第26章

Ormiston - owe it to you and another; and I thank you both with all my heart.""Madame, you are too grateful; and I don't know as we have done anything much to deserve it.""You have saved my life; and though you may think that a valueless trifle, not worth speaking of, I assure you I view it in a very different light," she said, with a half smile.

"Lady, your life is invaluable; but as to our saving it, why, you would not have us throw you alive into the plague-pit, would you?""It would have been rather barbarous, I confess, but there are few who would risk infection for the sake of a mere stranger.

Instead of doing as you did, you might have sent me to the pest-house, you know."

"Oh, as to that, all your gratitude is due to Sir Norman.He managed the whole affair, and what is more, fell - but I will leave that for himself to disclose.Meantime, may I ask the name of the lady I have been so fortunate as to serve!""Undoubtedly, sir - my name is Leoline."

"Leoline is only half a name."

"Then I am so unfortunate an only to possess half a name, for Inever had any other."

Ormiston opened his eyes very wide indeed.

"No other! you must have had a father some time in your life;most people have," said the young gentleman, reflectively.

She shook her head a little sadly.

"I never had, that I know of, either father or mother, or any one but Prudence.And by the way," she said, half starting up, "the first thing to be done is, to see about this same Prudence.She must be somewhere in the house.""Prudence is nowhere in the house," said Ormiston, quietly; "and will not be, she says, far a month to come.She is afraid of the plague.""Is she?" said Leoline, fixing her eyes on him with a powerful glance."How do you know that?""I heard her say so not half an hour ago, to a lady a few doors distant.Perhaps you know her - La Masque.""That singular being! I don't know her; but I have seen her often.Why was Prudence talking of me to her, I wonder?""That I do not know; but talking of you the was, and she said she was coming back here no more.Perhaps you will be afraid to stay here alone?""Oh no, I am used to being alone," she said, with a little sigh, "but where" - hesitating and blushing vividly, " where is - Imean, I should like to thank sir Norman Kingsley."Ormiston saw the blush and the eyes that dropped, and it puzzled him again beyond measure.

"Do you know Sir Norman Kingsley?" he suspiciously asked.

"By sight I know many of the nobles of the court," she answered evasively, and without looking up: "they pass here often, and Prudence knows them all; and so I have learned to distinguish them by name and sight, your friend among the rest.""And you would like to see my friend?" he said, with malicious emphasis.

"I would like to thank him," retorted the lady, with some asperity: "you have told me how much I owe him, and it strikes me the desire is somewhat natural.""Without doubt it is, and it will save Sir Norman much fruitless labor; for even now he is in search at you, and will neither rest nor sleep until he finds you.""In search of me!" she said softly, and with that rosy glow again illumining her beautiful face; "he is indeed kind, and I am most anxious to thank him.""I will bring him here in two hours, then," said Ormiston, with energy; "and though the hour may be a little unseasonable, I hope you will not object to it; for if you do, he will certainly not survive until morning."She gayly laughed, but her cheek was scarlet.

"Rather than that, Mr.Ormiston, I will even see him tonight.

You will find me here when you come."

"You will not run away again, will you?" said Ormiston, looking at her doubtfully."Excuse me; but you have a trick of doing that, you know."Again she laughed merrily.

"I think you may safely trust me this time.Are you going?"By way of reply, Ormiston took his hat and started for the door.

There he paused, with his hand upon it.

"How long have you known Sir Norman Kingsley?" was his careless, artful question.

But Leoline, tapping one little foot on the floor, and looking down at it with hot cheeks and humid ayes, answered not a word.