The trip to Naas was made quickly and without any incident worthy of
note, except that the rough passage across the channel caused Mr.
Stafford to become sea-sick as they neared Dublin, and having escaped it
up to that time and become boastful of it, he now blamed his sickness on
the Irish air which they must by this time be breathing--which air he
declared never agreed with an Englishman's stomach.
Arriving at the Blessert Arms, Mr. Stafford inquired about Martin and
was told he was still very ill.
"He's been out of his head entirely for the last few days," said Mrs.
Moran, "but the doctor says there is a chance for him yit. Would ye like
to see him? The doctor says if we could only find out who it is he's
talkin' about and askin' for all the time, it'd do him all the good in
the world. But it's nothin' but Kate, Kate, all the time, an' sure
there's thousands of Kates!"
Without waiting to see the effect of her speech Mrs. Moran led the way
to Martin's room, and knocked softly on the door. Getting no response
she knocked a little louder, and then opened the door.
"Look!" she said. "Poor Julia's asleep. She has not laid down once since
he was brought in."
Julia was sitting near Martin's bed, with her head resting on her hand,
sound asleep.
"Poor girl! It's time she had some rest," said Kate, and quietly
stepping across the room awakened her, but Julia would not leave the
room until Mrs. Moran beckoned to her to do so.
Kate quietly took her place. Carden gave her an approving nod, and
turning to Mr. Stafford, said:
"There is no use in our going in now. Better come down and wait for the
doctor. Meantime we can get something up to Kate."
"Faith, that's sinsible, anyhow!" commented Mrs. Moran. "Come down to
the dining-room an' I'll give ye the best in the house."
After the others had gone Kate arose and closed the door. As she
returned she heard Martin murmur her name, at the same time stretching
forth his hand as though seeking her. On the impulse of the moment she
placed her hand in his and this seemed to satisfy him. In a few minutes
he sank into a peaceful slumber and his grasp relaxed. Gently placing
his hand under the cover Kate picked up a book which Julia had evidently
been reading when she feel asleep. As she picked up the book she noticed
a letter lying on the table. Truly feminine, she looked to see the
address and found it to be for herself.
It was the letter Martin had given O'Brien on the morning of the duel,
and he had laid it there to await developments.
Naturally supposing it was about to be mailed to her, Kate was going to
open it, when hearing a knock at the door she slipped it into her pocket
and went to answer the knock.
It was Mrs. Moran with a tray containing some of the various edibles
embraced in "the best in the house," and some excellent tea, for which
latter Kate felt truly thankful.
Mrs. Moran had brought up the tray herself for two reasons. First,
because Kate had won her heart by her sympathy for the tired-out Julia,
and secondly, because she had heard Carden speak of her as Kate, and she
wanted to have a chat with her.
Setting down the tray on the little table, she said in a whisper:
"Doctor Fox was right I see. 'Twas Kate he wanted, an' now that yez
come there's no fear but he'll get well!"
Kate smiled a little and blushed a little.
"Why do you think I'm the Kate that is wanted? As you say yourself,
there are thousands of the name."
"True for ye! But did any one ever see him restin' like that before,
quiet and peaceful as a child?" and Mrs. Moran pointed triumphantly at
Martin.
Having delivered this unanswerable argument, Mrs. Moran shook her head
knowingly and stole out of the room as softly as though she weighed 120
pounds instead of "14 stone"--as she put it herself.
Down-stairs she confidently informed Mr. Stafford and Carden that now
that Kate had arrived, there was no need of worrying, as Martin would
certainly be all right again in a few days.
Even Carden, anxious as he was regarding Martin, to whom he owed both
his life and fortune, could not avoid smiling at the simple yet sublime
confidence with which Mrs. Moran made this assertion. Yet when Dr. Fox
come down from the sick chamber he bore her out to a great extent. While
up-stairs he had heard Martin call Kate, had seen her take his
outstretched hand and then drop into an easy sleep. So that when
questioned he replied that he had no doubt now of Martin's
recovery--"provided the lady up-stairs could stand the strain of nursing
him," and the doctor left them.
Mrs. Moran, who neither could nor would be shut out from hearing the
doctor's report, looked somewhat triumphantly at her two guests, who in
turn looked rather dumbfounded at this unexpected confirmation of her
opinion.
Neither Mr. Stafford nor his nephew spoke for a few minutes. Neither
deemed it wise to mention the thoughts which had actually occurred to
both on hearing the doctor's opinion.
At length Carden suggested a game of billiards, and they adjourned to
the table which made the "Blessert Arms" the preëminent of the two inns
in Naas.