At last he dropped the subject, but only to renew it at their next meeting, and in the end he won her consent that if her mother were willing she would marry him before he went away.
The day after the colored Methodist church had buried old Maria, after a stirring funeral sermon, Laurie walked home with the two girls from the little burying-ground, where they had witnessed the funeral obsequies of the departed, and he was touched by the honest grief of the twin sisters over the death of their good old nurse.
Jewel seemed to have forgotten the episode of two days ago, she was so pale and sad, and her manner toward Laurie Meredith was so calm and unembarrassed. Both Flower and her lover were reassured by it, and believed that she was sorry for her passionate outburst, and anxious to have them forget it.
Alas, neither one dreamed of the tornado of passion that was heaving the breast of the beautiful brunette.
When they reached the house, and Laurie Meredith asked eagerly to see Mrs. Fielding alone, she guessed instantly at his desire, and determined to hear all that passed between her mother and her sister's lover.
[CHAPTER VII.]
Mrs. Fielding had not attended the funeral of her old servant. She had kept her room several days, under the plea of illness, in order to lend color to the assertion that her hair had changed color from neuralgia.
But she had managed to moderate the angry impatience that had so wounded and startled her beautiful daughters, and now permitted them to spend a short while with her daily, placing a strong command over herself that she might endure their presence without raving over the storm of anger that filled her heart.
So when Flower came to her that day to ask her to give Laurie Meredith an interview she did not refuse, only sent the girl away, saying that she would be down in a few minutes.