"To keep mother dancing attendance on her here when she looks so pale and worn and needs a change almost as much as Precious does!" the noble young man thought indignantly.
So the plan was carried out. The delicate, drooping girl was sent to Rosemont with her brother and the good nurse Norah, and Ethel drew a long breath of relief when they were gone.
"Two months of relief from their silly worship at least, for I shall not go to Rosemont any sooner if I can possibly avoid it," she cried angrily.
One thing that pleased her well was that Lord Chester and Precious had not yet met, for the young lord had gone away from the city as soon as it was announced that Precious would recover. Washington had lionized him after his heroic act, and in sheer bashfulness he had run away to travel round a few weeks until his fame blew over, he laughingly explained to his friend Earle.
Perhaps there was more in it than he had confessed.
Lord Chester regretted with a bitter pain that he had given Ethel Winans cause to expect an offer of his hand and heart.
From the day that he had first seen the portrait of Precious his heart had turned away from proud, queenly Ethel to her gentle younger sister. The strange chance by which he had saved her sweet young life only drew her closer to his heart.
Yet in all honor his fealty belonged to dark-eyed Ethel.
In desperation he went away to try to forget the blue eyes that were luring him from his honor.
And he remained away until he received a letter from Earle Winans, telling him of all that had happened since he left Washington.