“Well, then, since I must say it, what do you think of the way he treats you? Doesn’t he show he cares for you more than for her? Can’t you see that he is making love to you?”
“Laurence!” cried I, aghast. “How dare you say such a thing? What have I done that you should think so ill of me as to think I would let a man who is married make love to me? How could you tell me you loved me, thinking that? I will never speak to you again.”
I turned sharply from him, and was back in the field among the people before he could stop me. Tea was being given to the children, and I went to help; but the enjoyment of the day was gone. In a dazed state I was still handing about cake, too miserable and excited to know quite what I was doing, when Lady Mills and Mr. and Mrs. Rayner came up to me. This lady, who had charmed me so much, had in return taken a fancy to me, and had begged Mr. and Mrs. Rayner to let me go home with her to stay until Monday; and they had consented. At another time this invitation would have made me half mad with delight, but now it seemed only to overwhelm me with terror at the thought of going among so many strangers. However, they sent me home to prepare what things I wanted, and told me to make haste.
As I was packing a muslin frock I had never yet worn, and wishing I had something handsomer for the occasion, I suddenly thought of the paste pendant Mr. Rayner had given me. That would look quite dazzling peeping out of the muslin and lace round my throat. So I packed that and a piece of black velvet to wear it on; and I was scarcely ready before Jane came up to say that Lady Mills’s carriage was at the gate waiting for me.
But just outside the hall door I met Laurence, with a rose in his hand.
“Violet, Violet, don’t go without a word to me! Here—throw away that rose and wear mine.”
“I will wear yours,” said I; “but I can’t throw away this one till it is dead. That would be ungrateful.”
“Did Mr. Rayner give it you?”
“Yes.”
He snatched out of my hand the rose I had just taken from him, and flung it away.