“My dear——” she commenced, but Doris stopped her almost excitedly.
“If you are going to tell me that that is hopeless, that I shall never forget, don’t go on,” she said, in a low, hurried voice. “Right or wrong, I have given my word, and—and for the future it is of him I shall think and not of myself. I am a woman—and shall not break my promise,” she added, almost to herself, and with a touch of bitterness as she thought of the man who had broken his promise to her. “Dear Lady Despard, I have told you because I thought it right you should know, because,” with a little wince, “I will never again conceal anything—anything that should be told. And now you will accept it as something fixed and irrevocable, will you not? And you will wish me happiness?” she added, looking up at her with a smile shining through a veil of tears.
Lady Despard stooped and put her arm round the slender neck and kissed her.
“Wish you happiness? With all my heart, dear!” she said, warmly. “And now you must forgive all I have said. I was a little surprised and—yes, just a little disappointed. I was thinking of the poor prince, you must remember. But, after all, you have chosen the handsomest and nicest man of them all; and I’m sure all the women will be fit to die with envy.” Doris smiled at this characteristic touch. “And as to his being poor—why, we will see about that, my dear. They tell me I’ve no end of influence, and it will be a very hard case if we can’t find some nice place for him. Oh, you needn’t blush, dear; I know he is proud, and you, too, but it’s the duty of practical folks like me to look after such romantic young couples as you! Oh, you will see! And now I’ve got a surprise for you: Who do you think has come?”
Doris shook her head.
“I don’t think I’m equal to the feeblest kind of conundrum to-night,” she said.
“I dare say not. Well, Mr. Spenser Churchill—your guardian, as I call him—is here.”
Doris started.
“He!” she said, in a low voice, as the old feeling of mingled fear and repugnance rose within her.
“Yes! I was as surprised as you are, for he had not written, as you know. He is out in the grounds looking for you——”