"Maud, remember me! However or whenever I come back, dearest child, be faithful, and remember me!"
Maud fled away with a sob of childish pain—partly anger, the mother thought—and slightly apologized to the guest for her daughter's "naughtiness."
Lord Ravenel sat silent for a long, long time.
Just when we thought he purposed leaving, he said, abruptly, "Mr. Halifax, may I have five minutes' speech with you in the study?"
The five minutes extended to half an hour. Mrs. Halifax wondered what on earth they were talking about. I held my peace. At last the father came in alone.
"John, is Lord Ravenel gone?"
"Not yet."
"What could he have wanted to say to you?"
John sat down by his wife, picked up the ball of her knitting, rolled and unrolled it. She saw at once that something had grieved and perplexed him exceedingly. Her heart shrunk back—that still sore heart!—recoiled with a not unnatural fear.
"Oh, husband, is it any new misfortune?"