And what of the Philosopher’s love for her? Dared she consider it? It shone forth now in a new and beautiful light,—for it was surely love for Her that had moved him to do so much for Jack! Yes,—there could be no doubt he had done it all for her sake—in the wish to make her happy. Was that not love?—the very best kind of love? And she had let that go! Was she glad or sorry? “You cannot eat your cake and have it,” says an old proverb, but for the moment it seemed as though she wished to do both!
It took her some little time to compose herself, and she was only brought to a realisation of things as they now were by her father’s voice calling her.
“Sylvia! Sylvia!”
“Yes, Dad!”
“They’ll all stay to dine—Jack and his father, with Craig. It’s quite right, I suppose?”
“Yes!—of course!” and she ran to the top of the stairs to answer. “Dinner will be ready at eight o’clock.”
Her father retired again within his sanctum, and she hastily proceeded to bathe her tear-stained face and swollen eyes. Looking at herself in the glass she was angry that she had so spoilt her appearance by what she justly termed “an ugly cry.”
“And whatever did I cry for?” she asked herself. “I ought to be perfectly happy! I’ve been fretting about Jack for months, and now here he is, home again safe and well—and—and I’m going to be married to him. Married to him!—just think of it!—I wonder when!”
The prospect was, for a moment, almost alarming. Quickly she strove to put away the thought, and busied herself in brushing and arranging her lovely hair, though with a curious lack of interest. She was conscious that she ought to look her best on this special evening, and from a sense of positive duty in this respect she chose one of her prettiest evening gowns,—a mysterious “creation” of delicate ivory and pale blue,—yet do what she would her eyes remained heavy and her face pale.
“Poor Jack!” she soliloquised softly. “He has been through such a lot of suffering! I must try and make him very happy—if I can!” Her meditation broke off with a snap here,—and she sighed—“Poor Philosopher! I wish I could make him happy too!”