'I don't know. It was the day I was half wild with misery and a strange sort of gladness together, only one could not break out with his calm eye on one—the day he came here, and Papa told him what was the matter with him. Then he sat with me, and he said things to me that made me feel as I had never done before. He didn't mean it, I know, for it was all telling me how it was with him, and how, if he were well, he never could have thought in that way of any one. It just made me feel that his saying it to me showed——'
'Showed what might have been,' said Lance. 'Yes, it was more than direct words would have been from any one else.'
'And he kept on mixing in things about you, and what you had been to him, but I wouldn't see what he was driving at; for, Lance, I must tell you now it did make me feel to love—love him really—and not be ashamed; if he thought me worth telling all that—and it was so nice to be able, however it was to end, that I did not want to do anything else, and I couldn't bear the sound of your name then, though when I remember that look, and that wish, and see the spray of myrtle, Lance, I must have had you if you had been—as bad as Rupert Cheviot himself.'
But she actually did lift up her face with a look that allowed him to bend down and kiss it, as he said, 'See, he only told me to give it you, when—not on those terms. Though you are doubly precious, because I shall ever feel you to be his gift.'
She had certainly accepted infinitely more than he could have dared to anticipate from her outset, and now she was perhaps glad of the respite afforded by reading the letter that he had put into her hand, and which lasted till again came steps.
'Papa this time,' she whispered, as he opened the door, calling, 'Ethel, here's Tom in a—Hollo, I thought you were in the drawing-room.'
'Don't go,' they cried with one voice, and Gertrude, saying, 'May I? I must!' put Felix's letter into his hand.
He pushed up his spectacles to read it, but he could not do so dry-eyed, and Lance turned aside blushing and embarrassed.
'Dear fellow!' he exclaimed. 'Well—that's a pretty good testimonial to bring in your hand, Lance.'
'You must not believe half of that, sir,' said Lance huskily.