“Julia!” she exclaimed, “I have an idea! Why not go to Nevis? Your mother is very old. You haven’t seen her for many years. You can give out that she is ill—or I will if you won’t. My conscience wouldn’t hurt me a bit, for old people are always ill. No doubt you’ll find her with rheumatism, lumbago, dropsy, Bright’s disease, diabetes, tumors, or a few other ills incident to old age. It would make just the break you need; and it’s just the time to go, for your officers can attend to everything. Also—you could stay on and on.”
Julia looked up with some return of animation in her heavy eyes.
“It’s not a bad idea, if I could go.”
“Of course you could, and the minute I get to London I’ll set the whole shop to work on your tropic wardrobe. You can get many things ready-made, anyhow—people are always going out to India on a moment’s notice.”
“I’ll think it over while I’m here. I’m to stay until he sails.”
“Ah!—I hate to leave you alone. Shall I stay with you?”
“I think I’d rather be alone.”
“Yes, I understand.” She sat down on the bed and put her arm about Julia’s relaxed form. “I want you to promise me that you will marry Mr. Tay, whatever happens. You’ve a right to happiness, if ever a woman had, and this is your only chance, my dear. There’s only one real man in every woman’s life, and happiness is the inalienable right of all of us. Even Bridgit was forced to admit that.”
“Oh, I intend to marry him. But when? That is the question!”
“As soon as possible. You have given four uninterrupted years to this work, and you have done great things for it. That is enough —”