little novels-第72章

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While　Percy　was　absorbed　over　this　strange　discovery；　Major　Mulvany　had　got　within　speaking　distance　of　the　young　lady　and　of　her　mother；　as　they　stood　together　in　conversation　with　Captain　Bervie。　〃My　dear　Mrs。　Bowmore；　how　well　you　are　looking！　My　dear　Miss　Charlotte；　what　a　sensation　you　have　made　already！　The　glorious　simplicity　（if　I　may　so　express　myself）　of　your　dress　isiswhat　was　I　going　to　say？the　ideas　come　thronging　on　me；　I　merely　want　words。〃

Miss　Bowmore's　magnificent　brown　eyes；　wandering　from　the　Major　to　Percy；　rested　on　the　young　man　with　a　modest　and　momentary　interest；　which　Captain　Bervie's　jealous　attention　instantly　detected。

〃They　are　forming　a　dance；〃　he　said；　pressing　forward　impatiently　to　claim　his　partner。　〃If　we　don't　take　our　places　we　shall　be　too　late。〃

〃Stop！　stop！〃　cried　the　Major。　〃There　is　a　time　for　everything；　and　this　is　the　time　for　presenting　my　dear　friend　here；　Mr。　Percy　Linwood。　He　is　like　me；　Miss　Charlotte_he_　has　been　struck　by　your　glorious　simplicity；　and　_he_　wants　words。〃　At　this　part　of　the　presentation；　he　happened　to　look　toward　the　irate　Captain；　and　instantly　gave　him　a　hint　on　the　subject　of　his　temper。　〃I　say；　Arthur　Bervie！　we　are　all　good…humored　people　here。　What　have　you　got　on　your　eyebrows？　It　looks　like　a　frown；　and　it　doesn't　become　you。　Send　for　a　skilled　waiter；　and　have　it　brushed　off　and　taken　away　directly！〃

〃May　I　ask；　Miss　Bowmore；　if　you　are　disengaged　for　the　next　dance？〃　said　Percy；　the　moment　the　Major　gave　him　an　opportunity　of　speaking。

〃Miss　Bowmore　is　engaged　to　_me_　for　the　next　dance；〃　said　the　angry　Captain；　before　the　young　lady　could　answer。

〃The　third　dance；　then？〃　Percy　persisted；　with　his　brightest　smile。

〃With　pleasure；　Mr。　Linwood；〃　said　Miss　Bowmore。　She　would　have　been　no　true　woman　if　she　had　not　resented　the　open　exhibition　of　Arthur's　jealousy；　it　was　like　asserting　a　right　over　her　to　which　he　had　not　the　shadow　of　a　claim。　She　threw　a　look　at　Percy　as　her　partner　led　her　away；　which　was　the　severest　punishment　she　could　inflict　on　the　man　who　ardently　loved　her。

The　third　dance　stood　in　the　programme　as　a　waltz。

In　jealous　distrust　of　Percy；　the　Captain　took　the　conductor　of　the　band　aside；　and　used　his　authority　as　committeeman　to　substitute　another　dance。　He　had　no　sooner　turned　his　back　on　the　orchestra　than　the　wife　of　the　Colonel　of　the　regiment；　who　had　heard　him；　spoke　to　the　conductor　in　her　turn；　and　insisted　on　the　original　programme　being　retained。　〃Quote　the　Colonel's　authority；〃　said　the　lady；　〃if　Captain　Bervie　ventures　to　object。〃　In　the　meantime；　the　Captain；　on　his　way　to　rejoin　Charlotte；　was　met　by　one　of　his　brother　officers；　who　summoned　him　officially　to　an　impending　debate　of　the　committee　charged　with　the　administrative　arrangements　of　the　supper…table。　Bervie　had　no　choice　but　to　follow　his　brother　officer　to　the　committee…room。

Barely　a　minute　later　the　conductor　appeared　at　his　desk；　and　the　first　notes　of　the　music　rose　low　and　plaintive；　introducing　the　third　dance。

〃Percy；　my　boy！〃　cried　the　Major；　recognizing　the　melody；　〃you're　in　luck's　wayit's　going　to　be　a　wa　ltz！〃

Almost　as　he　spoke；　the　notes　of　the　symphony　glided　by　subtle　modulations　into　the　inspiriting　air　of　the　waltz。　Percy　claimed　his　partner's　hand。　Miss　Charlotte　hesitated；　and　looked　at　her　mother。

〃Surely　you　waltz？〃　said　Percy。

〃I　have　learned　to　waltz；〃　she　answered；　modestly；　〃but　this　is　such　a　large　room；　and　there　are　so　many　people！〃

〃Once　round；〃　Percy　pleaded；　〃only　once　round！〃

Miss　Bowmore　looked　again　at　her　mother。　Her　foot　was　keeping　time　with　the　music；　under　her　dress；　her　heart　was　beating　with　a　delicious　excitement；　kind…hearted　Mrs。　Bowmore　smiled　and　said：　〃Once　round；　my　dear；　as　Mr。　Linwood　suggests。〃

In　another　moment　Percy's　arm　took　possession　of　her　waist；　and　they　were　away　on　the　wings　of　the　waltz！

