He was startled by her energy, and for the first time saw that they were not alone, for there in the bright moonlight were a couple of officers sauntering along, evidently in ignorance of the proximity of Lord Henry and his companion.
“Do you wish Captain Glen to see you, Marie?” said Lord Henry, with a shade of bitterness in his voice.
“Why do you ask me that?” she retorted.
“You see,” he replied coldly, “we are in the shadow, and if we remain here they will pass on without noticing us.”
“Let us stay,” she said; and they remained upon the velvet turf beneath a row of limes whose shadow was perfectly black; and as they rested silent and watchful there, they saw the two young men pass slowly in the silvery moonlight, talking carelessly till they were out of sight.
“Youth against age,” mused Lord Henry, as he stood gazing after the young officers. “Why am I so weak as to cling to this silly sentiment? At my time of life I should be a wiser man. I visit, I talk, I bring her presents, I pour before her all that is rich in an old man’s love, and she is kind and gentle, but unmoved. Then comes youth, and his presence even at a distance works a change in her such as I have never seen when I have tried my best to win her regard. Ah well! I should respect her the more for her honesty. Our hearts are not our own, and, poor child! she loves him still.”
He started from his reverie to see that Marie was standing beside him, gazing along the broad path at whose end the officers had disappeared.
“Marie,” he said softly; and he took her hand, but she did not move, and the hand was very cold.
“Marie,” he said again; and she started back into the present.
“Lord Henry!” she faltered.