“I was late, dear, and I knew you would feel it; but I do not believe you would have failed even if you had not seen me at all,” he answered, as he fondly smoothed back the clustering rings of hair from her throbbing temples.
“No, I do not think I should, really; but I could not have done as well; it was like a sudden inspiration to me when I found you at last.”
“Then I am thankful I was here, dear, for your effort was the grand event of the day,” Geoffrey said, smiling.
“You are very good to say so, Geoff,” Gladys replied, modestly.
“Very good to say so,” he repeated, laughing. “Why should I not say it, when your praises are on every lip, and a pin might have been heard, if one had dropped, while you were addressing the faculty and bidding your classmates farewell. Poor girls! the crystal drops were plentiful over the thought of parting.”
“It is a little hard to leave school, Geoff, and all the pleasant friends one has made; don’t you think so?”
“Perhaps,” he replied. “I presume it is harder for you than it will be for me, because I am so eager to make a place for myself in the world, and a nest for somebody else.”
Gladys blushed at this reference to coming events.
“Did I not see Mapleson here?” Geoffrey asked, after a moment.
“Yes; and at first I thought he was you; but I soon discovered my mistake.”