In this latter place they lingered for some time, examining various objects of interest, Mrs. Mapleson appearing to be greatly attracted by the valuable collection of curiosities on exhibition there.
While they were standing before a cabinet of curious stones, one of Everet’s classmates came to him and drew him aside for a moment of private conversation.
He then turned to his mother and excused himself, saying that he was wanted elsewhere upon a matter of class business, but would shortly return to her.
“Very well,” she replied. “I will look about by myself until you come back, and you will find me here.”
She wandered leisurely from case to case, looking over their contents, until suddenly her attention was attracted by a peculiarly pleasant voice, and, glancing up, she saw her son’s “double” standing near her, with a beautiful girl leaning upon his arm.
She knew that it was Geoffrey Huntress from some trifling difference in his dress, although, even to her keen mother’s eye, it was almost impossible to otherwise distinguish him from her son.
But after a passing glance at him, her attention was riveted upon the exquisitely beautiful girl at his side, whose face was all aglow with health and happiness.
“They are lovers,” Mrs. Mapleson said to herself, as she saw how oblivious they were of all save each other. “I wonder who the young girl is? How graceful she is in every movement! how animated! and I have rarely seen such a lovely complexion, or such beautiful, expressive eyes!”
She stood beside one of the cabinets, partially shielded by it, and watched the young couple all the time they remained in the room, and would gladly have followed them as they passed on to another, so interested did she become in them, if she had not promised that she would remain where she was until Everet returned.
When at length he did come back to her, his face was pale and lowering. He had passed Gladys and Geoffrey on his way, and the sight of them together had wrought him up to the highest pitch of passion and suffering.