Oh, Una, do you know what it means--this that you are going to do? It is not too late. Think, Una. You know how I love you, dear. That I would give all the world to call you--what you are, my heart of hearts--my own daughter. But, oh, Una! if you think, if you are not quite sure that you will be happy----”

Una looked straight at the fire.

”He says so,” she said, in the same hard, cold voice; ”he is clever and wise. He is your son; why do you doubt him?”

Mrs. Davenant s.h.i.+vered.

”I--I don't doubt him, dear. Yes, he is my son; he has been a good son to me. But you are to be his wife; think.”