The Amateur Gentleman
Page 86"Mad of course--yes a madman, poor fellow!" said Barnabas,
thoughtfully.
"And he said your name is Barnabas."
"Why, to be sure, so he did," said Barnabas, rubbing his chin as one
at a loss, "which is very strange, for I never saw or heard of him
before."
"So then, your name is--Barnabas?"
"Yes. Barnabas Bar--Beverley."
"Beverley?"
"Yes--Beverley. But we must go."
"First, tell me how you learned my name?"
"From the Viscount--Viscount Devenham?"
"Then, you know the Viscount?"
"Rivals? For what?"
"Yourself."
"For me? Sir--sir--what did you tell him?"
"My name is Barnabas. And I told him that I should probably marry you,
some day."
"You told him--that?"
"I did. I thought it but honorable, seeing he is my friend."
"Your friend!--since when, sir?"
"Since about ten o'clock this morning."
"Sir--sir--are you not a very precipitate person?"
"I begin to think I am. And my name is Barnabas."
"Since ten o'clock this morning! Then you knew--me first?"
Swiftly she turned away, yet not before he had seen the betraying
dimple in her cheek. And so, side by side, they came to the edge of
the clearing.
Now as he stooped to open a way for her among the brambles, she must
needs behold again the glowing mark upon his cheek, and seeing it,
her glance fell, and her lips grew very tender and pitiful, and, in
that moment, she spoke.
"Sir," she said, very softly, "sir?"
"My name is Barnabas."
"I fear--I--does your cheek pain you very much, Mr. Beverley?"
"Thank you, no. And my name is Barnabas."
"I did not mean to--to--"
pain is quite gone," he stammered, holding aside the brambles for
her passage. Yet she stood where she was, and her face was hidden in
her hood. At last she spoke and her voice was very low.
"Quite gone, sir?"
"Quite gone, and my name is--"
"I'm very--glad--Barnabas."
Four words only, be it noted; yet on the face of Barnabas was a
light that was not of the moon, as they entered the dim woodland
together.