Could　words　describe；　could　thought　realize；　the　exquisite　enjoyment　of　the　dance？　Enjoyment？　It　was　moreit　was　an　epoch　in　Charlotte's　lifeit　was　the　first　time　she　had　waltzed　with　a　man。　What　a　difference　between　the　fervent　clasp　of　Percy's　arm　and　the　cold；　formal　contact　of　the　mistress　who　had　taught　her！　How　brightly　his　eyes　looked　down　into　hers；　admiring　her　with　such　a　tender　restraint；　that　there　could　surely　be　no　harm　in　looking　up　at　him　now　and　then　in　return。　Round　and　round　they　glided；　absorbed　in　the　music　and　in　themselves。　Occasionally　her　bosom　just　touched　him；　at　those　critical　moments　when　she　was　most　in　need　of　support。　At　other　intervals；　she　almost　let　her　head　sink　on　his　shoulder　in　trying　to　hide　from　him　the　smile　which　acknowledged　his　admiration　too　boldly。　〃Once　round；〃　Percy　had　suggested；　〃once　round；〃　her　mother　had　said。　They　had　been　ten；　twenty；　thirty　times　round；　they　had　never　stopped　to　rest　like　other　dancers；　they　had　centered　the　eyes　of　the　whole　room　on　themincluding　the　eyes　of　Captain　Berviewithout　knowing　it；　her　delicately　pale　complexion　had　changed　to　rosy…red；　the　neat　arrangement　of　her　hair　had　become　disturbed；　her　bosom　was　rising　and　falling　faster　and　faster　in　the　effort　to　breathebefore　fatigue　and　heat　overpowered　her　at　last；　and　forced　her　to　say　to　him　faintly；　〃I'm　very　sorryI　can't　dance　any　more！〃

Percy　led　her　into　the　cooler　atmosphere　of　the　refreshment…room；　and　revived　her　with　a　glass　of　lemonade。　Her　arm　still　rested　on　hisshe　was　just　about　to　thank　him　for　the　care　he　had　taken　of　herwhen　Captain　Bervie　entered　the　room。

〃Mrs。　Bowmore　wishes　me　to　take　you　back　to　her；〃　he　said　to　Charlotte。　Then；　turning　to　Percy；　he　added：　〃Will　you　kindly　wait　here　while　I　take　Miss　Bowmore　to　the　ballroom？　I　have　a　word　to　say　to　youI　will　return　directly。〃

The　Captain　spoke　with　perfect　politenessbut　his　face　betrayed　him。　It　was　pale　with　the　sinister　whiteness　of　suppressed　rage。

Percy　sat　down　to　cool　and　rest　himself。　With　his　experience　of　the　ways　of　men；　he　felt　no　surprise　at　the　marked　contrast　between　Captain　Bervie's　face　and　Captain　Bervie's　manner。　〃He　has　seen　us　waltzing；　and　he　is　coming　back　to　pick　a　quarrel　with　me。〃　Such　was　the　interpretation　which　Mr。　Linwood's　knowledge　of　the　world　placed　on　Captain　Bervie's　politeness。　In　a　minute　or　two　more　the　Captain　returned　to　the　refreshment…room；　and　satisfied　Percy　that　his　anticipations　had　not　deceived　him。

CHAPTER　VI。

LOVE。

FOUR　days　had　passed　since　the　night　of　the　ball。

Although　it　was　no　later　in　the　year　than　the　month　of　February；　the　sun　was　shining　brightly；　and　the　air　was　as　soft　as　the　air　of　a　day　in　spring。　Percy　and　Charlotte　were　walking　together　in　the　little　garden　at　the　back　of　Mr。　Bowmore's　cottage；　near　the　town　of　Dartford；　in　Kent。

〃Mr。　Linwood；〃　said　the　young　lady；　〃you　were　to　have　paid　us　your　first　visit　the　day　after　the　ball。　Why　have　you　kept　us　waiting？　Have　you　been　too　busy　to　remember　your　new　friends？〃

〃I　have　counted　the　hours　since　we　parted；　Miss　Charlotte。　If　I　had　not　been　detained　by　business〃

〃I　understand！　For　three　days　business　has　controlled　you。　On　the　fourth　day；　you　have　controlled　businessand　here　you　are？　I　don't　believe　one　word　of　it；　Mr。　Linwood！〃

There　was　no　answering　such　a　declaration　as　this。　Guiltily　conscious　that　Charlotte　was　right　in　refusing　to　accept　his　well…worn　excuse；　Percy　made　an　awkward　attempt　to　change　the　topic　of　conversation。

They　happened；　at　the　moment；　to　be　standing　near　a　small　conservatory　at　the　end　of　the　garden。　The　glass　door　was　closed；　and　the　few　plants　and　shrubs　inside　had　a　lonely；　neglected　look。　〃Does　nobody　ever　visit　this　secluded　place？〃　Percy　asked；　jocosely；　〃or　does　it　hide　discoveries　in　the　rearing　of　plants　which　are　forbidden　mysteries　to　a　stranger？〃

〃Satisfy　your　curiosity；　Mr。　Linwood；　by　all　means；〃　Charlotte　answered　in　the　same　tone。　〃Open　the　door；　and　I　will　follow　you。〃

Percy　obeyed。　In　passing　through　the　doorway；　he　encountered　the　bare　hanging　branches　of　some　creeping　plant；　long　since　dead；　and　detached　from　its　fastenings　on　the　woodwork　of　the　roof。　He　pushed　aside　the　branches　so　that　Charlotte　could　easily　follow　him　in；　without　being　aware　that　his　own