"In a few moments, dear, I am on something that interests me," she said, without raising her eyes from the paper.
"And I," said Trevalyon, "am forgetting a friend in my apartments; lonely and alone in a strange place."
"Your friend," said Vaura, with a swift thought to the hidden wife, "must think you the extreme of fashionable to receive at the witching hour of midnight."
"My friend does not care whether I be fashionable, but worships me, and would be with me morning, noon and night."
"You speak as if you believe," she said, veiling her eyes, and idly picking off the leaves of the roses.
"Yes, past doubting; not being a Christian, I am the only god my friend worships."
"Women have spoiled you, Capt. Trevalyon; you boast of our idolatry." For the first time he partly reads her latent thought; and saying, hurriedly, "Stay here five minutes," rising quickly, left the boudoir.
"What has he gone away so hastily for?" enquired Lady Esmondet, turning from the newspaper. "Lionel, dear fellow, is usually so easy in his gait."
"To see some one who worships at his shrine; said he would return in five minutes;" she answered, carelessly.
"Oh! he did not say who?"