But O'Hara had seen the smile. He heaved a great sigh, and said in lugubrious tones: "There is always the river, madam."
My lady's finger wavered and stopped, and her hand tucked itself away into his.
"That is not a nice joke, Miles."
He laughed, and tweaked one of her curls.
"Sure, and did ye not ask for it, asthore?"
"Of course I did not. But about Jack, dear-"
"I thought it was about Jack?"
"Miles, will you be quiet and attend?"
"Yes, m'dear."
"Very well, then. As I have told you, I drove over to Littledean yesterday afternoon, and made the acquaintance of the Miss Beauleighs."
"And what did ye think of them?"
"I thought Diana was wonderfully beautiful-such eyes, Miles!-and such hair! Miss Beauleigh is very amiable, and so droll! I drank a dish of tay with them, and I spoke of Jack-"
"Madcap, never tell me ye called him Carstares?"
"No, you great gaby! Of course I did not. As it chanced, Miss Beauleigh mentioned him first, and she called him Mr. Carr. So I did, too.
And I noticed that Diana said scarce a word about him, and when she did 'twas of the coolest. That, of course, made me all the more certain that she loved him."
O'Hara was plainly puzzled.
"But why should you be certain if she did not speak of him, alanna?"
"'Tis what you'll never understand, my dear, because you are but a man. But no matter-I knew. I quite adored Diana, and determined to talk to her alone. So I admired the roses, and she offered to escort me round the garden, which was what I wanted. We went out together.
I think Diana must have liked me, for-"
"Nonsense!"
"Be quiet, Miles!-for she dropped her ice and became quite friendly. And I talked a lot."
She was aware of a convulsive movement above her, and a suppressed cough. She raised inquiring eyebrows.
"Well, sir?"
"Nothing, asthore-nothing. Go on with the tale-you were saying-"
"That I talked a lot." She paused, and her eyes dared him; then she dimpled and dropped her lashes over them. "I shan't tell you all I said-"
A relieved sigh interrupted her.
"And if you continue to behave in this disagreeable fashion I shall not say another word about anything!"
Having satisfied herself that he was not going to venture a retort, she continued: "We had a long chat, and I gathered, from all she said and left unsaid, that Jack, for some foolish reason, will not ask her to marry him."
"Foolish reason, asthore?" he interrupted.
"Oh, I know you consider it a remarkable fine reason, but I tell you, 'tis rank cruelty to that poor child. As if she cared about highwaymen!"