"But what? What does this "but" mean?"
"It means that she has puzzled me, and my hope of liking her depends on my discovering that I have misunderstood her."
"That"s a riddle, if ever there was one! but I suppose it comes to this, that if you have read her aright you do not like her."
"I wish I could show you a letter she wrote me."
"And why can"t you?"
"I don"t think I can tell you even that, Tom."
"What a mysterious damsel you have grown! Does this come of your living with that great law lord, Lucy? If so, tell him from me he has spoiled you sadly. How frank you were long ago!"
"That is true," said she, sighing.
"How I wish we could go back to that time, with all its dreaminess and all its castle-building. Do you remember, Lu, when we used to set off of a morning in the boat on a voyage of discovery, as we called it, and find out new islands and new creeks, and give them names?"
"Do I not? Oh, Tom, were we not a thousand times happier then than we knew we were?"
"That"s a bit of a bull, Lucy, but it"s true all the same. I know all you mean, and I agree with you."
"If we had troubles, what light ones they were!"
"Ay, that"s true. We were not grubbing for lead in those days, and finding only quartz; and our poor hearts, Lucy, were whole enough then."
He gave a half malicious laugh as he said this; but, correcting himself quickly, he drew her towards him and said, "Don"t be angry with me, dear Lu; you know of old what a reckless tongue I "ve got."
"Was that thunder, Tom? There it is again. What is it?"
"That"s a storm getting up. It"s coming from the south"ard. See how the drift is flying overhead, and all the while the sea beneath is like a mill-pond! Watch the stars now, and you "ll see how, one by one, they will drop out, as if extinguished; and mark the little plash--it is barely audible--that begins upon the beach. There! did you hear that,--that rushing sound like wind through the trees? That"s the sea getting up. How I wish I was strong enough to stay out here. I "d like to show you a "Levanter," girl,--a regular bit of Southern pa.s.sion, not increasing slowly, like a Northern wrath, but bursting out in its full fury in an instant. Here it comes!" and as he spoke two claps of thunder shook the air, followed by a long clattering roll like musketry, and the sea, upheaving, surged heavily hither and thither, while the air was still and calm; and then, as though let loose from their caverns, the winds swept past with a wild shrill whistle that swelled into a perfect roar. The whole surface of the sea became at once white, and the wind, sweeping across the crests of the waves, carried away a blinding drift that added to the darkness. The thunder, too, rolled on unceasingly, and great flashes of lightning broke through the blackness, and displayed tall masts and spars of ships far out to sea, rocking fearfully, and in the next instant lost to sight in the dense darkness.
"Here comes the rain, and we must run for it," said Tom, as a few heavy drops fell. A solemn pause in the storm ensued, and then, as though the very sky was rent, the water poured down in cataracts. Laughing merrily, they made for the cottage, and though but a few yards off, were drenched thoroughly ere they reached it.
"It"s going to be a terrific night," said Tom, as he pa.s.sed from window to window, looking to the bars and fastenings. "The great heat always brings one of the Levant storms, and the fishermen here know it so well that on seeing certain signs at sunset they draw up all their boats on sh.o.r.e, and even secure the roofs of their cabins with strong spars and stones."
"I hope poor old Nicholas is safe by this time. Could he have reached Cagliari by this?" said Lucy.
"Yes, he is snug enough. The old rogue is sitting at his supper this minute, cursing the climate and the wine and the place, and the day he came to it."
"Come, Tom! I think he bears everything better than I expected."
"Bears everything better! Why, child, what has he to bear that you and I have not to bear? Is there one privation here that falls to his share without coming to us?"
"And what would be the value of that good blood you are so proud of, Tom, if it would not make us as proof against petty annoyances as against big dangers?"
"I declare time and place make no change on you. You are the same disputatious damsel here that you used to be beside the Shannon. Have I not told you scores of times you must never quote what one has once said, when it comes in opposition to a present opinion?"
"But if I cease to quote you, Tom, whence am I to derive those maxims of wisdom I rely upon so implicitly?"
"Take care, young lady,--take care," said he, shaking his finger at her. "Every fort has its weak side. If you a.s.sail me by the brain, I may attack you at the heart! How will it be then, eh?" Coloring till her face and neck were crimson, she tried to laugh; but though her lips parted, no sound came forth, and after a second or two of struggle, she said, "Good-night," and rushed away.
"Good-night, Lu," cried he after her. "Look well to your window-fastenings, or you will be blown away before morning."
END OF VOL. I.