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Kitty earnestly longed for the moment when she should leave Mrs. Aylmer's cottage. The supper was prepared, however; everything was arranged; and then the two ladies stood by the window watching for the return of the truants, as Mrs. Aylmer was now pleased to call Florence and Mr. Trevor. Presently she saw her daughter coming up the somewhat steep path alone.
Were I to see you dishonored, I should never hold up my head again, and, as far as you are concerned, would wash my hands of you forever." Florence's lips trembled as she read the last words. An unopened letter from her mother lay on her lap. She flung down Mrs. Aylmer's letter and took up her mother's.
Her first feeling was one of triumph as it must be in such a position to any woman who has already acknowledged to herself that she loves the man who then asks her to be his wife. She looked up into Captain Aylmer's face and his eye almost quailed beneath hers. Even should he be triumphant, he was not perfectly assured that his triumph would be a success. 'Shall what be all one? she asked.
But then her eyes sought Aylmer's face with a trouble and anxiety that he could by no means account for. "My poor Aylmer!" murmured she. "Poor? Nay, richest, happiest, most favored!" exclaimed he. "My peerless bride, it is successful! You are perfect!" "My poor Aylmer," she repeated, with a more than human tenderness, "you have aimed loftily; you have done nobly.
"I shall talk things over with you and the Mummy. I have left school at last for good. What a blessing it is that I shall not have anything to do with Aunt Susan! I feel so jolly independent; but I should like to meet her and " "Girls, supper is ready," called out Mrs. Aylmer's voice from below, and the two ran downstairs. The meal was very merry; the old schoolfellows were glad to be together.
In the first he wrote with something of the personal enthusiasm of a lover and therefore Clara hardly felt the little drawbacks to her happiness which were contained in certain innuendoes respecting Lady Aylmer's ideas, and Lady Aylmer's hopes, and Lady Aylmer's fears.
"We shall probably find him before us at Aylmer's Court." "I shall send him a telegram the first thing to-morrow to ask him to hurry home," said Mrs. Aylmer. "He is such a pleasant, bright fellow that life is insupportable without him. You used to be much more amusing than you are now, Bertha. Is anything the matter?" "Nothing, my dear friend," said Bertha. She looked full at Mrs.
Aylmer's this morning just as he was dressing his window, and the thought struck me that he might put your picture in. So I ran in and asked him. He said he would if he could have it at once. So I came and got it. He found a frame, and wrote out a ticket, and asked after you. No one could have been kinder. You must go and have a look at it.
I don't think he even knew the old squire; and there is no reason why he should go to the funeral. 'No reason at all, said Belton who felt that Captain Aylmer's presence at the Castle would be an insult to himself.
He opened the door of a first-class carriage. "I am going third," said Florence. Without comment he walked down a few steps of the platform with her. An empty third-class carriage was found; she seated herself in it. "Good-bye," he said. He took off his hat and watched the train out of the station; then he returned slowly very slowly to Aylmer's Court.
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