At length Colonel Lane gave a long sigh and recovered himself, and holding on to the table, rose. “Philip,” he said, “I apologize.” Then a spasm caught his throat.
Philip seemed to rouse out of a kind of stupor. He looked at the old soldier, and a sudden pity seized him. He held out his hand, which the Colonel grasped.
“I am to blame, sir, a good deal to blame, but I am not so bad as you thought me. I was afraid Phyllis was about to wreck her life. I won’t go into particulars about that. To send her to her husband seemed the only thing to do.”
“I know how difficult she is to deal with,” acknowledged the Colonel, “and as she is married, it is best she should be with her husband as quickly as possible. But I should have liked the manner of her going to have been different. I should have liked to say good-bye!”
Philip, remembering how gaily Phyllis had gone off, pitied the father the more.
“Do you know it is all over Hastings that you have eloped with her?” said Uncle Robert.
“I daresay it is,” answered Philip, “but all that can soon be put right. She didn’t go with me at all, but came afterwards and found me out. I had gone to make arrangements with the Hursts. I did not trust Phyllis. I did not know what folly she might commit.”
“All’s well that ends well!” said Uncle Robert. “Let us fetch Annie!”
Mrs. Barrimore came in with tear-stained face, her tender mouth smiling, for Uncle Robert had whispered that all was right.
Then all had to be told over again. Mrs. Barrimore was still somewhat puzzled, remembering her conversation with Phyllis. She had then got the impression that Phyllis was the victim of a hopeless love. Phyllis was unexplainable—an impossible girl!