Part 30

"You mean that he won't let you try to help her?"

"I mean just exactly that, Jack."

Coursay got up with his clinched hands swinging and his eager face red as a pippin. "Why, then," he said, "we'll go and get her! Come on; I can't sit here and let such things happen!"

Lansing laughed the laugh of a school-boy bent on deviltry.

"Good old Jack! That's the sort of advice I wanted," he said, affectionately. "We may see our names in the morning papers for this; but who cares? We may be arrested for a few unimportant and absurd things--but who cares? Munn will probably sue us; who cares? At any rate, we're reasonably certain of a double-leaded column in the yellow press; but do you give a tinker's damn?"

"Not one!" said Coursay, calmly.

Then they went down to dinner.

Sprowl, being unwell, dined in his own rooms; Agatha Sprowl was more witty and brilliant and charming than ever; but Coursay did not join her on the veranda that evening, and she sat for two hours enduring the platitudes of Colonel Hyssop and Major Brent, and planning serious troubles for Lansing, to whose interference she attributed Coursay's non-appearance.

But Coursay and Lansing had other business in hand that night. Fortune, too, favored them when they arrived at the O'Hara house; for there, leaning on the decaying gate, stood Eileen O'Hara, her face raised to the sky as though seeking in the soft star radiance which fell upon her lids a celestial balm for her sightless eyes.

She was alone; she heard Lansing's step, and knew it, too. From within the house came the deadened sound of women's voices singing:

"Light of the earth and sky, Unbind mine eyes, Lest I in darkness lie While my soul dies. Blind, at Thy feet I fall, All blindly kneel, Fainting, Thy name I call; Touch me and heal!"

In the throbbing hush of the starlight a whippoorwill called three times; the breeze rose in the forest; a little wind came fragrantly, puff on puff, along the road, stirring the silvery dust.

* * * * *

She laid one slim hand in Lansing's; steadily and noiselessly they traversed the dew-wet meadow, crossed the river by the second bridge, and so came to the dark club-house under the trees.

There was nobody visible except the steward when they entered the hall.

"Two rooms and a bath, John," said Lansing, quietly; and followed the steward up the stairs, guiding his blind charge.

The rooms were on the north angle; Lansing and Coursay inspected them carefully, gave the steward proper direction, and dismissed him.

"Get me a telegram blank," said Lansing. Coursay brought one. His cousin pencilled a despatch, and the young man took it and left the room.

The girl was sitting on the bed, silent, intent, following Lansing with her sightless eyes.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, pleasantly.

"Yes, ... oh, yes, with all my heart!"

He steadied his voice. "I think I can help you--I am sure I can. I have sent to New York for Dr. Courtney Thayer."

He drew a long breath; her beauty almost unnerved him. "Thayer will operate; he's the best of all. Are you afraid?"

She lifted one hand and held it out, hesitating. He took it.

"No, not afraid," she said.

"You are wise; there is no need for fear. All will come right, my child."

She listened intently.

"It is necessary in such operations that the patient should, above all, be cheerful and--and happy--"