He was sitting sideways, his left arm leaning on the elbow of the bench, his kindly, luminous brown eyes fixed on her fair pretty face, all blushes and dimples. Ah, if fortune had but smiled upon him!—if he might but have whispered to this young girl, who had become so dear to him, of the love that filled his whole heart!
“Suppose you walk over with me one of these fine days before I leave?” he continued. “It won’t be too far for you, will it?”
“Oh no. I should like to go.”
“There is the prettiest churchyard you ever saw, to rest in. And such a quaint little church, covered with ivy. The Rectory, standing by, is quite a grand mansion in comparison with the church.”
“And the church has a history, I believe.”
“Ay, as connected with the people of the Hall and the Rectory; and with its own chimes, that never played, I hear, but disaster followed. We will go then, Katrine, some afternoon between now and Saturday.”
Her face fell; she turned it from him. “Must you leave on Saturday, Edgar?”
“My dear little cousin, yes. Cousins in name, you know we are, though not in reality.”
“You did say you might stay until Monday.”
“Ay, my will would be good to stay till Monday, and many a Monday after it: but you see, Katrine, I have neglected my work too long, and I cannot break into another week. So you must please make the most of me until Saturday,” he added playfully, “when I shall take the evening train.”