The melody broke off. There was a burst of laughter; and then Ellinor’s voice, with an unusual sound of young merriment in it, sprang up into hearing as a crystal fountain springs into sight:
“Foolish boy, there are no roses here!”
Sir David started. His eyes remained fixed, but they no longer saw. In yet another moment he had turned away and was gone, leaving Colonel Harcourt staring after him.
“’Pon my life,” said the roué to himself, “the woman was right—My God, he’s mad for her!”
Upon a second and more composed thought, he began to chuckle and feel his own personality resume its lost importance.
“The situation is becoming interesting,” he thought. His eye fell on the key, forgotten in the lock and he broke into a short laugh. He then unlocked the gate, slipped the key into his pocket and walked into the garden.
“I had no idea,” he said, addressing the balm beds, as he passed them, “that I could be such a useful friend to my Lady.”
CHAPTER V
SILENT NIGHT THE REFUGE
My life has crept so long on a broken wing
Thro’ cells of madness, haunts of horror and fear,