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"You stake much on your hazard," she said, glancing back at Lali, who still stood immovable. "Au revoir!" She left the room. Richard heard the door close after her and the servant retire. Then he turned to Lali. As he did so, she ran forward to him with a cry. "Oh, Richard, Richard!" she exclaimed, with a sob, threw her arms over his shoulder, and let her forehead drop on his breast.
Frank's solicitor in London had written him fully of her arrival, and he had had a reply, with further instructions regarding money to be placed to General Armour's credit for the benefit of his wife. Lali, as she became Europeanised, also awoke to the forms and ceremonies of her new life.
Then, with a sudden burst of feeling, though her words were scarcely audible: "I owe you everything, Richard everything that is good. I owe him nothing, Richard nothing but what is bitter." "Hush, hush," he said; "you must not speak that way. Lali, I want to say to you " At that moment General Armour, Mrs. Armour, and Marion appeared on the door-step, and the carriage came wheeling up the drive.
The only thing worth doing in this world is to live life according to one's convictions and one's heart. He or she who sells that fine independence for a mess of pottage, no matter if the mess be spiced, sells, as the Master said, the immortal part of him. And so Lali, just here on the edge of Marion's future, looking into that mirror, was catching the reflection of her own life.
When, therefore, one bright May morning, the family at Greyhope, himself excluded, was ready to start for London, he had no thought but that he would drop back into his old silent life, as it was before Lali came, and his brother's child was born. He was not conscious that he was very restless that morning; he scarcely was aware that he had got up two hours earlier than usual.
Armour did not notice, but Frank and Mrs. Lambert heard and saw, and both were afterwards watchful and solicitous. Frank caught Mrs. Lambert's eye, and it said, to a little motion of the head: "Do not appear to notice." Lali was as if in a dream. She never took her eyes from the group at the altar until the end, and the two, now man and wife, turned to go into the vestry.
"Turn the horses round and follow her," said Vidall to the driver. While this was doing, Marion caught sight of her father riding hard down the avenue. He passed them, and called to them to hurry on after him. Lali had not the slightest sense of fear, but she knew that the horse had gone mad.
The lawn sloped delightfully away to the flowered embrasures of the park, and a fragrant abundance of flowers met the eye and cheered the senses. While Richard loitered on the steps with the child and its nurse, more excited than he knew, Lali came out and stood beside him. At the moment Richard was looking into the distance. He did not hear her when she came.
"He is magnificent magnificent!" he said, with a great pride. "Why did you never let me know of it?" "How could I tell what you would do?" she calmly replied. "You married me wickedly, and used me wickedly afterwards; and I loved the child." "You loved the child," he repeated after her. "Lali," he added, "I don't deserve it, but forgive me, if you can for the child's sake."
But he won't be prouder of him than I am." "I know that," she said. "Won't you be lonely without the boy and me, Richard?" Again the question went home. "Lonely? I should think I would," he said. "I should think I would. But then, you see, school is over, and the master stays behind and makes up the marks. You will find London a jollier master than I am, Lali.
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