Early as she was, to her great amazement she found Mr. Dinsmore already in the grounds, smoking a cigar as he paced restlessly to and fro.
“What an unexpected pleasure, Miss Jess,” he cried, throwing away his cigar at once and advancing toward her. “I hardly hoped for so agreeable a surprise. Usually young girls are not visible much before noon—those whom I have met in the world of fashion.”
“Then I should not like to belong to the world of fashion,” declared Jess, “for the early morning has a charm for me which no other part of the day can equal. I had almost forgotten to give you the letter which Toby just brought up from the village post office for you, Mr. Dinsmore.”
As he took it from her hand, and his eye fell upon the chirography, a chalky, ashen color overspread his face, and he started violently. Even before he opened it, he had an intuition of what it contained, and he muttered to himself:
“I have not time to waste—I must marry this girl and collect all the funds possible without delay. And after that—well, let the future look out for itself!”
CHAPTER XVI.
COLD AND HEARTLESS.
Once only, love, may love’s sweet song be sung;
But once, love, at our feet, love’s flower is flung;
Once, love—only once—can we be young;
Say, shall we love, dear love, or shall we hate?