"Drake--you believe me?" she whispered. "Don't--don't punish me too
badly! See, I am at your feet--a woman--Drake"--her voice sank to a
whisper, became almost inaudible, and her head drooped forward until it
nearly rested on his breast. "Drake--forgive--me and----"
Her voice broke suddenly.
He was moved to something like pity. Is there any man alive who can
resist the prayer, the touch of a beautiful woman, especially if she is
the woman he has once loved? If such a man there be, his name is not
Drake Selbie.
"Hush!" he said again, but in a gentler voice. "God knows, I loved you,
Luce----"
She uttered a faint cry. It was no louder than the sough of the night
breeze.
"Drake--Drake! ah, Drake!" she breathed, her face lifted to his, her
other hand touching his breast. "Say it again! It's the sweetest music
I've heard since--since----Say it again, Drake. I won't ask for any
more----"
"Don't!" he said hoarsely. The caress of her hand made him miserable; it
had no power to thrill him now. "I want to tell you, Luce----"
"No--no," she said quickly, eagerly. "Don't scold me to-night. I am so
happy now. It is as if I had come back to life. Say it once more, Drake.
Just 'I forgive you'!"
"I forgive you; but, listen, Luce," he added quickly.
She slid her white arm round his neck, and drew his head down and kissed
him. The next moment, before he could say a word, she drew away from him
quickly.
"Go in--I will come presently," she said. "There is some one--there is a
door."
Confused, almost hating her for the kiss she had stolen--with Nell
flashing on his mind--he turned and entered the house by the door to
which she had pointed.
She stood for a moment, then she went toward Lady Chesney. Her face was
pale, but there was a smile on her lips, a glow of triumph in her brown
eyes, as she paused in the light from the open window.
Lady Chesney looked at her, then laughed.
"My dear, you look transformed. Was that--but of course it was! Well?
But one need not ask any questions. Your face tells its own tale."
Luce laughed, and touched her lips with her handkerchief.
"Yes, it was Drake," she said. "What luck! what luck! And they say there
is no Providence!"
"And--and it is all right?" asked Lady Chesney, anxiously.