Only one love : $b or, Who was the heirGarvice, Charles
General
Only one love : $b or, Who was the heir
Garvice, Charles
Dime novels; English fiction
Jack stood near the stern, and took Una's hand in his to help her to
embark.
"Take care," he said, aloud, then in an undertone, he added: "I shall
see you at Richmond."
"Are you going to row the outrigger down, Savage?" said Dalrymple, eying
the first boat enviously.
Jack turned to him eagerly.
"No, I'll take your place in this boat; I can see you are longing for
mine. Here, get in"; and before Dalrymple could refuse, Jack had almost
lifted him into the outrigger, and leaped into his place in Lady Bell's
boat.
All the darkness vanished from his brow. He was sitting opposite Una; so
near, that when he leaned forward to make the stroke, his hand almost
touched her dress.
"Are you coming with us?" said Lady Bell; "I am so glad."
"So am I," said Jack; but his eyes went to Una's face.
"Now, then," said Jack, as he bent forward.
"Steady, old man," said Sir Arkroyd; "we haven't all got blacksmith's
muscles!"
But Jack was wild, delirious with joy, and he pulled, heart and soul,
his great, strong arms bare to the elbows.
"What a lovely night!" said Lady Bell. "Won't anybody sing?"
Of course no one replied.
"Sing something, my dear child," she said to Una. "You have a singing
face. You have no idea how beautiful it sounds on the water."
"Oh, no, no," said Una, shrinking modestly.
Jack looked up.
"Sing," he murmured, pleadingly. As if he had uttered a command, she
looked at him with meek obedience, and began the song he had heard her
singing in the forest.
Is there anything more exquisite on earth than the voice of a young
girl? Una knew nothing of the science of song; she had had no master, no
instruction of any sort; but her voice was clear and musical as a young
thrush's and she sang straight from her heart.
No need to tell Jack to pull slower! He ceased rowing, and rested on his
oar, his eyes fixed on her face, his lips half apart.
The other boats stopped also as the music of the sweet, young voice
floated down the stream, and one and all felt the spell.
Lady Bell sat with lowered lids and pale face, and when the last note
died away and she looked up, her eyes were moist.
"My dear," she said, in a low voice, "where did you learn to sing like
that?"
Una, half frightened at the effect she had produced, flushed and sank
back into her seat.
"I have never learned," she said, quietly.
There was a murmur, and Lady Clarence turned and looked at her
curiously.
"You have a beautiful voice," she said, "and exquisite taste, or you
could not sing as you do. It is a pity you have not been thoroughly
trained. You should have a master."
"She shall!" said Lady Bell, impulsively. "She shall have the best. It
would be criminal to let such a gift be wasted!"
Jack looked up with a flush of pleased gratitude, and Lady Bell happened
to catch that glance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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