, 1899-03-10
CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XII.
"Dull-looking day. says Dicky Browne,
looking up from his broiled kidney to
glare Indignantly through the window at
the gray sky.
at can't be always May" says Beau
clerk, cheerfully, whose point it is to take
ever a lenient view of things.
81 suppose we ought to do something to-
day." says Lady Baltimore presently. Il
was thinking that if we went to 'Connor's
Cross it would be a nice drive. What do
you say, BeatriceY'
81 pray you excuse me-" says Lady
Swansdown. CAS- / leave tomorrow, l
must give the afternoon to the answering
of several letters, and to other things be-
Sides"
'I'l drive you there this afternoon, Miss
Kavanagh," says Beauclerk, in his friend
ly way, that in public has never a tincture
of tenderness about it. "We might start
after luncheon. 1t is only about ten miles
off. Esq" to Baltimore.
'Ten," briefly.
81 am right them equally; 1--WE might
easily do it in a little over an hour"
~ should like it," says Joyce, in a hest
tating sort of way; 'but-'
"Then why not go, dear?' says Lady
Baltimore, kindly. "The Morroghs of
Creaghstown live not half a mile from it,
and they will give you tea if y feel
tired; Norman is a very good whip, and
time"
Dysart, lifting his head, looks full at
Joyce.
st is settled, them" says Beauclerk,
pleasantly. ''Thank you ever so much for
helping me to get rid Of my afternoon in
SO delightful q fashion"
st is going to rain. 1t will be a wet
evening"" says Dysart, abruptly.
At half-past two precisely, however, a
dog-cart comes round to the hall door.
Joyce, running lightly down stairs, habit
ed for a drive, meets Dysart at the foot
of the staircase.
'Do not co." says he, abruptly.
mot go-now,' with a glance at her
costume.
II didn't believe you would 60" says he,
vehemently. Il didn't believe it possible
or l should have spoken sooner. Never
theless, at this moment | entreat you to
give it up"
impossible" says she, CURLY, annoyed
by his tone, which is perhaps unconscious
ly a little dictatorial.
"You refuse me?"
at is not the question. l have said |
would go. | see no reason for not going.
l decline to make myself foolish in the
eyes of everybody by drawing pack at the
last moment"
you have forgotten everything then"
II don't know" coldly, that there is
anything to remember"
"OhP' bitterly, mot so far as l am con-
cerned. l count for nothing. 1 allow
that. But he-I fancied you had at least
read him."
81 think, perhaps, there was nothing to
read" says she, lowering her eyes.
"If you can think that, it is useless my
saying anything further"
He moves to one side as if to let her
pass, but she hesitates. Perhaps she
would nave said something to soften her
decision, but, a rare thing with him-he
loses his temper. Seeing her sta nding
there before him, so sweet, so lovely, so
Indifferent, as he tells himself, his despair
overcomes him.
Il have a voice in this matter" says he.
frowning heavily. Il forbid you to go
with that fellow"
n wa &1aA6G &IoG9t LIE 1AdAu-
nagh's face. All the sudden softness dies
out of it. She stops leisurely, and olsen
gaging the end of the black lace round her
throat from an e~nvious banister that
would have detained her, without further
glance or word for Dysart, she goes up the
hall and through the open doorway. Beau
clerk, who has been waiting for her out
side, comes forward. A little spring seats
her in the cart. Beauclerk jumps in be-
side her. Another moment sees them out
of sight.
Dysart's prophecy proves true. At our
o'clock, while Beauclerk and Joyce are
still some distance from their destination,
the rain comes down in torrents. They.
seek shelter in the nearest hamlet, and,
fortunately, find in it an inn kept by a
Mrs. Connolly, who was a nurse to Joyce
and her sister when they were infants.
All the evening and far into the night
the storm RACES so %furiously that Beau
clerk inc Joyce are compelled to stay at
the inn until morning shall come. Mrs.
Connolly has promised Joyce that she will
accompany them back to the castle to ex-
plain her absence and nip in the bud any
scandal that might rise from the mishap.
Rising from a sleepless' bed, Joyce goes
down next morning to find Mrs. Connolly
sta nding on the lowest step Of the stairs
as il awaiting her, booted and spurred for
the journey. q
81 tould him to ordher the thrap early.