As if overcome by the presence of a stranger, the young lady sat down near the divan which Leicester occupied. The color had left her cheek; and Robert, who was gazing earnestly upon her, thought that he could see tears gathering in her eyes.
"It is a long time since you have been here," she said, in a low voice, bending with a timid air toward Leicester. "I—I—that is, we had begun to think you had forgotten us."
"No, I have been very busy, that is all!" answered Leicester, carelessly. "I sent once or twice some books and things—did you get them?"
"Yes; thank you very much—but for them I should have been more sad than, than—"
She checked herself, in obedience to the quick glance that he cast upon her; but, spite of the effort, a sound of rising tears was in her voice; the poor girl seemed completely unnerved with some sudden disappointment.
"And your lessons, Florence, how do you get along with them?"
"I cannot study," answered the girl, shaking her head mournfully. "Indeed I cannot, I am so, so——"
"Homesick!" said Leicester, quietly interrupting her. "Is that it?"
"Homesick!" repeated the girl, with a faint shudder. "No, I shall never be that!"