"Good night, William," I said, holding out my hand.
He did not take it, but replied in a tone overflowing with reproach:
"Why did you deceive me, Daisy?"
"Deceive you, William!"
"Why did you pretend to care for me when you are so wrapped up in another, that, from the moment he comes up, you have neither speech nor look for me?"
"I have left him to come and bid you good night, and by way of thanks, you accuse me of deceiving you. How, and about what?"
"What do you call speaking of him as if he were your grandfather, when I don"t believe he is a bit older than I am?"
"He is twenty-seven. But what about his age?"
"I don"t care about his age, nor about his looks either," replied William, with a scornful laugh. "You may think him handsome if you like-- I do not."
I felt offended, and replied, shortly:
"I never told you Cornelius was old. It was you chose to compare an elegant young man, of twenty-seven, to a coa.r.s.e sea-captain of fifty, not I. I might add that your remarks are very childish, but I do not want to speak unkindly. Good night, William. I trust that when I come here to- morrow morning, I shall find you in a better temper."
I turned away; he followed me.
"Will you really come?" he asked, submissively.
I replied,
"Yes," and hastened away to join Cornelius, who was coming to meet me with a face so overcast, that I saw I was again at fault.
"I am so sorry to have brought you back!" I said, forestalling accusation. "I thought you would go on."
Cornelius stopped short--we were once more walking homewards--to give me an amazed look, and say in a half indignant tone:
"Go on, and leave you alone at this hour with a strange young man!"
"He is not strange," I replied, feeling the blush he could not see; "I have known him since we were both children; and Kate can tell you he is only a boy."
"A boy scarcely younger than I am," pointedly replied Cornelius.
I thought it odd that both he and William should come to conclusions so similar with regard to their respective ages, but I did not venture to reply. Not another word was spoken until we reached the foot of the cliff on which rose our home; then, from the garden above was heard the anxious voice of Kate, exclaiming:
"Have you found her, Cornelius?"
"Yes," he replied, "she is quite safe."
I was dismayed at this proof of the uneasiness I had made them feel. Kate received me very sharply. "I am astonished at you," she said, "to choose the very moment when you are troubled with a headache, and Cornelius is gone for the physician, to run down to the sands!"
"You know, Kate, I was better; besides I thought I saw him coming, and went to meet him; but it proved to be William Murray."
"The young bear--what brought him back?"
"He has been wrecked."
"Nonsense! wrecked! he has been spinning a yarn to you, Daisy."
"I never yet knew William to tell an untruth," I replied, a little indignantly.
"Truth or not, were you to make us anxious just to listen to the stories of that boy. Cornelius has come back from Italy with banditti notions; and he would have it that some ill-looking fellows, whom he met as he was going, had lingered on the beach until dusk to waylay you. So off he ran like a madman. Look at him. See how pale he is still!"
Cornelius, who had lingered behind, entered the parlour as his sister spoke; my heart smote me to see that he was deadly pale. He sat down by the table, leaned his elbow upon it, and rested his brow on the palm of his hand, so that his face was shaded from the light.
"Cornelius, what ails you?" asked Kate.
"I am tired," he answered, without looking up.
"Dr. Reeves was out, so I went for Dr. Simpson."
"Why that is three miles further off."
"Just so, that is what tired me. He too was out."
Kate gave me a reproachful look; but indeed there was no need; my conscience troubled me sorely for the heedlessness which had added unnecessary fatigue and alarm to that his ardent affection had already caused him to undergo for my sake. I longed to make some atonement; to offer some explanation; but he gave me no opportunity; he left early, and it was only by his not coming down again, that we knew he had left us for the evening.
In appointing to meet William on the sands the following morning, I had not reflected how difficult it would be for me to do so. I turned the subject over and over, and at length resolved to speak to Cornelius. He behaved to me at breakfast as if nothing had occurred; and when we both entered the little studio as usual, his face, though more serious than in the presence of Kate, expressed nothing like displeasure. In whose kindness and indulgence could I confide, if not in his? I hoped he would open the conversation, but, as he did not, I resolved to speak. I went up to his chair, and leaning upon it, said in a low tone:
"Cornelius."
"Well, Daisy," he replied, looking round.
"May I say something to you? But pray," I quickly added, "pray, do not be vexed; promise that you will not."
"Daisy!" exclaimed Cornelius, giving me a troubled look.
"Well, then, promise nothing. I will trust to your indulgence. I can bear that you should reprove me, but I could not bear to deceive you."
He took my hand in his, and, bending on me a look so keen that I began to feel disconcerted, he said slowly:
"What do you mean?"
I did not answer.
"What do you mean?" he said, his voice rising.
"Well then!" I exclaimed a little desperately, "I mean that I have made an appointment with William, and that I want your permission to keep it."
Cornelius dropped my hand, and looked petrified.
"You have made an appointment with that young man!" he said at length.