"Yes, yes," interrupted the invalid, "but that is not all; he has never been well since your husband's reply to his letter about your daughter."
"Mother, mother, hush! you forget.—Forgive her, Mrs. Armstrong," he added, in a lower tone. "Her heart is broken about poor Fanny, she scarcely knows what she is talking about."
"But have any letters passed between you and Mr. Armstrong?" she asked with painful eagerness.
Mary had heard the invalid's words, and her pale cheeks flushed as she listened for Henry Halford's reply.
"One only from me," he said, "and Mr. Armstrong's answer, in which he refuses——" he stopped abruptly, and then said hurriedly, "But it is all past now. Pray excuse us, Mrs. Armstrong, it is time my mother was at home."
"Henry, I am very sorry, I did not mean it," exclaimed the poor broken-hearted mother, as she saw by her son's face and manner that he was painfully annoyed.
Mrs. Armstrong saw it also. She took the trembling hand in hers and said—
"Don't make yourself uneasy, my dear friend, it will all come right in time. We must trust and hope."
"Thank you, Mrs. Armstrong," said Henry, "you have helped me to trust and hope. I will never forget those words."
He took off his hat to the ladies as they turned to continue their walk, while the pallor which had so startled them had given place to the flush of hope which Mrs. Armstrong's words had excited.