Don Lazarillo approached in a tiptoe walk and stood in the doorway staring at her.
"My dear one," said Don Christoval, faintly smiling and infusing into his accents a note of sweetness I had heard on more than one occasion in his voice, "I have brought Captain Portlack to see you. He is the captain of this schooner. He is your countryman--a true Englishman. Raise your eyes, my dear one, that you may see him," and thus speaking, with grace inexpressible, he bent his fine form over her and pressed his lips to her forehead.
Less of life could not have appeared in a statue.
"Speak to her," said Don Christoval, turning to me.
Behind us Don Lazarillo ejaculated in Spanish.
"How shall I address her?" said I, looking at the tall Spaniard.
He started, sent a glance of lightning rapidity at his friend, reflected a moment, and then said, "Accost her as Miss Noble. By that name she may remember herself. Ay, señor, call her Ida Noble."
I bit my lip, and, planting myself by a step in front of the lady, bent my knee till my face was on a level with hers.
"Look at me, madame," said I. "I know you as Ida Noble. Look at me. I am your countryman and your _friend_."
I pronounced the word "friend" with the utmost emphasis I could communicate to it. She raised her eyes without altering the posture of her head. They were of a soft brown, and the richer for the contrast of her hair. I never could have imagined such eyes under eyebrows of so pale a yellow as hers. She looked at me during a few beats of the pulse steadfastly, and then smiled, but there was no meaning in her smile or in her regard. A moment after she bent her eyes down again, and began to sing; but the air was without music; the words which left her lips half articulated were without sense.
She ceased to sing and set her lips again, and continued to gaze at the deck without any signs of life, as before. I rose to my stature, and, after watching her a while, said to Don Christoval, "I can do no good."
"You made her smile, Captain Portlack," said he, in a soft whisper.
I shook my head, stepped to the door, and passed into the cabin. The others followed, Don Christoval closing the door behind him.
"I believe, with patience," said he, "that you could bring her mind back to her."