CHAPTER XV.
A DECLARATION.
Arriving at Mr. Loring’s, Geoffrey sent his name up to the young ladies, and a few minutes later Gladys came down alone.
How his heart bounded as she came tripping into the room, looking as fresh and lovely as the morning itself.
She was dressed in a morning robe of white flannel, relieved by quilted facings of pale blue silk, and fastened at the waist with a cascade of ribbons of the same hue.
Her hair was carelessly knotted at the back of her head, where it was pinned with a small shepherd’s crook of silver, while a few light rings clustered lovingly about her forehead.
In spite of the dissipation of the previous evening, her eyes were bright as stars, her cheeks flushed, and her manner animated.
“Dear old Geoff,” she cried, springing forward with a glad smile to meet him, “I imagined you were on your way back to New Haven, to bury yourself in Greek verbs and Latin nouns! What good fairy has sent you here instead?”
“Love!” was on Geoffrey’s lips as he gathered both her hands in his, but he restrained the word, and replied:
“Oh, I wanted to have a little talk with Uncle August, and so concluded to remain over another day. I have come to act as your escort home.”
“How good of you! I was dreading to go alone.”