Earl Verner hardly knew what to make of this little outburst of feeling; but he loved his wife all the more for her generosity to her friend, and said he hoped Lionel had never doubted that his wife was equal to any previous Countess of Verner.
“Never, your lordship; and this act of gracious consideration for her friend, this sanctifying of the past, if I may use so strong a phrase, by the gift of Barton Hall to Arthur Phillips and his wife, is a crowning act of grace which has no parallel in the history of the ladies of our house.”
Earl Verner did not see that there was quite so much in it as Lionel would make out; but he had never doubted his wife’s generosity, and Lionel had. There was a peculiar graciousness in the gift which would especially commend itself to one who knew more intimately than Earl Verner did, the early history of his true and faithful wife.
CHAPTER XI.
EXPLANATIONS THAT CAME TOO LATE.
“I have many times endeavoured to converse with you alone; you have studiously prevented this until now,” said Lionel Hammerton, addressing the Countess, as she sat at the piano the morning after their meeting by the lake.
Lord Verner was in the library, indulging in his morning’s devotion at the shrine of his favourite author.
“I feared you until yesterday; I fear you no longer, because your sympathies have at last been awakened in my favour,” said Amy.
“I thought you mercenary—let me confess it—I thought you worldly and selfish; that you had married not only for revenge, but for riches.”
“You are pleased to be candid,” said Amy, a little indignantly.
“Not to wound you, any more than myself; for I loved you with all my soul——”