“It was well for him,” said Dalton, immediately after he had left them, “that I hadn't a loaded pistol in my hand—but no, dear Mave,” he added, checking himself, “the hasty temper and the hasty blow is the fault of our family, an' so far as I am consarned, I'll do everything to overcome it.”
Mave now examined him somewhat more earnestly than she had done; and although grieved at his thin and wasted appearance, yet she could not help being forcibly struck by the singular clearness and manly beauty of his features. And yet this beauty filled her heart with anything but satisfaction; for on contemplating it, she saw that it was over-shadowed by an expression of such settled sorrow and dejection, as it was impossible to look upon without the deepest compassion and sympathy.
“We had betther rest a little, dear Mave,” he said; “you must be fatigued, and so am I. Turn back a little, will you, an' let us sit upon the Grey Stone; it's the only thing in the shape of a seat that is now near us. Have you any objection?”
“None in the world,” she replied; “I'll be time enough at my uncle's, especially as I don't intend to come home to-night.”
They accordingly sauntered back, and took their seat upon a ledge of the stone in question, that almost concealed them from observation; after which the dialogue proceeded as follows:
“Condy,” observed Mave, “I was glad to hear that you recovered from the fever; but I'm sorry to see you look so ill: there is a great deal of care in your face.”
“There is, dear Mave; there is,” he replied, with a melancholy smile, “an' a great deal of care in my heart. You look thin yourself, and careworn too, dear.”
“We are not without our own struggles at home,” she replied, “as, indeed, who is now? But we had more than ourselves to fret for.”
“Who?” he asked; but on putting the question, he saw a look of such tender reproach in her eye as touched him.
“Kind heart!” he exclaimed; “kindest and best of hearts, why should I ax such a question? Surely I ought to know you. I am glad I met you, Mave, for I have many things to say to you, an' it's hard to say when I may have an opportunity again.”