How I longed now for the arrival of Cora, who might solve or explain away some of the doubts that surrounded me!
My heart swelled with rage; and yet I felt that I loved Louisa with a passion that bade fair to turn my brain!
As Miss Auriol would be certain to know something of Berkeley's movements and as she and her faithful follower, old Mrs. Goldsworthy, might prove invaluable in acquainting me with what passed at Chillingham Park, for they had jealousy to spur on their espionage, I resolved to visit once or twice again the cottage at the Reculvers, when I could do so unseen. This I did, little knowing how greatly the poor girl would interest me in her sad fate, and still less foreseeing that the course I pursued was a perilous one. But the agony of my anxiety, the bitterness of my suspicions, and my love for Louisa, overcame every scruple, and blinded me to everything else.
She, on the other hand, was naturally anxious to learn the movements of Berkeley, whom, notwithstanding his cold desertion, she loved blindly and desperately. Thus we could be useful to each other.
My heart recoiled at times from such a mode of working; but I could have no other recourse till my cousin Cora came.
As I rode up to the door of the hotel, my heart leaped on seeing Willie Pitblado awaiting me there.
"A letter at last!" I exclaimed, as he came forward.
"From the colonel, sir," said he, touching his cockaded hat.
"The colonel?" I repeated in disappointment and surprise, as I tore open the note, the contents of which ran briefly thus:—
"MY DEAR NORCLIFF,—As the barracks here are becoming uncomfortably crowded, by the Indian depôts and so forth, your troop is detached to Canterbury for a week or two, to share the quarters of the hussars. You will remain there, probably, till the route comes. You need not return to head-quarters, unless you choose; but may report yourself to the lieutenant-colonel commanding the consolidated cavalry depôt at Canterbury. This is a stranger-day at mess. We are to have an unusual number of guests, and the band. Wish you were with us.