"All," said Dolores, in a scarce audible whisper, "all--all--all! But tell me," said she, looking up as though trying to see his face in the gloom, "who was it?"
"Who was it? What a question! You! you, darling! you, Dolores!"
"Not the English maiden?" she asked.
"She!" said Ashby, contemptuously; "she is a doll--a b.u.t.terfly--a kitten! She is nothing--a poor creature with no brains and no heart!
Even her beauty is mere prettiness. There is no soul in her face, no lightning in her glance."
"And who has soul in her face and lightning in her glance?" asked Dolores, shyly.
"Who? You! you, my darling, dark-eyed Dolores! you, with your deep, unfathomable, glowing, soul-lit eyes that pierce to my inmost heart, and make me thrill at the recollection."
"And won"t you say that all again?" said Dolores; "and won"t you say that about the English maid? I love to hear you call her names."
Dolores said this with the innocence and frank simplicity of a child.
"She is a baby!" said Ashby; "the English maiden--a mere baby! She can only smile, and smile, and be silly. Her only desire is to find some one who will pet her. She can only live in the sunshine. She is a b.u.t.terfly! She has no heart, no soul! She is a doll to be looked at, but she can give no return. She is a kitten that thinks of nothing but play. But as for me, I give all my heart and all my love to a girl I know, who is no mere fair-weather friend, but one who has clung to me when others were false, who has come to me in my darkness and my despair, so that my dungeon has become a heaven, and this dark night is the brightest time of my life. And this girl--this, my Spanish girl, is my idol and my deity. I adore her, for I know that she stands ready to give up all for my sake, and to lay down her very life for me. Never--never in all my life have I known anything like the deep, intense, vehement, craving, yearning, devouring love that I feel for her. It even makes me smile to think how feeble and contemptible other feelings have been in comparison with this. I want no other occupation than to spend all my hours recalling all that my darling love has ever said--in recalling the days at Valencia, before I knew she was so dear, and the highest bliss of life I have now. I could be willing to die, and could even die gladly, my darling, darling Dolores, if I could die with your hand in mine."
Ashby was going on farther in this pleasing strain, when suddenly, and without a moment"s warning, Dolores gave a spring and vanished.
Ashby stood confounded. Then he stared all around. Then he called another,
"Dolores! Dolores! Don"t leave me!"
A voice came back through the gloom:
"H-s-s-s-h! I must not stay any longer."
"But shall I never see you again?"
"Certainly; I will come soon, and show you the pa.s.sage-way."
"Where are you?"
"Never mind--good-night!"
"Oh, Dolores, wait--one word more."
"Be quick!" said Dolores, and her voice now sounded nearer.
"You will see me again?" said Ashby, in tones of entreaty. "You will not fly and leave me all alone? You will not leave me in this way? I may be taken away from this room, Dolores, or you may be taken to another room; and then how can you get to me? Show me how you came here. You might do that much for me. Only think what dangers there are."
Dolores paused a moment.
"Well," said she, "only promise one thing."
"What?"
"That you will not try to visit me. That would be dangerous. Others are with me."
"I will not; I promise--except, of course, in cases of the greatest necessity."
"If you do," said Dolores, "I shall think that you have not come for me; I shall think it is for the English maiden. And now, come; I will show you the way."
Once more Dolores appeared through the gloom.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
IN WHICH "HIS MAJESTY" FALLS IN LOVE.
Mrs. Russell"s position was a very peculiar and a very trying one.
From the remarks of "His Majesty" she had reason to believe that her beloved, yet unfortunate, husband had been found guilty of treason against that august monarch, and had been executed. At the same time, "His Most Sacred Majesty" had evinced what appeared to be a devoted attachment to her humble self. Now, what was a high-toned woman to do under such circ.u.mstances? Mourn over the departed one? Most certainly; that she would ever do. But what about "His Majesty" and the royal attentions? Should she turn a deaf ear to that too, too eloquent tongue, dash down the crown of Spain, and busy herself in unavailing regrets for the lost one? Before doing so it would be well to pause.
And then there were other considerations. It was not the man who must be considered, but the King. It was not her own feelings which she must regard, but the well-being of Spain, the good of Europe, and the interests of humanity. Would it not be better that the throne of Spain should be filled by a virtuous Englishwoman than by some frivolous Continental princess? Would it not be better that the Queen of Spain should emulate the domestic graces of a Victoria than the corrupt follies of an Isabella? Should she now, out of selfish private grief, deprive Spain of such an inestimable boon? Would Spain forgive her? Would England? Nay, would the world? Could she forgive herself?
"Nay, nay," she said to herself, "this is not a time for weakness. My heart must ever lie entombed in the grave of my dear lost Johnny; yet State reasons compel me to bestow my hand. I cannot resist the cry of stricken Spain. Yes, thou royal wooer! take my hand--it is thine; and my only sorrow is that I cannot yet give thee all this stricken heart. Yet patience, fond one; it may all be thine in time--all--all."
Katie was surprised to observe an unwonted dignity suddenly come over Mrs. Russell.
She informed that young person that she needn"t call her "Auntie"
now, but "Madame," or "Senora," and proceeded to drop mysterious hints, from which Katie"s quick wit soon gathered the whole of the facts of the case.
Katie exulted so in this discovery that she felt happier than ever in her life before, and her only trouble was that she had no one to whom she might tell this. However, she did the best she could, and set herself to the task of confirming Mrs. Russell in her views and intentions; in which she was so successful that the latter began to imagine herself as almost already on the throne; and when Katie once or twice accidentally addressed her as "Your Majesty," the good lady did not check her.
Another visit from "His Majesty" found Mrs. Russell like ripe fruit ready to be gathered. On this occasion, as before, the august monarch came alone. He was in high good-humor, and smelt strongly of whiskey.
He began, in a strain of gallantry, complimenting the ladies in general on their numerous charms.
"Yez oughtn"t to be kept here undher lock an" kay," said "His Majesty," "an" mesilf "ud be the proud man to let yez out, ivery one av yez, but thin how do I know that I"d iver see yez agin? I must kape yez till me fate"s decoided. I don"t know yet that ye"d be willin" to come to terruuis; an" so ye"re loike O"Rafferty in the song:
""Oh, a fine pair av handcuffs he wore, That the sheriff hiul nately adjusted, Because that official persayved That O"Rafferty couldn"t be trusted.""
"Ah, sire," said Mrs. Russell, with a sigh, "Your Royal Majesty holds us by stronger bonds than bolts and bars."
"Be jabers!" exclaimed "His Majesty," "that"s good! that"s nate!
that"s illigant! I couldn"t bate that mesilf, an" I hope that all the ladies prisent will join in that sintimint."
As he spoke, "His Majesty" looked hard at Katie, but that young lady did not catch the royal eye.
"The throne av Spain," continued "His Majesty," "an" the crown an"
sceptre av Spain, an" all the r"y"l regalia, an" all the moight an"
majesty an" magnificence av its pomp an" power--be jabers! they"re all goin" a beggin" in this room; an" there"s one here that"s only got to wink, an" it"s hers, every bit av it."