But Mrs. Kemper’s face chained her. For many minutes her eyes were riveted upon it.
“Do not sell this; I must have it,” she said to Espy as at last she turned sighing away.
“It is yours from this moment,” he said, flashing upon her a look of ecstatic love.
“It must be late; see how long the shadows are!” she remarked as they came down the marble steps. “Ah, my aunt has sent for us! how fortunate!” as she espied a carriage at some little distance, Rory upon the box, driving slowly along and looking this way and that as if in search of some one.
She signalled him, and in another minute they were bowling rapidly homeward.
Arrived, Espy was requested to take a seat in the parlor while Ethel ran up to her aunt’s room.
The Madame was at first disposed to be cross, but on hearing the wonderful news her mood changed.
“Was ever anything so fortunate!” she cried, hugging her niece enthusiastically. “My darling Pansy, I congratulate you with all my heart. He shall be quite at home here and the course of true love run smooth from this on, if I can make it do so.”
Then Mary was directed to go down and show the young gentleman to a room where he could attend to the duties of the toilet, the Madame remarking: