"Goodbye," she faintly answered.
He took her hand. That is, he held out his own, and Ellen almost mechanically put hers into it. To have made a scene by refusing, would have wounded her pride more than all. He kept it within his own, clasping his other hand upon it. For a moment his eyes met hers.
"It may be, that we shall never again cross each other's path in life, Ellen. God bless you, my love, and keep you always! I wish to Heaven, for both our sakes, that we had never met!"
"Goodbye," she coldly repeated as he dropped her hand. And they walked on in silence and gained the lawn, where the two in advance had turned to wait for them.
But this was destined to be an eventful day: to others, at least, if not to them. At the appointed time, Sir Nash Bohun and Arthur took their departure; Richard North, who had paid the baronet the attention of coming home to luncheon--for there was no longer any concealment now as to the true host of Dallory Hall--seeing them into their carriage.
"You have promised to come and stay with me, Richard," said the baronet, at the farewell hand-shake.
"Conditionally. When my work allows me leisure," answered Richard, laughing.
"Can't you go with us to the station, Dick?" put in Arthur.
"Not to-day, I fear. I must hold an immediate interview with madam; it is important. If you waited for me you might lose the train."
Arthur bent his face--one of pain now--to Dick's, and whispered.