"We can all speak the truth, I hope, and the fellow doesn't even do that."
"Ah!" she says coldly. "Then it would be useless to ask you to stay to dinner and spend the evening in such company?"
It is what he has been longing to do; but something in her voice or her face as she turns aside jars upon him. As they stand there they can hear the thud of horses' hoofs coming at a rapid pace down the Boyne road—it is Mrs. Dundas's guests returning. It is getting dark fast now, and the wind is already furious in its strength as it sweeps down from the mountains.
"Do shut that window, Launce, or we shall have all the lamps blown out!"
He does her bidding mechanically; then he turns and looks at her standing beside him in her pretty gown, the one woman, so he tells himself, who is all in all to him.
Nearer and nearer come the hoof-beats; the precious moments are flying fast; and if they are to make up their little quarrel to-night there is no time to lose.
"I am going now, Kate. Am I to go like this?"
"You are so cross, Launce," she murmurs.
"Nay, give things their right names! Say I am jealous—madly jealous, because I am in love!"
"Oh, if you are only jealous, dear——"