"No," she returned, with a sigh of unutterable content, "I shall never be lonely again. I have thoughts and memories that keep my heart warm—all loneliness or sorrow is over for me."
On the morrow Miss Darrell and the governess were to go to Omberleigh, but the same night Lady Darrell went to Pauline's room.
"I hope you will excuse me," she said, when the girl looked up in haughty surprise. "I want to say a few words to you before you go."
The cool, formal terms on which they lived were set aside, and for the first time Lady Darrell visited Pauline in her room.
"I want to ask you one great favor," continued Lady Darrell. "Will you promise me that Miss Hastings shall not want for anything? She is far from strong."
"I shall consider Miss Hastings my own especial charge," said Pauline.
"But you must allow me to help you. I have a very great affection for her, and desire nothing better than to prove it by kind actions."
"Miss Hastings would be very grateful to you if she knew it," said Pauline.
"But I do not want her to be grateful. I do not want her to know anything about it. With all her gentleness, Miss Hastings has an independence quite her own—an independence that I respect greatly; but it is quite possible, you know, Pauline, to manage an invalid—to provide good wine and little delicacies."
"I will do all that myself," observed the young girl.