Jack stood near the stern, and took Una's hand in his to help her to embark.
"Take care," he said, aloud, then in an undertone, he added: "I shall see you at Richmond."
"Are you going to row the outrigger down, Savage?" said Dalrymple, eying the first boat enviously.
"No, I'll take your place in this boat; I can see you are longing for mine. Here, get in"; and before Dalrymple could refuse, Jack had almost lifted him into the outrigger, and leaped into his place in Lady Bell's boat.
All the darkness vanished from his brow. He was sitting opposite Una; so near, that when he leaned forward to make the stroke, his hand almost touched her dress.
"Are you coming with us?" said Lady Bell; "I am so glad."
"So am I," said Jack; but his eyes went to Una's face.
"Now, then," said Jack, as he bent forward.
"Steady, old man," said Sir Arkroyd; "we haven't all got blacksmith's muscles!"
But Jack was wild, delirious with joy, and he pulled, heart and soul, his great, strong arms bare to the elbows.
"What a lovely night!" said Lady Bell. "Won't anybody sing?"
"Sing something, my dear child," she said to Una. "You have a singing face. You have no idea how beautiful it sounds on the water."
"Oh, no, no," said Una, shrinking modestly.
"Sing," he murmured, pleadingly. As if he had uttered a command, she looked at him with meek obedience, and began the song he had heard her singing in the forest.
Is there anything more exquisite on earth than the voice of a young girl? Una knew nothing of the science of song; she had had no master, no instruction of any sort; but her voice was clear and musical as a young thrush's and she sang straight from her heart.
No need to tell Jack to pull slower! He ceased rowing, and rested on his oar, his eyes fixed on her face, his lips half apart.
The other boats stopped also as the music of the sweet, young voice floated down the stream, and one and all felt the spell.
Lady Bell sat with lowered lids and pale face, and when the last note died away and she looked up, her eyes were moist.
"My dear," she said, in a low voice, "where did you learn to sing like that?"
Una, half frightened at the effect she had produced, flushed and sank back into her seat.
"I have never learned," she said, quietly.