"No, he never will come—he—oh, it doesn't matter, but I shall never, never marry—only I'll try and make it awfully nice for lovers because—I—I think I know, and you'll not say anything about it, even to Jeanie?"
"You may trust me, but if ever you want me—you may claim my help at any time—and I will come."
Toney looked up at the strong face and knew he meant every word. How could Jeanie have ever doubted or hurt such a man? How glad she felt she had cleared the brambles out of his path. It was not the music that was so wonderful, it was the man himself.
That evening Toney instead of being restless was very quiet, and in her face there was a new look of suffering such as had never been there before. She had learnt a terrible secret. She loved a man who belonged to another—and only now she realised that she had always loved him.
"Oh! Lewis, Lewis!" she cried out alone in her room; "You shall be happy if I can do anything—and you shall never, never know my secret—— It's no good blaming myself because—I never knew what it meant till now. The path of perfection is awfully stoney and rutty."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
LILIES AND A WEDDING.
"There's no peace or harmony in the presence of some people," said Lady Dove after dinner to the famous genius. Her eyes involuntarily turned towards Toney, who was talking in low tones to Sir Evas. "Now, with Jeanie Hamilton you are sure of proper dignity."
Frank bowed and smiled, nothing could ruffle him now. He had sent off a letter to Jeanie, and a second diamond ring and a few other tokens, as he did not wish to go to Waycott Hall himself. Mrs. Hamilton's company recalled his past suffering too much. Toney, on the other hand, was associated only with his joy and gratitude.
As if to prove Lady Dove right, a hooting, tooting motor was heard approaching, and Toney started up.