Part 6, Chapter L.
The Lesson of Life.
“His days with others will the sweeter be
For those brief days he spent in loving me.”
Towards the end of August Florence Venning returned from a visit to her brother, eager, of course, to hear the details of the wonderful event that had taken place during her absence. Her sisters, however, had not much to tell her, as Mrs Crichton had only just returned to Redhurst. Hugh had been perforce busy since he came back, and Arthur had remained for some little time with Jem. They were all at home now, however, and Flossy set off on the afternoon after her return to call on Mrs Crichton and hear the news, with which Oxley was ringing from head-quarters. As she walked along the road she was overtaken by Arthur, who greeted her cordially.
“I am so glad I have met you,” he said; “I have a great deal to tell you, and it is a very long time since we had the chance of a conversation.”
“Yes,” said Flossy. “I never was so astonished, never! Latterly, I had half fancied that Violante had some one on her mind; but that it should be Hugh!”
“No one ever suspected him of such a romance, did they? However, it is all turning out very well, and Aunt Lily likes her very much.”
“I suppose she won’t come back to school?”