Frank’s eyes flashed joyfully when he heard of it, for he was, in truth, fearfully jealous of Mr. W——, and he thought if the latter was absent he might stand some chance to win the affections of Hattie, whom he thought he loved more than ever since her heroism had made her famous.
Lizzie seemed sorry, and asked if his intention had not been formed suddenly. But he told her it had not. His father had long desired to have him go, and he had come to the conclusion that the sooner he went the better.
He spent but an hour there with those pleasant friends, and then, on the plea of preparing for his departure, bade them farewell.
CHAPTER XL.
CAPTAIN SMITH.
Hattie—or, as we should call her in her own home, Georgiana Lonsdale—with her force of character, knew that it was wrong to give way to unavailing grief, and with a strong effort she aroused herself to the action so necessary after her mother’s death.
The family physician, and the attorney who had done her father’s business for years before he died—both old and true friends—and the clergyman also, offered all the aid in their power, and the funeral ceremonies were arranged according to the desire of the deceased lady as expressed in her will, found where she had told her daughter it was, almost with her last breath.
As we already know, Miss Lonsdale, under her own initials, telegraphed to Mr. W—— the moment she was able to think what she could and should do.
After her mother was buried by the side of her father in the family cemetery, Georgiana at once began to arrange everything for an absence again, for a time, from her home. She caused two bequests of her mother, to charitable institutions, to be paid, even before the legal steps of administration were complied with, so anxious was she to carry out her mother’s desire.
Leaving the care of the estate to the long tried and faithful attorney, she arranged that with only servants to keep the house in order, and ready for her occupancy when she came, the old housekeeper should remain there. The carriages were stored in the carriage-house, and the horses all sent off to be kept on a farm near Amherst, which belonged to the estate, the old family coachman going along to take care of them until he should be wanted again on Beacon Hill.
Georgiana took sufficient time for all these details, for she felt at rest in her mind after she received the telegram from Mr. W——.