"God bless you, my little love," he said, huskily, and with deep empressement, "you shall never regret that sweet promise."
He meant to keep his word, but we mortals are so blind. The day came when she felt that all her life was one long regret!
"Oh, that word regret!
There have been nights and morns when we have sighed
'Let us alone, Regret! We are content
To throw thee all our past, so thou wilt sleep
For aye.' But it is patient, and it wakes!
It hath not learned to cry itself to sleep,
But plaineth on the bed that it is hard."
Dizzy with passionate love and happiness, she rested in his arms a moment, then drew herself shyly away.
"It grows late. Indeed, I must leave you now," she whispered.
"It is late and you are weary," he said, tenderly. "I must send you to your rest, my precious one, but for me I shall sit here all night rejoicing over my sweet, new happiness."
They had heard no step in the hall, but at that moment the door swung open and Mrs. Merivale appeared on the threshold in an exquisite dressing-gown, her loosened golden hair flying over her shoulders. She gazed in dismay for an instant, then started backward with a quick smile of scorn.
"Pardon! I could not sleep, and came for a book. I did not dream of interrupting such an interesting midnight tête-à-tête," she said, sneeringly.
St. Leon drew his arm gently around the slight form of his betrothed, an ominous gleam in his eyes.
"Congratulate us, Mrs. Merivale," he said, "Miss Gordon has promised to be my wife."