“That is true,” he said, grateful for her thought of his mother. “Well, when you get stronger, darling, we will go home.”
So in six months after their marriage they turned their faces homeward. They stayed two days more in London, for the purpose of bidding Lord Stuart and his sister farewell, and Thea made them promise to visit her the next year. Lady Edith wept at parting, the girl had intwined herself so fondly around her heart.
“But we shall meet again, although I have to cross the seas to find you, my dearest,” she cried, tenderly; and Thea answered, earnestly:
“But for that hope I could not bear to be parted from you.”
She meant every word, for her heart clung with strange tenderness to the gentle, lovely woman, and it was with a bitter pang that she drew herself at last from the tender clasping arms and prepared to go with her husband.
Lord Stuart, too, parted from her with genuine regret.
“It almost seems as if you belonged to us by ties of blood, you have grown so dear,” he said; and he begged Norman to let her accept a parting gift from him—a diamond necklace of great value that had once belonged to his mother.
Norman was touched by the kindness and affection of these new friends, but he did not wonder at it. Thea was so beautiful and winning it would have seemed more strange if they had not loved her, he thought.
But at last they had parted, and the homeward journey was accomplished. Mrs. de Vere had come to New York to meet their steamer. She was too impatient to remain at home.
She showered Thea with caresses and praises.