She glanced up at him with those large, shy eyes, and instantly veiled them again, while the blush deepened on her cheek. Her heart—her disobedient, rebellious heart, that would not be calm when she bade it—was beating fast against her bosom, as it ever beat, when he looked at her, or spoke to her. To have saved her soul alive, she could not have put her motive into words, and told him that she ever feared her society, or even her presence, might not be as acceptable to Mrs. Clifton’s visitors as it was to that kind lady herself. She only bowed her head and blushed the deeper that she could not answer, and yet deeper still, that she felt him gazing on her. He was gazing on her!—gazing down on that beautiful, dark auburn hair, rippling and glittering under the light of the lamp—on that broad monarchal forehead, on those even eyebrows and long eyelashes, dropping fine shadows on the glowing cheek—yes! gazing and thinking of Major Cabell’s enthusiastic admiration, and wondering why all the world did not agree with him in thinking that countenance grandly beautiful! Yet even while admiring her so much, he spoke angrily, and said—
“Catherine! You have a second habit even worse than the first! Lately you have taken up the practice of not replying to me when I ask you a question—and when you are obliged to raise your eyes to mine, you drop them instantly as if mine burnt them. Now I have always disliked and suspected eyes that cannot look freely into other eyes!”
At this the very forehead of the girl burned with a crimson flush. Clifton took hold of her hand, which fluttered in his own like a frightened bird, and said, in a kinder tone—
“Come, my child! see now if you can look me honestly in the face, and tell me why you will not talk to me?”
But Kate’s distress became so great that Mrs. Clifton interposed, and said—
“Do, Archer, leave her alone! It does seem to me, son, that you take a malicious pleasure in tormenting that poor girl because she is so shy! Don’t mind him, Kate! He has been a tease ever since he was a boy, when he used to pull the ears of kittens and puppy dogs. Take up your work, child, and hurry on with it. And you, Archer! I am as much surprised as pleased to see you back here to-night. To what am I indebted for the pleasure?”
“My dear mother, I will tell you after awhile—let me be quiet now a little time.”
And Mrs. Clifton looked up in surprise, and noticed, for the first time, how deeply troubled was Archer Clifton’s face. After watching him a few minutes as he sat and watched Kate, she said, suddenly—
“Oh! I have a letter for you—arrived by the afternoon mail. Henry brought it from the post-office this evening after you left. Perhaps it was in quest of that you came, and its contents may dispel your uneasiness,” and rising, the lady went to the card rack, hanging above the mantle-piece, and brought him a letter, which he tore open and read hastily. Then starting up, he exclaimed, “Good! Good! Most excellent, most opportune!”
“What is it, my dear Archer? I am very glad it gives you such satisfaction, at any rate! What is it?”