Hugo thanked her and retired. He did not see her again until the following evening, when she met him with a question.
"Have you seen Miss Murray yet?"
"Yes," said Hugo, lowering his eyes.
"And have you come to any decision?"
"Yes."
"I should like to know what it is," said Mrs. Luttrell.
Her hands, which were crossed before her on her knee, trembled a little as she said the words.
Hugo hesitated for a moment.
"I have made my decision," he said at last, in a firm voice, "and it is one that I know I shall never have cause to repent. Aunt Margaret, I accept your kind—your generous—offer, and I will be to you as a son."
He had prepared his little speech so carefully that it scarcely sounded artificial when it issued from those curved, beautiful lips, and was emphasised by the liquid softness of his Southern eyes.