Just then little Claude, strong and healthy now, ran up to her, saying, "O sister, do let me see what beauties of flowers you have got in your basket."
And the child was not thrust away with an impatient "Don't be troublesome, Claude," as he would once have been, but stooping to him, Priscilla let him take a peep at the sweet, fresh spring flowers; then taking his hand, walked with him to the house.
As they were ascending the front steps, she caught sight of Lewis coming up the avenue. But he suddenly turned off, leaped over a low wall into a field which bordered the river, and was soon out of sight.
[CHAPTER IX.]
OUT IN THE WORLD.
"Oh the dire mistake! Fatal freedom to choose!
Had he but taken a fair path, sheltered, level, and straight;
Never a thorn to wound him, never a stone to bruise;
Leading safely and softly on to the Mansion Gate."
IT was almost dinner-time when Priscilla, with baby Ruth in her arms, went downstairs to the drawing-room. Miss Vernon and her father were not yet there, and she stood for a moment looking out of the window, when suddenly the door opened, and Lewis entered, cap in hand. He looked flushed and excited, she thought, and she could almost have fancied he had been crying, his eyes were so swollen.
He came forward to her hastily and said, "I am going to dine out, Prissy, with a friend. My father knows. I have not a moment to spare.—Good-bye, little babsie," he said, giving the child a kiss.
Then, to his sister's utter amazement, he threw his arms round her neck, kissed her passionately, and saying, "God bless you, Prissy; don't let any one wait up for me," he ran out of the room.
Priscilla was going to follow him, when her father and Miss Vernon entered; and nurse having come also to take Ruth away, dinner was announced, and all three went to the dining-room.