Dinner was shortly announced; and around the table were smiling faces gathered that evening.
At nine o'clock Richard took his departure alone in the Grand-Duke's carriage; for he had transferred his own aides-de-camp to the service of their sovereign.
But when he bade farewell to Isabella on this occasion, it was with the certainty of seeing each other again in a short time; and they inwardly thanked heaven that their meeting was no longer clandestine, and that their attachment was at length sanctioned by the parents of the charming maiden.
CHAPTER CCXXII.
THE ARRIVAL AT HOME.
On the same evening Mr. Monroe, Ellen, and Katharine were assembled in the drawing-room at Markham Place.
The lamp burnt bright, and there were books open upon the table; but none of the little party had any inclination to read:—some event of importance was evidently expected.
"He will assuredly return this evening," observed Mr. Monroe, after a long pause in the conversation. "The last letter he wrote to us was positive in naming the day when he calculated upon arriving in England."
"But as he said that he should be compelled to come back to his native land in one of the government steamers of Castelcicala," said Ellen, "it is impossible to conjecture what delay adverse weather may have caused."
"True," exclaimed Mr. Monroe; and he walked to the window, whence he looked forth into the bright clear night.
It is a strange fact that whenever people are expecting the arrival of some one near or dear to them, they invariably go to the windows, where they watch with a sort of nervous agitation—as if by so doing they could hasten the coming which they anticipate.