Page:The Outcry (London, Methuen & Co., 1911).djvu/140

126 "Then decidedly," he said, "I don't want to save her. I only want"

He was going on, but she broke in: "I know what you want!"

He kept his eyes on her till he had made sure—and this deep exchange between them had a beauty. "So you're now with me?"

"I'm now with you!"

"Then," said Hugh, "shake hands on it."

He offered her his hand, she took it, and their grasp became, as you would have seen in their fine young faces, a pledge in which they stood a minute locked. Lord Theign came upon them from the saloon in the midst of the process; on which they separated as with an air of its having consisted but of Hugh's leave-taking. With some such form of mere civility, at any rate, he appeared, by the manner in which he addressed himself to Hugh, to have supposed them occupied.

"I'm sorry my daughter can't keep you; but I must at least thank you for your interesting view of my picture."

Hugh indulged in a brief and mute, though very grave, acknowledgment of this expression; presently speaking, however, as on a resolve