“Give me five minutes of your time, Cousin Elinor, to shake hands with my friends, for I am leaving to-morrow for California, and shall not see them again before my return to Europe.”
It was a promise to go out of their lives forever, and all understood it so; but did they guess that he touched hands with all just for the privilege of holding one minute in his own those cold fingers of his dear lost love, sweet Daisie? If they did, who could grudge him that small boon, when he had been cheated of so much?
She was the last one to whom he spoke, and his farewell words to her were brief as to the rest. Only the lingering handclasp, close and meaning, told to her own heart a story plain as words of a love that, though hopeless, would last forever, and their swift farewell glance had in it all the pathos of life’s despair.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
UNMASKED.
Reed Raymond followed the departing guests to the door, anxious for a private word with his friend Lord Werter; and then Mrs. Fleming exclaimed jauntily:
“Well, I must be going, too. Good-by, all!”
She was anxious to get away, for she felt frightened of Daisie, somehow, though undreaming that the girl had learned the secret of her treachery.
But, to her alarm and surprise, Daisie stretched out an imperative hand, saying sternly:
“Wait, Lutie. There is something I must say to you and Royall.”
Annette turned to the door, saying nervously: