“My dear child, you think you do. If I were sure this love you speak of would be lasting, I would act quite differently. Let us see it properly tested by absence and by silence. If when Captain Arbuthnot comes back from India you are both of the same mind, I will make no further objection. Is not that enough?”
“You will get a big surprise when he does come back,” muttered Phyllis.
Just then to the girl’s great relief Mrs. Barrimore and Mr. Burns came up.
Uncle Robert was in a state of pleased excitement.
“Do come to the bandstand!” he panted. “Come at once, and I will show you the most beautiful girl in the world!”
“It is poor Eweretta’s half-sister, Aimée Le Breton,” explained Mrs. Barrimore. “She is with her uncle, listening to the music. I think she is surpassingly beautiful, and now I do not wonder that poor Philip is consecrated to Eweretta’s memory. I never saw Eweretta, but I am told that the sisters were remarkably alike. It has been a lasting regret of Philip’s that he had no photograph of Eweretta.”
Uncle Robert beamed as a thought crossed his mind, to which he gave instant expression.
“Dan shall paint Aimée Le Breton!” he exclaimed. “I will move heaven and earth to bring it about, and I will give the picture to Philip.”
“But this poor girl is not—quite right, I understand,” said the Colonel. “I hear that no one is allowed to visit her.”
“A big mistake—now, anyway,” vociferated Uncle Robert. “She is out like anyone else, and looks as sane as you—but sad. Yes, there is no doubt she looks sad. A lovely girl! Won’t Dan like his job! The old uncle is a rough sort of fellow, but he answered quite pleasantly when I spoke to him. I didn’t tell him who I was, though. Come along and see them before they go.”