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Updated: June 22, 2025
From Dromore's face the chaffing look went, like a candle-flame blown out; and a coppery flush spread over it. For some seconds he did not speak, then, jerking his head towards the picture, he muttered gruffly: "Never had the chance of marrying, there; Nell's 'outside." A sort of anger leaped in Lennan; why should Dromore speak that word as if he were ashamed of his own daughter?
Then swaying a little, so that her hair and the flower in it almost touched his face, she passed, and there in her stead stood Oliver. Lennan had expected one of his old insolent looks, but the young man's face was eager and quite friendly. "It was awfully good of you to come, Mr. Lennan. Is Mrs. Lennan "
She was sitting in her father's chair, and on the window-sill they saw a young man lolling, who rose and stood stock-still, with an almost insolent expression on his broad, good-looking face. Lennan scrutinized him with interest about twenty-four he might be, rather dandified, clean-shaved, with crisp dark hair and wide-set hazel eyes, and, as in his photograph, a curious look of daring.
But, instead, she only murmured: "But you HAVE reached me!" swayed towards him, and put her lips to his. He gave way then. From that too stormy kiss of his she drew back for a second, then, as if afraid of her own recoil, snuggled close again. But the instinctive shrinking of innocence had been enough for Lennan he dropped his arms and said: "You must go, child."
And he repeated those two French words in his own way, adding: "Isn't that just what I'm saying? The sooner he stands clear, the better." But Mrs. Ercott, too, sat up. "Be human," she said. The Colonel experienced the same sensation as when one suddenly knows that one is not digesting food. Because young Lennan was in danger of getting into a dishonourable fix, he was told to be human!
All was loathsome, herself loathsome! All was a void! Hateful, hateful, hateful! It was like having no heart at all! And that same evening, when her husband had gone down to the House, she wrote to Lennan: "Our love must never turn to earthiness as it might have this afternoon. Everything is black and hopeless. HE suspects. For you to come here is impossible, and too dreadful for us both.
When she had smiled and shaken her head, he would retreat, and after holding his breath to see if Dolly were asleep, would restore his feet, slightly kicking the Irishman. After one such expedition, for full ten minutes he remained awake, wondering at her tireless immobility. For indeed she was spending this night entranced, with the feeling that Lennan was beside her, holding her hand in his.
Would it have come so confidingly to anyone but her? The Colonel knew its name he had collected it. Very common, he said. The interest in it passed; but Lennan stayed, bent forward, gazing at that silk-covered knee. The voice of Mrs. Ercott, sharper than its wont, said: "What day does Robert say he wants you back, my dear?"
They did not ask if he had seen her being too kind, and perhaps afraid that he would say 'Yes, which would be embarrassing; or that he would say 'No, which would be still more embarrassing when they found that he ought to have said 'Yes. Would he not come and sit with them a little they were going presently to see how Olive was? Lennan perceived that they were warning him.
He entered with 'Dromore' composure, very well groomed, in a silk hat, a cut-away black coat and charming lemon-coloured gloves; what, indeed, the youth did, besides belonging to the Yeomanry and hunting all the winter, seemed known only to himself. He made no excuse for interrupting Lennan, and for some time sat silently smoking his cigarette, and pulling the ears of the dogs.
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