Involuntarily Frederic and William glanced at each other, for they knew what that trouble was, and the latter felt as if he would like to take vengeance on the man who could be indifferent to love like that of Marian Grey!
After a moment, Mrs. Sheldon continued:
“There has been something said, I believe, about her going to you next September, but I warn you now that I shall use every possible effort to keep her. We sail for Europe in August, you know, and she will be of invaluable service to me then, as she speaks French and German so readily. The tour, too, will do her good, and you must not be surprised to hear that she cannot come to Riverside.”
Mr. Raymond was too polite to oppose Mrs. Sheldon openly, but he had become too deeply interested in Marian Grey to give her up without a struggle, and when alone again with Will, in the chamber of the latter, he broached the subject, asking his companion if he thought there was any probability of Miss Grey’s disappointing him.
“I mean to write her a note,” he said, and sitting down by Will’s writing desk he took up a sheet of gilt edged paper and commenced, “My dear Marian.”
“Pshaw!” he exclaimed, “what am I thinking about?” and tearing up the sheet he threw it into the grate and commenced again, addressing her this time as “Miss Grey.”
He considered her services engaged to himself, he said, and should expect her at Riverside early in September. She could come sooner if she liked, for Mrs. Jones was to leave the first of August.
“That European trip may tempt her,” he thought, and he added, “I am glad to learn from Mrs. Sheldon that you are such a proficient in German and French, for I have serious thoughts of visiting the Old World myself ere long, and as Alice, of course, will go with me, we shall prize your company all the more on account of these accomplishments.”
This note he gave to Will, who said, “Perhaps I shall try again, and if I succeed, I suppose you will give her up to me.”
“Yes,” answered Frederic, “I’ll give way for Will Gordon’s wife, but for no one else,” and there the conversation ceased concerning Marian Grey; nor was it resumed again, for early the next morning he started for New York, as he intended stopping at Riverside ere he returned to Kentucky.