Page:The Black Moth.pdf/321

 O’Hara turned and faced Richard, who was standing a little in the rear, watching his brother’s face. He met O’Hara’s scathing look squarely.

“Well?”

“Nought,” answered the Irishman cuttingly, and walked over to where Lord Andrew was arguing hotly with his brother.

Carstares returned to my lord’s side and stood looking silently down at him.

Diana suddenly gave a little joyful cry.

“He is coming round! He moved his head! Oh, Jack, my dear one, look at me!” She bent over him with eyes alight with love.

My lord’s eyelids flickered and opened. For a moment he stared at her.

“Why—Diana!”

She took his head between her hands and kissed him full on the mouth. Then she raised his head to look into the blue eyes.

My lord’s arm crept round her and held her tight against him. After a moment she disengaged herself and stood aside. Jack’s eyes, still a little bewildered, fell upon his brother. He struggled up on his elbow.

“Am I dreaming? Dick! ” His voice was full of a great joy.

Richard went quickly to him, trying to put him back on the cushions.

“My dear Jack—no, no—lie still!”

“Lie still?” cried my lord, swinging his feet to the ground. “Not a bit of it! I am well enough, but a trifle dizzy. How in thunder did you come here? Surely ’twas you knocked up my sword ? Yes ? Interfering young cub! Give me your arm a minute!”

“But why do you want to get up?” pleaded a soft voice in his ear.

“So that I can take you in my arms, sweetheart,” he answered, and proceeded to do so.

Then his glance, wandering round the room, alighted on the heated group by the table; Andrew vociferously