Pixie ran upstairs for the small son and heir, who had by now returned home, and in her absence Stephen exchanged a few last words with Esmeralda.
“I am immensely relieved and thankful that you and your husband feel with me in this matter. And Miss O’Shaughnessy has been wonderfully forgiving! She does not appear to bear me any rancour.”
Esmeralda gave a short, impatient laugh.
“Rancour! Pixie! You know very little of my sister, Mr Glynn, to suggest such a possibility. She is incapable of rancour!”
Pixie returned at this moment, leading Geoff by the hand, and when the great car glided up to the door, she and the boy went out together to see the last of the departing guest. Stephen stepped haltingly into the car, and leaned over the side to wave his own farewells. Pixie smiled, and waved in reply, and the sun shone down on her uncovered face. Stephen would have been thankful if he could have carried away that picture as a last impression, but as the car moved slowly from the door, she stepped back into the shadow of the porch, and he caught a last glimpse of her standing there, gazing after him with a grave, fixed gaze.
Chapter Eighteen.
“I will be True.”
Stephen Glynn’s dreaded interview with his nephew was a typical example of the unexpectedness of events, for instead of the indignant opposition which he had feared, his proposition was listened to in silence, and accepted with an alacrity, which was almost more disconcerting than revolt.