"I didn't think one of the tribe could be so pleasant," he went on. "He
is greatly interested in my swords, and knows as much of the history of
weapons as I do and more, for he told me where some of them came from
about which I was uncertain."
My grandmother told me afterwards with awe that Dr. Molyneux had talked
about everything but health, and had had all grandpapa's collection of
weapons down from the walls and out of their cases, and had not seemed
to look at grandpapa except in the most casual way; but afterwards had
startled her by asking, "What's on his mind, Lady St. Leger, when he
isn't talking of the swords? Till that is removed I can do little for
his body." I saw it was a ray of light to her through the troubles that
my grandfather had taken kindly to the doctor, and I was very glad.
The next day was the last but one before my wedding, and at last the
Cottage was ready for occupation. So great was my lover's desire to
inhabit it that he had already moved his belongings over there from
Damerstown and was sleeping there. On the afternoon of that day he came
for me to go with him to see and approve of what he had done.
He was so greatly excited about it that he did not notice my reluctance
to go, or perhaps he was used to my way with him, which was surely the
most grudging that ever lover had to endure.
I rather thought my grandmother might have forbidden it. She had always
been so particular about what a girl might not do and had not moved at
all with the times in that respect. But of course everything had been
altered since Richard Dawson's coming; and she only said to him not to
keep me out too late as I was not over-strong.
I had thought we were going to walk, but when we had gone a little way
down the avenue I saw drawn up to one side a very smart motor-brougham
with a smart chauffeur on the box, and I wondered whose it might be.
"It is for you, darling," my lover replied. "Do you not like it, Bawn?
It is a surprise for you."
I wished I could have thanked him better; but nothing gave me any
pleasure. He put me in and tucked me up in a warm rug. It was, indeed, a
most luxurious carriage, and it went like the wind.
"You give me too much," I said for the thousandth time.
"And you give me too little," he answered. "I suppose you think that is
how to keep me. But I should love you just as much--I could not love you
more--if you would be warmer to me."
As we went along at a speed which made the familiar roads oddly strange,
all the landmarks being slurred by the speed, I looked from one side of
the road to the other.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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