"Why nunky," answered the Viscount, pressing the arm within his own affectionately, "in the first place I"ll confess to a p.r.o.nounced distaste for the fellow."
"Yes, Tom?"
"His air of serene a.s.surance displeases me."
"Quite so, Tom."
"His air of cold cynicism annoys me."
"Well, Tom?"
"In fine sir, not to particularise, Mr. Dalroyd, within and without and altogether, I find a trifle irksome."
"And so, Tom, for these trivialities, you picked a quarrel with a man who is a notorious and deadly duellist?
"I believe I objected to his method of dealing cards, among other things, sir."
"And now, Tom," said the Major, sitting down beside the sun-dial and crossing his legs, "may I suggest you tell me the real reason--your true motive?"
The Viscount began to pull at and arrange the rich lace of his steenkirk with gentle fingers.
"Gad save my poor perishing soul!" he sighed, "but you"re a very persistent nunky!"
"Tom," said the Major softly, "you--you love my lady Betty, I think?"
The Viscount, sitting beside him, was silent a moment, still pulling gently at the lace of his cravat.
"And--and always shall, sir," he answered at last.
"This," said the Major, staring straight before him, "this brings me to a matter I have long wished to touch upon--and desired to tell thee, Tom. For I also thought--that she ... I ... we..."
"Love each other, sir," said the Viscount gently.
"You knew this, Tom?"
"Sir, I guessed it a few days since."
The Major bowed his head and was silent awhile.
"Pancras," said he at last, ""twas none of my seeking. I thought myself too old for love--beyond the age. But Love stole on me all unbeknown, Love gave me back my vanished youth, changed the world into a paradise wherein I, dreaming that she loved me, found a joy, a happiness so great no words may tell of it. And in this paradise I lived until--last night, and last night I found it but the very paradise o" fools, dear lad----"
"Last night!" exclaimed the Viscount, "last night sir?"
"I chanced to walk in the lane, Tom."
The Viscount clenched white hand and smote it on his knee:
"d.a.m.n him!" he cried, "he must ha" bewitched her in some infernal manner! That Betty should act so--"tis incredible! Yet "twas none so dark! And I saw! "Twas shameless--a vulgar country-wench would never----"
"Hush, Tom, hush!" cried the Major, flushing. "She"s--after all she"s so young, Tom, young and a little wilful--high-spirited--and--and--young, as "twere----"
"Betty"s no child, sir, and "fore heaven----"
""Tis strange I missed you, Tom," said the Major a little hastily.
"The lane makes a bend there sir, and when I saw I stopped----"
"So here"s the true cause of your quarrel, Tom?"
"Nay, sir, I"ve known Betty from childhood, I"ve honoured and loved her but--"twas not so much on her account----"
"Then whose, Tom?"
"Why sir I--knew you loved her too----"
"G.o.d bless thee, lad!" said the Major and thereafter they sat awhile staring studiously away from each other.
"The vile dog hath bewitched her somehow!" explained the Viscount suddenly at last, "I"ve heard tell o" such cases ere now, sir."
"Heaven send he bewitch none other sweet soul!" said the Major fervently.
"He sha"n"t--if I may stop him!" said the Viscount scowling.
"I don"t think--no, I don"t think he ever will, Tom!"
"Gad love us!" exclaimed the Viscount suddenly in altered tone.
"Nunky--sir--look yonder! "Tis Betty herself and she"s seen us! O Lard, sir--she"s coming!"
Glancing swiftly round, the Major sat with breath in check watching where my lady was descending the steps into the rose-garden, as fresh, as fair and sweet as the morning itself. With one accord they rose and, side by side, went to meet her.
"Heavens!" she cried as they came up. "How glum you look--and the sun so bright too! Ha" you no greeting for me?"
"Madam," said the Viscount with a prodigious bow, "I was but now relating how, last night, I saw you in a lane, seated upon a wall."
"Was I, Pan?"
"Indeed, my lady!" he answered, taking out his snuff-box.
"And did you see me, too?"
"Who else should see you?" questioned the Viscount staring.
"I thought "twas only Major d"Arcy--thought to see."
"I saw you also, madam."
"Art sure, Pan?"