“I will not, my Joris. If thy father were not here, that would be different. He is the right man to move in the matter. Ever thou art in too much of a hurry. Think now of thy life as a book of uncut leaves, and do not turn a page till thou hast read it to the very last word.”
“I will see Cornelia for thee,” said Madame Van Heernskirk. “I will ask the girl what she means. Very often she passes here, sometimes she comes in. I will say to her—why did thou throw my grandson’s love away like an old shoe? Art thou not ashamed to be so light of love, for I know well thou said to my Joris, thou loved him. And she will tell me the truth. Yes, indeed, if into my house she comes, out of it she goes not, until I have the why, and the wherefore.”
“Do not be unkind to her, grandmother—perhaps it is not her fault—if she had only said a few sorrowful words—Let me show you her letter.”
“No,” said Van Heernskirk. “One thing at a time, Joris. Now it is the time to go and welcome thy father and thy cousin—too long has been the delay already.”
“Then good-bye! Grandmother, you will speak or me?” And she smiled and nodded, and stood on her tiptoe while Joris stooped and kissed her—“Fret not thyself at all. I will see Cornelia and speak for thee.” And then he kissed her again and rode away.
Very near the great entrance gates of Hyde Manor he met his father and mother walking. Madame, the Right Honourable the Countess of Hyde, was pointing out the many improvements she had made; and the Earl looked pleased and happy. George threw himself off his horse with a loving impetuosity, and his mother questioned him about his manner of spending the previous day. “How could thou help knowing thy father had landed?” she asked. “Was not the whole city talking of the circumstance?”
“I was not in the city, mother. I went to the post office and from there to Madame Jacobus. She was just leaving for Charleston, and I went with her to the boat.”
“What an incredible thing! Madame Jacobus leaving New York! For what? For why?”
“She has gone to nurse her sister-in-law, who is dying. That is of all things the most likely—for she has a great heart.”
“You say that—I know not.”