The Black Moth

"Yes, madam."

"But supposing--supposing the lady did not care? Supposing she--lovedyou--and was willing to share your disgrace?"

The ground at her feet was strewn with crimson petals, and all aroundand above her roses nodded and swayed. A tiny breeze was stirring hercurls and the lace of her frock, but John would not allow himself tolook, lest the temptation to catch her in his arms should prove toogreat for him. She was ready to give herself to him; to face anything,only to be with him. In the plainest language she offered herself tohim, and he had to reject her.

"It is inconceivable that the lady would sacrifice herself in such afashion, madam," he said.

"Sacrifice!" She caught her breath. "You call it that!"

"What else?"

"I ... I ... I do not think that you are very wise, Mr. Carr. Nor ...that you ... understand women ... very well. She might not call it bythat name."

"It would make no difference what she called it, madam. She would ruinher life, and that must never be."

A white rose joined its fallen brethren, pulled to pieces by fingersthat trembled pitifully.

"Mr. Carr, if the lady ... loved you ... is it quite fair to her--to saynothing?"

There was a long silence, and then my lord lied bravely.

"I hope that she will--in time--forget me," he said.

Diana sat very still. No more roses were destroyed; the breeze waftedthe fallen petals over her feet, lightly, almost playfully. Somewhere inthe hedge a bird was singing, a full-throated sobbing plaint, and fromall around came an incessant chirping and twittering. The sun sent itsbright rays all over the garden, bathing it in gold and happiness; butfor the two in the pleasaunce the light had gone out, and the world wasvery black.

"I see," whispered Diana at last. "Poor lady!"

"I think it was a cursed day that saw me come into her life," hegroaned.

"Perhaps it was," her hurt heart made answer.

He bowed his head.

"I can only hope that she will not think too hardly of me," he said,very low. "And that she will find it in her heart to be sorry--forme--also."

She rose and came up to him, her skirts brushing gently over the grass,holding out her hands imploringly.

"Mr. Carr...."

He would not allow himself to look into the gold-flecked eyes.... Hemust remember Dick--his brother Dick!

In his hand he took the tips of her fingers, and bowing, kissed them.Then he turned on his heel and strode swiftly away between the hedgestowards the quiet woods, with a heart aflame with passion, and withrebellion and impotent fury. He would go somewhere quite alone and fightthe devil that was prompting him to cry the truth aloud and to throwaside his burden for love, forgetting duty.

But Diana remained standing among the scattered flowers, very still,very cold, with a look of hopeless longing in her eyes and a greathurt.

CHAPTER XV

O'HARA'S MIND IS MADE UP

Jim Salter folded one of my lord's waistcoats, and placed it carefullyin an open valise; then he picked up a coat, and spread it on the bedpreparatory to folding it in such wise that no crease should afterwardsmar its smoothness. All about him my lord's clothing was strewn; Mechlinruffles and cravats adorned one chair, silk hose another; gorgeous coatshung on their backs; shoes of every description, red-heeled and white,riding boots and slippers, stood in a row awaiting attention wigsperched coquettishly on handy projections, and piles of white cambricshirts peeped out from an almost finished bag.

Jim laid the coat tenderly in the valise, coaxing it into decorousfolds, and wondering at the same time where his master was. He had beenout all the morning, and on his return had looked so ill that Jim hadbeen worried, and wished that they were not leaving Horton House quiteso soon. A little while ago my lord had been closeted with his host; Jimsupposed he must still be there. He reached out his hand for anotherwaistcoat, but before his fingers had touched it, he stopped, and liftedhis head, listening. Hasty, impetuous footsteps sounded on the stairs,and came furiously along the corridor. The door was twisted open, and mylord stood on the threshold. Jim scanned the tired face anxiously, andnoted with a sinking heart that the blue eyes were blazing and the finelips set in a hard, uncompromising line. The slender hand gripping thedoor-handle twitched in a way that Jim knew full well; evidently my lordwas in an uncertain mood.

"Have you finished?" rapped out Carstares.

"Not quite, sir."

"I wish to leave this year and not next, if 'tis all the same to you!"