“Oh!” cried Pansy gladly.
“Yes, and a wealthy one, too,” said the young man exultantly. “He wishes me to go to London upon some law business for him, and if my mission proves successful my reputation will be made at once, and I shall earn a princely fee, also.”
“But to go away so far—oh!” cried Pansy, in unutterable distress.
But her lover laughed.
“Pshaw! Not so very far,” he said lightly, then, pressing her little hand warmly, he whispered: “We can bear the separation, my darling, since, in reality, it only brings us nearer together, as, of course I shall be in a position to marry then.”
But Pansy had burst into tears. A dark cloud had settled over her spirits.
No one was near them, and he bent tenderly over her, trying to soothe her girlish distress.
“It is only for a few months, dearest, and we will write to each other every week. Then, when I come back, we will be happy.”
“I feel as if we were parting forever,” she sighed, but he smiled tenderly, and answered:
“No, no, Pansy—only for a little while.”