Mrs. Geoffrey. Duchess

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СКАЧАТЬ him, and, by a supreme effort, and by right of her fresh youth and perfect health, draws him herself to land.

      In a minute or two the whole affair proves itself a very small thing indeed, with little that can be termed tragical about it. Geoffrey comes slowly back to life, and in the coming breathes her name. Once again he is trying to reach the distant fern; once again it eludes his grasp. He has it; no, he hasn't; yet, he has. Then at last he wakes to the fact that he has indeed got it in earnest, and that the blood is flowing from a slight wound in the back of his head, which is being staunched by tender fingers, and that he himself is lying in Mona's arms.

      He sighs, and looks straight into the lovely frightened eyes bending over him. Then the color comes with a sudden rush back into his cheeks as he tells himself she will look upon him as nothing less than a "poor creature" to lose consciousness and behave like a silly girl for so slight a cause. And something else he feels. Above and beyond everything is a sense of utter happiness, such as he has never known before, a thrill of rapture that has in it something of peace, and that comes from the touch of the little brown hand that rests so lightly on his head.

      "Do not stir. Your head is badly cut, an' it bleeds still," says Mona, with a shoulder. "I cannot stop it. Oh, what shall I do?"

      "Who got me out of the water?" asks he, lazily, pretending (hypocrite that he is) to be still overpowered with weakness. "And when did you come?"

      "Just now," returns she, with some hesitation, and a rich accession of coloring, that renders her even prettier than she was a moment since. Because

      "From every blush that kindles in her cheeks,

      Ten thousand little loves and graces spring."

      Her confusion, however, and the fact that no one else is near, betrays the secret she fain would hide.

      "Was it you?" asks he, raising himself on his elbow to regard her earnestly, though very loath to quit the spot where late he has been tenant. "You? Oh, Mona!"

      It is the first time he has ever called her by her Christian name without a prefix. The tears rise to her eyes. Feeling herself discovered, she makes her confession slowly, without looking at him, and with an air of indifference so badly assumed as to kill the idea of her ever attaining prominence upon the stage.

      "Yes, it was I," she says. "And why shouldn't I? Is it to see you drown I would? I – I didn't want you to find out; but" – quickly – "I would do the same for any one at any time. You know that."

      "I am sure you would," says Geoffrey, who has risen to his feet and has taken her hand. "Nevertheless, though, as you say, I am but one in the crowd, – and, of course, nothing to you, – I am very glad you did it for me."

      With a little touch of wilfulness, perhaps pride, she withdraws her hand.

      "I dare say," she says, carelessly, purposely mistaking his meaning: "it must have been cold lying there."

      "There are things that chill one more than water," returns he, slightly offended by her tone.

      "You are all wet. Do go home and change your clothes," says Mona, who is still sitting on the grass with her gown spread carefully around her. "Or perhaps" – reluctantly – "it will be better for you to go to the farm, where Bridget will look after you."

      "Thank you; so I shall, if you will come with me."

      "Don't mind me," says Miss Scully, hastily. "I shall follow you by and by."

      "By and by will suit me down to the ground," declares he, easily. "The day is fortunately warm: damp clothes are an advantage rather than otherwise."

      Silence. Mona taps the mound beside her with impatient fingers, her mind being evidently great with thought.

      "I really wish," she says, presently, "you would do what I say. Go to the farm, and – stay there."

      "Well, come with me, and I'll stay till you turn me out.'

      "I can't," faintly.

      "Why not?" in a surprised tone.

      "Because – I prefer staying here."

      "Oh! if you mean by that you want to get rid of me, you might have said so long ago, without all this hinting," says Mr. Rodney, huffily, preparing to beat an indignant retreat.

      "I didn't mean that, and I never hint," exclaims Mona, angrily; "and if you insist on the truth, if I must explain to you what I particularly desire to keep secret, you – "

      "You are hurt!" interrupts he, with passionate remorse. "I see it all now. Stepping into that hateful stream to save me, you injured yourself severely. You are in pain, – you suffer; whilst I – "

      "I am in no pain," says Mona, crimson with shame and mortification. "You mistake everything. I have not even a scratch on me; and – I have no shoes or stockings on me either, if you must know all!"

      She turns from him wrathfully; and Geoffrey, disgusted with himself, steps back and makes no reply. With any other woman of his acquaintance he might perhaps at this juncture have made a mild request that he might be allowed to assist in the lacing or buttoning of her shoes; but with this strange little Irish girl all is different. To make such a remark would be, he feels, to offer her a deliberate insult.

      "There, do go away!" says this woodland goddess. "I am sick of you and your stupidity."

      "I'm sure I don't wonder," says Geoffrey, very humbly. "I beg your pardon a thousand times; and – good-by, Miss Mona."

      She turns involuntarily, through the innate courtesy that belongs to her race, to return his parting salutation, and, looking at him, sees a tiny spot of blood trickling down his forehead from the wound received awhile since.

      On the instant all is forgotten, – chagrin, shame, shoes and stockings, everything! Springing to her little naked feet, she goes to him, and, raising her hand, presses her handkerchief against the ugly stain.

      "It has broken out again!" she says, nervously. "I am sure – I am certain – it is a worst wound than you imagine. Ah! do go home, and get it dressed."

      "But I shouldn't like any one to touch it except you," says Mr. Rodney, truthfully. "Even now, as your fingers press it, I feel relief."

      "Do you really?" asks Mona, earnestly.

      "Honestly, I do."

      "Then just turn your back for one moment," says Mona simply, "and when my shoes and stockings are on I'll go home with you an' bathe it. Now, don't turn round, for your life!"

      "'Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?'" quotes Mr. Rodney; and, Mona having got into her shoes, she tells him he is at liberty to follow her across the rustic bridge lower down, that leads from the wood into Mangle Farm.

      "You have spoiled your gown on my account," says Geoffrey, surveying her remorsefully; "and such a pretty gown, too. I don't think I ever saw you looking sweeter than you look to-day. And now your dress is ruined, and it is all my fault!"

      "How dare you find a defect in my appearance?" says Mona, with her old gay laugh. "You compel me to retaliate. Just look at yourself. Did you ever see such a regular pickle as you are?"

      In truth he is. So when he has acknowledged the melancholy fact, they both laugh, with the happy enjoyment of youth, at their own discomfiture, and go back to СКАЧАТЬ