“She does not—indeed she does not!” cried Violet, warmly. “How could she?”
“Thank you, dear little friend! Thank God for your friendship, since I can not win her love.”
He had her hand in his, and had raised it to his lips, when just at that moment the door opened and Hilda appeared, and at her side, pale and wrathful, stood Leonard Yorke. He had witnessed the scene between Violet and Will Venners, and, of course, to his jealous nature, there could be but one inference.
CHAPTER XVIII.
AT YORKE TOWERS.
Violet started, and Will dropped her hand as though it were a live coal, as Leonard entered the room with a slight greeting, and began at once to converse with Mrs. Rutledge, who had also put in an appearance. Poor Violet and Will looked the very pictures of guilty confusion, and plunged into the first subject at hand for conversation. Violet felt Leonard’s stern eyes upon her, and her heart sunk with its weight of sorrow.
“I thought I would ride over this evening,” began Leonard, a little stiffly, “to make arrangements for bringing you all over to Yorke Towers to-morrow. I will send the carriage for Mrs. Rutledge and Miss Hilda. Violet, you and I might ride. You will like to take your saddle-horse to Yorke Towers, will you not?”
Violet’s eyes sparkled.
“Oh, yes; very much! I have not ridden in some time. Thank you, Mr. Yorke.”