It was a very painful moment to them both, for each understood how one spontaneous expression of affection on Phil’s part would have taken away all difficulty from the situation; and yet the possibility of giving it was not there. Gratitude, however sincere it may be, if unwarmed by love, is cold as icicles.
Now that his affairs were arranged in this unsatisfactory fashion, Phil lost no time in presenting himself at Jermyn Street, to ask for the hand of Miss Caroline Shepley in marriage.
Carrie stood at the window that evening looking out into the dusty little street, when all at once she saw Phil come up the steps and heard his knock at the door. Her father sat by the fire reading, unsuspicious of the blow that was about to fall. Carrie turned away from the window and came towards him.
‘Father,’ she said, in a very tense voice, then waited for a moment, not knowing what to say; and Phil, who was very impatient that night, knocked again more loudly than before. ‘I am sure my heart makes as much noise as the knocker!’ thought Carrie, as she listened. Sebastian looked up—
‘Well? what is it, my daughter?’
‘Philip,’ said Carrie.
Then as in a dream she heard Patty’s familiar voice announce her lover’s name, and a moment later saw her dear Phil stand beside her.
‘How are you, Carrie?’ he said, as if they had never been parted, and then he held out his hand to Sebastian.
‘I fear I come as an unwelcome guest, sir,’ he said.
‘I cannot welcome you,’ said Sebastian shortly; but he motioned to Phil to take a seat.