“It is nine o'clock. Perhaps you would better get aboard,” he said, and proceeded to assist Aunt Yvonne up the steps. She turned and pressed his hand gently before passing into the car.
“Adieu, good friend. You have made it so very pleasant for us,” she said, earnestly.
The tall, soldierly old gentleman was waiting to assist his niece into the coach.
“Go first, Uncle Caspar,” the girl made Lorry happy by saying. “I can easily come up unaided.”
“Or I can assist her,” Lorry hastened to add, giving her a grateful look which she could not misunderstand. The uncle shook hands warmly with the young man and passed up the steps. She was following when Lorry cried,
“Will you not allow me?”
She laughingly turned to him from the steps and stretched forth her hand.
“And now it is good-by forever. I am so sorry that I have not seen more of you,” she said. He took her hand and held it tightly for a moment.
“I shall never forget the past few days,” he said, a thrill in his voice. “You have put something into my life that can never be taken away. You will forget me before you are out of Washington, but I—I shall always see you as you are now.”
She drew her hand away gently, but did not take her eyes from his upturned face.