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"Where?" inquired Barnabas, glancing up hastily. "Ssh! behind us on the other side of the hedge clever minx!" "Why then " "Sit still, sir hush, I say!" "So that is the reason," said Cleone's clear voice, speaking within a yard of them, "that is why you dislike Mr. Beverley?"
"Here it is, Barnabas," said she, as soon as the others were out of ear-shot. "What, madam?" "Oh, dear me, how frightfully dense you are, Barnabas!" she exclaimed, fumbling in her reticule. "What should it be but a letter, to be sure Cleone's letter." "A letter from Cleone! Oh, Duchess " "Here take it. She wrote it last night poor child didn't sleep a wink, I know, and all on your account, sir.
But Barnabas strode on heedless and deaf to it all. Headlong he went, his cloak fluttering, his head stooped low, hearing nothing, seeing nothing, taking no thought of time or direction, or of his ruined career, since none of these were in his mind, but only the words of Cleone's letter.
"Oh my dear," she murmured, "oh Barnabas dear, I think I can guess now. And I'm sure the boy can't see us here!" No, surely, neither this particular brook nor any other water-brook, stream or freshet, that ever sang, or sighed, or murmured among the reeds, could ever hope to catch all the thrilling tenderness of the sweet soft tones of Cleone's voice. A brook indeed? Ridiculous!
"Might I jest take a peep at that theer letter, v'ere it says seven-thirty, sir?" "Yes," said Barnabas, pointing to a certain line of Cleone's letter, "here it is!" "Ah," exclaimed Mr. Shrig, nodding and rubbing his hands again, "your eyes is good 'uns, ain't they, sir?" "Yes." "Then jest take a good look at that theer seven-thirty, vill you, sir come, vot do you see?"
"I I'm going home!" she said, not looking at him. "Then I will come with you, if I may?" "I had rather go alone with my brother." "So pray s-stand aside, sir!" said Barrymaine haughtily through his swollen lips, staggering a little despite Cleone's arm. "Sir," said Barnabas pleadingly, "I struck you a while ago, but it was the only way to save you from a greater evil, as you know "
But, in a while, remembering Cleone's note, he must needs check his speed, and taking the paper from his bosom, began to con it over: 1. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Selfishness shall find its own reward. Journeys end in lovers' meetings.
Why, I tell you again," he cried in rising passion, "that I couldn't get free of Gaunt's talons even if I had the money, and mine's all gone long ago, and half Cleone's beside, her Guardian's tied up the rest. She can't touch another penny without his consent, damn him! so I'm done. The future? In the future is a debtor's prison that opens for me whenever Jasper Gaunt says the word. Hope?
And now, my dear," she continued, speaking in Cleone's ear as Barnabas and the Captain moved on, "he simply adores you!" "Really, God-mother how clever of you!" said Cleone, her eyes brim full of merriment, "how wonderful you are!" "Yes, my lady Pert, he worships you and, consequently, is deceiving you with every breath he draws!" "Deceiving me !" "With every moment he lives!"
Because I think I could love this humble fellow, Barnabas." The moon, of course, has looked on many a happy lover, yet where find one, before or since, more radiant than young Barnabas; and the brook, even in its softest, most tender murmurs, could never hope to catch the faintest echo of Cleone's voice or the indescribable thrill of it.
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