“I’m sure, dear Meta,” he said, “we’ll love each other very much.”
Yet, though lacking melodramatic effect, the scene was touching in the extreme.
Poor Professor Hodson! he was fain to wipe his eyes.
“Dear me, dear me, dear me!” he said, in his quick, sharp way of speaking, “I never thought that I would shed tears again in my life. Dear me, dear me!”
“Now, my child,” said the professor to Meta next morning, “I’m going to ran down to Dunallan Towers, and see her ladyship. No, as you wish me not to, I shall never breathe your name. Good-bye; keep up your heart. I’ll do the best I can.”
Yes, Lady Alwyn was at home, and would see Professor Hodson.
And presently she enters.
Very handsome yet, very stately, very sad withal. She beckons the professor to a seat. “You may not guess what I have come about?”
“Yes, I can,” she says. “You bring no news of my son, but you think of sending a search-party out?”