Her eyes stole over him attentively, she marked his dress and his manner with a fixed intensity—an idea bad taken possession of her which she could not drive away.
Again and again her eye returned to its scrutiny of the man, and the hand which Mrs. Chetwode was caressing, closed itself convulsively as if it held something it must keep, come life or come death. Her hand which lay upon his arm quivered against his heart as if there was something there she longed to seize.
When they reached the griffins now squatting on their snow-covered pedestals, Margaret broke her bitter silence by a forced request.
"Honor me by an interview, sir."
"Whom have I to meet this time?" he asked, with a boding smile.
"No one sir. Are you afraid of meeting strangers, Colonel Brand?"
He bowed sardonically, and followed her into the hall.
John came forward to relieve the colonel of his overcoat, and Margaret remained for some moments giving some directions to the housekeeper. When the visitor was ready she accompanied him into the library, where before a glowing fire the lonely girl was accustomed to read through the long evenings, and bade him wait her return from her chamber.
"What a home-paradise we shall have," said Colonel Brand with ironical gallantry; "I know I shall be delighted by some new and strange side of my charmer's character. I always am."
"You may," answered Margaret with a strange look.