My Lady Caprice | Page 8

supposed - "
"If you'll only let me explain - "
"That you would abide by the promise you made her and wait - "
"Until you knew your own heart," I put in. "The question is, how long
will it take you? Probably, if you would allow me to teach you - "
"Your presence here now stamps you as - as horribly deceitful!"
"Undoubtedly," I nodded; "but you see when I was foolish enough to
give that promise your very excellent Aunt made no reference to her
intentions regarding a certain Mr. Selwyn."
"Oh!" exclaimed Lisbeth. And feeling that I had made a point, I
continued with redoubled ardour:
"She gave me to understand that she merely wished you to have time to

know your own heart in the matter!" Now, as I said before, how long
will it take you to find out, Lisbeth?"
She sat chin in hand staring straight before her, and her black brows
were still drawn together in a frown!" But I watched her mouth - just
where the scarlet underlip curved up to meet its fellow.
Lisbeth's mouth is a trifle wide, perhaps, and rather full-lipped, and
somewhere at one corner - I can never be quite certain of its exact
location, because its appearance is, as a rule, so very meteoric - but
somewhere there is a dimple!" Now, if ever there was an arrant traitor
in this world it is that dimple; for let her expression be ever so guileless,
let her wistful eyes be raised with a look of tears in their blue depths,
despite herself that dimple will spring into life and undo it all in a
moment!" So it was now, even as I watched it quivered round her lips,
and feeling herself betrayed, the frown vanished altogether and she
smiled. "And now, Dick, suppose you give me my - my - "
"Conditionally," I said, sitting down beside her.
The sun had set, and from somewhere among the purple shadows of the
wood the rich, deep notes of a blackbird came to us, with pauses now
and then, filled in with the rustle of leaves and the distant lowing of
cows.
"Not far from the village of Down in Kent," I began dreamily, "there
stands an old house with quaint, high-gabled roofs and twisted Tudor
chimneys!" Many years ago it was the home of fair ladies and gallant
gentlemen, but its glory is long past!" And yet, Lisbeth, when I think of
it at such an hour as this, and with you beside me, I begin to wonder if
we could not manage between us to bring back the old order of things."
Lisbeth was silent.
It has a wonderful old-fashioned rose garden, and you are fond of roses,
Lisbeth."
"Yes," she murmured; "I'm very fond of roses."
"They would be in full bloom now," I suggested.
There was another pause, during which the blackbird performed three
or four difficult arias with astonishing ease and precision.
"Aunt Agatha is fond of roses, too!" said Lisbeth at last very gravely.
"Poor, dear Aunt, I wonder what she would say if she could see us
now?"
"Such things are better left to the imagination," I answered!"

"I ought to write and tell her," murmured Lisbeth.
"But you won't do that, of course?"
"No, I won't do that if - "
"Well?"
"If you will give me - them,"
"One," I demurred.
"Both!"
0n one condition then-just once, Lisbeth?"
Her lips were very near, her lashes drooped, and for one delicious
moment she hesitated. Then I felt a little tug at my coat pocket and
springing to he feet she was away with "them" clutched in her hand.
"Trickery!" I cried, and started in pursuit.
There is a path through the woods leading to the Shrubbery at Pane
Court!" Down this she fled, and her laughter came to me on the wind. I
was close upon her when she reached the gate, and darting through,
turned, flushed but triumphant.
"I've won!" she mocked, nodding her head at me.
"Who can cope with the duplicity of a woman?" I retorted! "But,
Lisbeth, you will give me one - just one?"
"It would spoil the pair."
"Oh, very well," I sighed, "good night, Lisbeth," and lifting my cap I
turned away.
There came a ripple of laughter be hind me, something struck me softly
upon the cheek, and stooping, I picked up that which lay half unrolled
at my feet, but when I looked round Lisbeth was gone.
"So presently I thrust "them" into my pocket and walked back slowly
along the river path toward the hospitable shelter of the Three Jolly
Anglers.

II
THE SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM
To sit beside a river on a golden afternoon listening to its whispered
melody,