"'Perfectly,' she said.
"'Miss Crawford thinks so too, I hope!' he asked politely.
"I bowed—I was too much shaken by a world of strange, inexplicable emotions, to trust my voice just then.
"'I can attend to that business easily enough,' James added; 'and you profess to hate travelling.'
"'I shall be upheld by a consciousness that I am performing my duty,' replied the General, laughing. 'No, James, I am convinced that unless I go myself, we shall lose those pictures. I really have, what superstitious people call a premonition, in regard to the matter.'
"'It is useless to prolong the discussion,' exclaimed James, angrily, rising from his chair.
"'Oh quite,' replied the General, 'I am an indolent man, but a perfect Spartan in the cause of duty—pray give me some credit, ladies.'
"'I can only think how I shall miss you,' exclaimed his wife.
"'My dear friend, we shall both have one pleasant anticipation amid the pain of separation—that of meeting soon again.'
"James was walking up and down the room, moody and preoccupied.