‘And so this is the poor little packet that has kept us apart for so long,’ murmured the earl, as he regarded it, ‘but, thank God, has not been powerful enough to sever us from each other’s confidence for ever. And you give me leave to do what I will with it—to read its contents from end to end?’
‘Yes, yes. Only be quick about it; the suspense of your decision is so hard to bear. Perhaps, who knows, Ilfracombe, after you have seen the folly I have written to another man, you may not wish to have anything to do with me again.’
‘Yes, I should think that was very probable,’ remarked the earl, with quiet amusement, as he placed the packet in the empty grate and lighted a match under it. ‘See! Nora, that is how I read your poor little love-letters of long ago. How amusing they are! But, confound the things! they won’t burn. Come, that’s better. They’re blazing up beautifully now; and I only wish I could see Mr Jack Portland blazing up with them!’
Lady Ilfracombe looked up joyfully.
‘Oh, darling, is that true?’ she exclaimed. ‘Shall we never have our happiness interrupted more by looking on him again?’
‘Why, rather not! What do you take me for? Do you think I would associate with the man who has played you such a dirty trick, and nearly upset our married happiness? No, my dearest; I value you too much for that. Mr Portland has seen the last of any house which owns me as master.’
‘Oh, Ilfracombe, you have made me so exquisitely happy! Oh, how I wish poor Nell were as happy as I am. I told her we were leaving Usk to-morrow, and promised that we would go over to the farm together first, and wish her farewell. You will come with me, won’t you, darling?’
‘Of course I will, since you wish it. You have behaved in a most generous manner regarding this young woman, Nora, and I shall never forget it. That reminds me that, according to my promise to her this morning, I have been sounding Sir Archibald as to the chance of being able to purchase Panty-cuckoo Farm, and I find he is quite ready to sell it at a reasonable price. I fancy they are getting rather hard-up on account of her ladyship’s extravagance. So I intend to close with him, and make over the title-deeds to Nell as a wedding present. She refused to let me make any provision for her, as I think I told you, but this I shall insist upon.’
‘Yes, do; it was just like her, dear thing, to refuse your money. Ilfracombe, you owe her a great deal. She was very much attached to you. I could see that by every word she said.’
‘Hush, Nora dear, don’t allude to it now. You women are apt to grow sentimental when you get together, talking over the same man. She cared for me well enough—so did I for her; but you see we are both going to be married, and live happy ever afterwards. That is the end of most fairy tales, whether they happen in this world or the other. Kiss me, my own darling, and tell me once more that you love me. That is the only thing that concerns us now.’