“Yes, very pleasant,” echoed Miss Eliza, in a disappointed tone.
“How you will enjoy it!” said May Churchill, heartily, looking frankly in his face.
“I hope so,” answered Ralph Webster. “Shall I bring you some edelweiss?”
“Oh, yes, do; bring us all some,” replied May, brightly.
“The ice-flower,” said Ralph Webster, slowly, with his deep, serious eyes fixed on her face. But the next moment he roused himself and held out his hand.
“Well, good-by, Miss Churchill; I suppose I shall find you here on my return?”
“I suppose so,” said May, and a slight fluttering blush rose to her smooth cheeks.
Then Webster took leave of his two aunts, who followed him to the street door, and waited until the cab he whistled for arrived. But just before he left the room he looked back at May; there was a look on her face as if she were thinking of something, but Webster felt vaguely it was not of him.
“I am better away,” he thought, as he seated himself in the cab and waved his hand to his aunts. But all the same he sighed deeply as he lost sight of Pembridge Terrace.
And the week after he was gone seemed very quiet without him to the three ladies there. His comings and goings had made a little stir each day, and he had brought in the news, and it certainly was not so lovely as before. Miss Eliza, however, found consolation in gazing into the shop windows down Westbourne Grove, and Miss Webster in her household duties. And just ten days after he left, news came to May which filled her whole being with excitement.