Flora came, wearing a blue and orange bandanna, and the great gold hoops in her ears glittering in the sun.
Each day, now, it appeared, Lady Johnson retired for an hour's repose whilst Claudia read to her; and that hour had arrived.
"You dine with us, of course," said Lady Johnson, going, and looking at me earnestly. Then there was a sudden flash of tears; but none fell.
"My dear, dear Jack," she murmured, as I laid my lips against both her hands.... And so she went into the house, Claudia lingering, having shamelessly pressed my hand, and a devil laughing at me out of her two eyes.
"Is there news of Sir John to comfort us?" she whispered, making a caress of her voice as she knew so well how to do.
"And if I have any, I may not tell you, Claudia," said I.
"Oh, la! Aid and comfort to the enemy? Is it that, Jack? And if you but wink me news that Sir John is safe?"
"I may not even wink," said I, smiling forlornly.
"Aye? So! That's it, is it! A wink from you at me, and pouf!--a courtmartial! Bang! A squad of execution! Is that it, Jack?"
"Lord! If men really got their deserts, procreation would cease, and the world, depopulated, revert to the forest beasts. Well, then--so Sir John is got away?"
"You wear upon your honest countenance all the news you contain, dear Jack," said she gaily. "It was always so; any woman may read you like a printed page--if she trouble to do it.... And so! Sir John is safe at last! Well, thank God for that.... You may kiss my cheek if you ask me."
She drew too near me, but I had no mind for more trouble than now possessed me, so let her pretty hand lie lightly on my arm, and endured the melting danger of her gaze.
She said, while the smile died on her lips, "I jest with you, Jack. But you _are_ dear to me."
"Dear as any trophy," said I. "No woman ever willingly lets any victim entirely escape."
"You do not guess what you could do with me--if you would," she said.
"No. But I guess what you could do to me, again, if you had an opportunity."
But the gentle protest alarmed me. And she was too near me; and the fresh scent of her hair and skin were troubling me.
And, more than that, there persisted a dull soreness in my breast,--something that had hurt me unperceived--an unease which was not pain, yet, at times, seemed to start a faint, sick throbbing like a wound.