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Updated: May 23, 2025
They stood for some time in perfect silence; they had wandered down to the very edge of the lake. The water rippled in the moonlight, and while Hugh Fernely thought, Beatrice looked into the clear depths. How near she was to her triumph! A few minutes more and he would turn to her and tell her she was free. His face was growing calm and gentle.
Beatrice might have erred in meeting Hugh Fernely; Fernely had done wrong in trying to win that young child-like heart for his own; but he who left his children to strange hands, who neglected all duties of parentage, had surely done the greatest wrong. For the first time his utter neglect of duty came home to him.
He followed her at a safe distance, and saw her cross the long meadows that led to the Elms. Then Hugh Fernely waited with patience until one of the farm laborers came by. By judicious questioning he discovered much of the history of the beautiful young girl who longed for life. Her face haunted him its brilliant, queenly beauty, the dark, radiant eyes.
As it was, knowing her mother's utter dread of all men her fear lest her children should ever love and marry Beatrice never named the subject. She thought much of Hugh Fernely not of him himself, but of the world he had spoken about and she hoped it might happen to her to meet him again.
Lillian wondered that her sister so often preferred lonely rambles, but she saw the beautiful face she loved so dearly grow brighter and happier, never dreaming the cause. For many long days little thought of Hugh Fernely came to Beatrice. Her mind ran always upon what he had told her upon his description of what he had seen and heard.
"He saw me tonight," she replied; "he was out in the grounds, and saw me speaking to Hugh Fernely." "Have you told him anything?" she asked; and for a moment Beatrice looked despairing. "Not a word," said Lily. "How could I, when you trusted me?" "That is right," returned her sister, a look of relief coming over her face; "his opinion does not matter much. What did he say?"
Ah, if he could help her, if he could drive this haunting memory from her, if ever it could be that she might tell him of this her trouble and ask him to save her from Hugh Fernely! But that was impossible. Almost as though in answer to her thought, Gaspar Laurence began to tell them of an incident that had impressed him.
To do Hugh Fernely justice, he loved Beatrice for herself. Had she been a penniless beggar he would have loved her just the same. The only dark cloud in his sky was the knowledge that she was far above him. Still, he argued to himself, the story she told of her father was an impossible one.
No one spoke of Hugh Fernely, or connected him with the occurrence at the Hall. There was an inquest, and men decided that he had "died by the visitation of God." No one knew the agony that had cast him prostrate in the thick, dank grass, no one knew the unendurable anguish that had shortened his life. When Lionel returned to the Hall, he went straight to Lord Earle.
She would dismiss him with grateful thanks; she would hasten home. How calm would be that night's sleep! When she saw Lord Airlie in the morning, all her sorrow and shame would have passed by. Her heart beat high as she thought of this. "I think it must be so," said Hugh Fernely, at last; "I think I must give you up, Beatrice. I could not bear to make you miserable.
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