CHAPTER XVIII.
MOLLIE HEATHERFORD RETURNS.
“Why, Will! who was that man?” inquired Mrs. Temple in a tone of surprise, as she turned to observe the retreating form of Squire Talford after the encounter described in the last chapter.
“I cannot tell you, dear,” replied her husband, in the quietest and calmest of tones.
“But how strangely he appeared! He acted as if he knew you!” persisted the lady, and still gazing after the man.
“Yes, he did,” her husband admitted, with apparently the utmost composure; “he evidently mistook me for some one else. Now, shall we go?” he concluded, turning toward the carriage, but gnawing his under lip nervously, for it had required all the force of his will to control himself during the recent encounter with one whom, in his youth, he had deeply wronged, and whom, as a natural consequence, he had most cordially hated ever since. He assisted his wife into the carriage with the same loverlike attention which he had always shown her, then lightly swung his little daughter in after her.
“You are not coming with us, you said, Phil,” he observed, as with one foot on the step he turned to address the young man.
“No, I cannot. I have an engagement which will detain me for a couple of hours; but I will try to get home in time for dinner,” Philip replied.
“Yes, do, Phil,” said his mother earnestly, “it would seem very remiss if you should be absent on the first evening of the Heatherfords’ visit; it almost seems as if you ought to come with us and be there to welcome them.”