"What everybody says is rarely true, my lord. We are not betrothed."
"You don't----" exclaimed Drake.
A worm will turn if trodden on too heavily. Falconer turned. His face
grew hot, his dark eyes flashed.
"Yes, my lord, I love her!" he said, and the lowness of his voice only
intensified its emphasis. "I love her so well--so madly, if you
like--that I choose to set conventionality at defiance, and speak the
truth. I love her, but I can never win her, because there is one who
comes between her and me. Wait!"--for Drake had risen, and was gazing
down at the wan face with flashing eyes. "I do not know who he is. She
has never uttered a word to guide me; but I can guess. Wait a moment
longer, my lord! Whoever he may be, he is not worthy of her; but she
cares for him, and that is enough for me, and should be enough for him.
If I were that man----"
He stopped, for his breath had failed him. Drake leaned over him as if
he would drag the conclusion of the sentence from him.
"If I were that man, I'd strive to win her as I'd strive for heaven! Ah,
it would be heaven!" His lips twitched, and he turned his face away for
a moment. "I would count everything else as of no account. I would
thrust all obstacles aside, would go through fire and water to reach
her----"
Drake caught him by the arm.
"Take care!" he said hoarsely. "You bid me hope! Dare I do so?"
Falconer looked at him fixedly.
"Go to her and see. Wait, my lord. I love her as dearly--more dearly,
perhaps, God knows!--than you do. She would be mine at a word."
Drake stood motionless, his face white and set.
"But that word will never be spoken by me. So I prove my love. Prove
yours, my lord, and go to her!"
Drake tried to speak, but could not. His hand closed over Falconer's for
a moment, then he hurried from the room and went down the stairs.
Dick was lounging in the porch with a cigarette, and he stared at
Drake's hurried appearance, at his white, set face.
"Where is Nell? Where is your sister?" Drake demanded.
"Heaven only knows! She went out when you came in. She's in the wood, I
should think."
Drake strode down the path and into the wood. His brain was on fire. She
was free--they were both free! There was heaven in the thought!