“He called here to say good-by, and hear the last account of you!”
“Why did he go, did he tell you?”
“Business, indispensable business,” said Sybil, fearful of distressing her sister by announcing his appointment, and the expected consequences to Maurice, who, Hilary well knew, had always reckoned on going with him.
“Business!” repeated Hilary, looking anxiously at her sister, “that is a vague term; however, I suppose I have no right to question about it. Gone without my being able to thank him! I should have liked to do that!”
“I gave him your message, dear Hilary; do you remember what you told me to say?”
“Yes, and he—what did he say, Sybil?” said her sister, eager to hear something, she hardly knew what. Sybil repeated Captain Hepburn’s message verbatim, and with emphasis.
It was listened to with silence, but after a long pause she repeated—“Duty.”
“The fact is,” added Sybil, seeing she was perplexing herself about his departure, “he has been appointed to the command
of the Pandanus, a fine new screw steamer, one of the finest in the service, he says; and he has gone down to Woolwich, where she is fitting out.”
“Will he take Maurice?” exclaimed Hilary, eagerly. “Oh, I hope he will!”