|
"'Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null!'" |
He laid the drawing back in the open portfolio, crossed the room, and took up his hat.
"Where are you going, Russell? Can't you spend the evening with me at Aunt Ruth's?"
"No, thank you; I must go. There is to be a great political meeting at Tammany Hall to-night, and I am particularly anxious to attend."
"What! are you, too, engaged in watching the fermentation of the political vat?"
"Yes, I am most deeply interested; no true lover of his country can fail to be so at this juncture."
"How long will you be in New York?"
"Since I cannot persuade you to return with me, my stay here will be shortened. One of our courts meets soon, and though Mr. Campbell will be there to attend to the cases, I want, if possible, to be present. I shall return day after to-morrow. And now good night; I will see you early in the morning."
The door closed behind him, and she remained standing for some time just as he left her. Slowly the folded hands shrank from each other, and dropped nerveless to her side; the bright glow in her cheeks, the dash of crimson on her lips, faded from both; the whole face relaxed into an expression of hopeless agony.