Sometimes she had thought that he was drawn to them more than to any one else simply because he had discovered them to be of English extraction, and felt more freedom and more in sympathy with them on that account.
But she knew, too, that he admired her for her beauty, and she certainly had exerted herself more than she had ever done in her life before to be not only entertaining, but gentle, and winning, and womanly, and she kept hoping that a crisis would come before they left for home.
They wandered on and on, the moonlight streaming upon them through the overarching branches of the trees, and making lace-like patterns upon the smoothly graveled walk at their feet, and he talked only of yesterday’s boating, yesterday’s racing—of anything save what her heart was craving to hear.
The band played its softest, sweetest strains; the leaves rustled whisperingly above their heads, suggestive of lovers’ vows; they were almost alone in the beautiful, moonlighted avenue, and everything was conducive to love-making, if his lordship had only been so inclined.
Soon they came out by a fountain where the lights were shining brilliantly, and he led her to a rustic seat, placed her in it, and sat down beside her.
“I shall be very sorry to go,” Josephine said, with a pensive sigh, as she looked around on the lovely scene; “it has been very pleasant here this summer.”
“It has, indeed, and I shall carry the memory of it with me for a long while,” her companion replied. “You have some very beautiful places of resort in your country, Miss Richards. You and your mother have made my sojourn at Long Branch more than pleasant. Since learning that you have English blood in your veins, I have grown to regard you almost as my own people; and sometimes,” he added, smiling, “I have felt as if I might be intruding myself too much upon you; but I trust I shall be able to return some of your kindness when you come to England.”
Josephine’s heart sank like lead in her bosom.
These were surely very commonplace words to speak to her on the eve of her departure, if he entertained anything of affection for her.
“It would be a great delight to me to visit England,” she returned; “and you have told me so much about your beautiful home—your mother and sister—that I have a great desire to see both it and them.”