“Ah! I wish I could. But I cannot. I must not. My Fate forbids it.”
“'Fate' and 'destiny,'” said Vizard, “stuff and nonsense. We make our own destiny. Mine is to be eternally disappointed, and happiness snatched out of my hands.”
He had no sooner made this pretty speech than he was ashamed of it, and stalked out of the room, not to say any more unwise things.
This burst of spleen alarmed Fanny Dover. “There,” said she, “now you cannot go. He is very angry.”
Ina Klosking said she was sorry for that; but he was too just a man to be angry with her long: the day would come when he would approve her conduct. Her lip quivered a little as she said this, and the water stood in her eyes: and this was remembered and understood, long after, both by Miss Dover and Rhoda Gale.
“When does your Royal Highness propose to start?” inquired Rhoda Gale, very obsequiously, and just a little bitterly.
“To-morrow at half-past nine o'clock, dear friend,” said Ina.
“Then you will not go without me. You will get the better of Mr. Vizard, because he is only a man; but I am a woman, and have a will as well as you. If you make a journey to-morrow, I go with you. Deny me, and you shan't go at all.” Her eyes flashed defiance.
Ina moved one step, took Rhoda's little defiant head, and kissed her cheek. “Sweet physician and kind friend, of course you shall go with me, if you will, and be a great blessing to me.”
This reconciled Miss Gale to the proceedings. She packed up a carpet-bag, and was up early, making provisions of every sort for her patient's journey: air pillows, soft warm coverings, medicaments, stimulants, etc., in a little bag slung across her shoulders. Thus furnished, and equipped in a uniform suit of gray cloth and wideawake hat, she cut a very sprightly and commanding figure, but more like Diana than Hebe.