“I shall not be gone for more than a few minutes, and I shall be within call,” said the young man.
He went out, leaving the two young ladies together. As he departed, he glanced for an instant at Lois.
The lovely, fathomless eyes were raised to his. He gazed as if spellbound into the dreamy, liquid depths. Then, with an indefinable expression of mingled emotion, he abruptly disappeared behind the angle of the old Gothic porch.
Lois’ heart seemed to stand still for a second, then began to beat with such rapidity that she put her hand to her side to stay its throbbing. Then she looked at Blanche, who began to think that the mystery was simply that the two lovers who had quarreled had unexpectedly met again, and that pride, or the presence of a third—herself—hindered a reconciliation.
In answer to a question from Miss Turquand, she explained how they had come hither. A vivid flash dyed the pale cheeks of Lois when she learned how she had been conveyed to this unknown locality.
How little had she anticipated a meeting such as this in wondering where she should see Paul Desfrayne again! How little had she dreamed of it on Saturday afternoon, when she had encountered him among the gaily dressed loungers in the Zoological Gardens!
It seemed as if she had known him half a lifetime now, from some strange affinity that made his presence, his voice, his face familiar. And yet one short week ago she had been ignorant of his very existence.
Frank Amberley, whom she had seen almost daily for four years—the four years that had brought her from childhood to fairest maidenhood—was forgotten, save when actually present, and then regarded as belonging to the most formal rank of friends. She would never, unless under pressure of some most extraordinary difficulty, have thought of consulting him, or seeking his aid in any way whatever.
Blanche Dormer drew out her tiny jeweled watch.
“What will mama think, do, or say?” she exclaimed. “It will be enough to drive her crazy. Good heavens! my dearest Miss Turquand, they will imagine we have been capsized into the lake when they see the boat drifting about. When mama’s fright is over, I shall be in horrible disgrace. Such a thing never happened in all the nineteen years of my life. Lady Quaintree will be like a maniac. I shall never forgive myself.”