CHAPTER XVI

THE PORTRAIT

As I came out on to the great landing which had a recess supported by pillars, I saw that a baize door on the other side, corresponding to the one by which I had come was slowly opening.  To my excited fancy it opened stealthily, and I stood staring at it, not knowing what might issue from it.

Imagine, then, my joy and surprise when I saw for the second time Anthony Cardew’s face.  At first I could hardly believe it; and he, on his part, looked equally amazed, and very pleasurably so, I must say.

“Why, where have you dropped from, Miss Bawn?” he asked.  “A minute ago I could have sworn I was alone in the house, unless, perhaps, the good old creature who looks after it had come back from her marketing.”

“And where have you dropped from?” I asked, suddenly light-hearted.  “I thought you were on your way to the South Seas.”

“Why so I should have been,” he answered, “only for sudden happenings.  And how do you come here?  To be sure, it is your own house, and I am a trespasser.  I little thought when I came who I should find.”

“I am in town for a short visit,” I said, “with Miss Champion.  She was not well to-day so I came to see the house alone.”

“And, as luck would have it, I had a fancy on the same day to see a portrait in the picture-gallery here.  It is something better than chance, Miss Bawn.”

We stood looking at each other with a happy intimacy.  And then his mention of the portrait recalled the miniature I had found in the wood.  I had had a foolish girl’s fancy to hang it about my neck under my dress, and it lay there now, suspended by a slender gold chain which was one of my godmother’s gifts to me.  I had a shy reluctance to let him know I carried it there.

“By the way,” I said, “I believe I have a jewel of yours.  I found it in the wood.”

His eyes lightened and darkened in a way that was peculiar to him and his cheek flushed.

“You have found the miniature?” he said, in great excitement.  “I was heartbroken for the loss of it.  Have you got it with you?”

He had stretched out his hand as though he expected his recovered treasure to be handed to him at once, and I could not deny that I had it, so I took it from about my neck, murmuring something about having carried it for safety and that the case was at Aghadoe and should be returned to him.

“I thought you were gone to the ends of the earth,” I said lamely; “and I was so afraid that I might lose it before I should have a chance of returning it.”

He took it gently and looked at it for a second.  Then he kissed it.

“Why, it is warm from its resting-place,” he said, “and so the dearer.”

And then he took it off from its little chain and placed it in an inner pocket of his coat, handing me back the chain.