He stopped and stared at her in the moonlight, a dark frown on his
face, his eyes heavy with doubt and suspicion.
"Look here, my girl," he said, "you are showing up in a new light
to-night. You are talking as your mother used to talk. And you aren't
doing it without a purpose. What is it? What grudge can you, a mere
girl who has only known him for a couple of days, have against Sir
Stephen?"
She smiled.
"Let us say that I am only concerned for my father's wounded pride and
honour," she said. "Or let us say that I _have_ a game of my own to
play, and that I am asking you to help me while you gratify your own
desire for revenge. Will you help me?"
"Tell me--tell me what your game is. Good Lord!"--with a scowl. "Fancy
you having a game: it's--it's ridiculous!"
"Almost as ridiculous as calling me a girl and expecting to see me
playing with a doll or a hoop," she returned, calmly. "But you needn't
reply. I can see you mean to do it, like a good and indulgent father;
and some day, perhaps soon, I will, like a good and dutiful daughter,
tell you why I wanted you to do it. Is that you, Mr. Orme? Will I come
and sing? Oh, yes, if you wish it. Where is the little dog?" she asked,
looking up at him with a new expression in her languorous eyes, as she
glided beside him.
"Asleep on my bed," replied Stafford, with a laugh. "My man has turned
him off and made him a luxurious couch with cushions three or four
times, but he would persist on getting on again, so he'll have to stay,
I suppose?"
"Are you always so good-natured?" she asked, in a low voice. "Or do you
reserve all your tenderness of heart for dogs and horses--as Mr. Howard
declares?"
"Mr. Howard is too often an ass," remarked Stafford, with a smile.
"You shall choose your song, as a reward for your exertions this
afternoon," she said, as he led her to the piano.
Most of the men in the crowd waiting eagerly for the exquisite voice
would have been moved to the heart's core by her tone and the
expression in her usually cold eyes, but Stafford was clothed in the
armour of his great love, and only inclined his head.
"Thanks: anything you like," he said, with the proper amount of
gratitude.