"Sometimes—you will find I shall in this instance. I must go to fetch Clara, the only question is when?"
"And does that depend on Mrs. Willis' wishes, or your caprice."
"A little on both, if you mean by caprice the power of absenting myself from the duties of my station," replied he.
"I wish I had met Mrs. Willis," said Emma; "pray make haste and fetch her, for if I leave the country without our meeting now, it is impossible to say when, if ever, I shall see her again."
"Are you going quite away then?" enquired he with concern. "I thought your home was at Croydon."
"It is impossible to say where my home may be—not Croydon certainly—perhaps I may never have another. I must in future be content to dwell amongst strangers, and dare not talk of home. I am wishing for a situation as governess."
A slight shade of melancholy replaced the usually gay expression of her countenance as she said this, but she did not raise her eyes to read the many conflicting feelings which were depicted in his countenance as he listened to her low and feeble voice. He could not command words to express his sentiments, or indeed feel at all sure us to what he ought to express at the moment; and she added, after a short pause,
"I have one prospect of a home, though an uncertain one at present; my brother—I mean my youngest brother—urges me to go and live with him the moment he can obtain a living for us both in his profession. But it must be quite uncertain when that will be."
He was still silent, hesitating whether or not he should at that moment offer her one other home more settled and more permanent. He hesitated, and the opportunity was lost. Footsteps were heard approaching; the high, shrill voice of Margaret sounded in the conservatory. In a low and hurried tone he spoke, clasping her hand in his;
"Dearest Miss Watson, I feel for you! If I had only time I would prove it!"