She ran lightly on through the hall, and up the broad staircase. Herbert followed her beautiful figure till he could see it no longer; then listened till he heard the door of her chamber close after her. ‘She has gone to pray for herself and me,’ he thought, and thought truly. The study-door was before him; his heart beat very fast, and his hand almost trembled as he placed it upon the handle; but his resolution was made in an instant, and he passed in.
Mr. Hayward laid down the book he had been reading, and took the spectacles from his nose as Herbert entered. ‘You are a pretty pair of truants,’ he said cheerfully; ‘an hour or two indeed! why ’tis just six o’clock! and where is Amy?’
‘She is gone to her room, sir, for a short time; she said she would not be long absent.’
‘And what have you been about? Come, let me see. You know I am a great admirer of your spirited sketches, Herbert; so hand me your day’s work, which ought to be an elaborate affair, considering the time you have been about it.’ And he replaced his spectacles.
Herbert blushed crimson; he felt his face glowing painfully; he had forgotten the roll of paper, which he had kept in his hand, and he could not deny that it was the sketch Mr. Hayward wished to see. He hesitated a little, grew somewhat indecisive in his speech: and, as the old gentlemen was beginning to suspect the truth, Herbert had told all, and stood before him glowing with manly emotion and proud feelings of rectitude. There was nothing to conceal, Amy had said, so he concealed nothing. He told him how he had intended not to have spoken to her; but how, overcome by the anguish of seeing her so prostrated by grief, he had revealed to her all his feelings, even at the risk of her displeasure. ‘Amy loves me, sir,’ he continued proudly; ‘nor does she seek to deny it. We have too long shared each other’s thoughts for any reserve to exist between us; and to you we fearlessly commit ourselves, in frank confession of our fault, if we have committed any.’
Mr. Hayward only mused for a moment; he loved Herbert too well, and had known him too long, to hesitate. ‘May God bless you both, my dear boy!’ he cried, rising from his chair, and extending his arms to embrace the young man. ‘May God bless you! If there had not been this dreadful absence to contemplate, I should have counted this one of the happiest moments of my life; as it is, I am thankful that Amy is loved by such an one as you, Herbert; but where is she? I can remain no longer without seeing you together.’ He rang the bell.
‘Tell Miss Hayward that I want her here as soon as possible,’ said the old gentleman to the servant.
A few minutes only elapsed, during which neither spoke. At last her light footstep was heard on the stairs; descending slowly it passed over the hall so lightly that even Herbert’s ear could hardly detect it; he fancied it hesitated at the door, and he flew to open it; and the smile of joy, of triumph, which met her hurried glance, served in some measure to assure her; her father stood with open arms, and lips quivering with emotion. ‘God bless you! God bless you!’ was all he could utter, as she rushed into them, and sobbing, hid her burning face in his bosom; nor did she venture to withdraw it for long, nor he to disturb her; the gush of joy which welled from his heart, as he strained her to it, was too pure to relinquish easily.
‘If I have been wrong, dear father, forgive me!’ was all she was able to utter, after a silence of some moments.
‘Nay, I have nothing to forgive, my sweet pet,’ he said: ‘I had looked for this happiness only as a consummation of my dearest wishes, and it is now as unexpected as grateful. But I will keep you no longer, Herbert,’ he said to him, ‘nor must Amy either, for there are others who have stronger claims upon you than we have, and I dare not detain you from them. I wish however, and Amy will second the wish I know, that you would come over to-morrow as early as you can, and give us a quiet day and evening together; it will be as much a source of gratification to you to dwell on when you are away, as it will be to us; so say, will you come?’