“How do you mean?” said Cicely quickly. “Are you afraid about your eyes?”
“Yes,” he said. “I can’t bear to say it, but I don’t think I mind your knowing. I am afraid I shall never have very much use of my eyes. With care I may keep my sight, but I shall never be able to do half I should otherwise have done.”
Cicely was silent for a few moments. Then, “I am so sorry,” she said simply. But that was all, for Eudoxie came running up, begging them not to walk so fast, as Mrs. Crichton was tired.
Before April was at an end nearly all the visitors had left Hivèritz. Mr. Guildford and his sister began to talk of returning home, and the Casalis household of moving to the mountains for the summer. And one morning’s post brought letters which helped to decide the plans of the three English people. That same afternoon Mr. Guildford called at the Rue de la Croix blanche. Madame Casalis was out, but “Mademoiselle,” which had come to be Cicely’s special title in the family, was in the salon, said old Mathurine. So into the salon the visitor made his way. Cicely was writing. She looked up with a smile of welcome when she saw who it was.
“I have come to say good-bye—at least, almost good-bye,” he exclaimed. “I have letters this morning which have decided us to go home the end of this week. I shall lose a chance I have been waiting for a long time if I don’t go. And it is getting too hot here.”
“Yes,” Cicely answered. “The Casalises are going to the farm next week.”
“And are you going with them?”
“I think so. Indeed, I have decided to do so now. I too had letters this morning. My sister hopes to be in England some time late in the autumn. I think I shall stay here till then, and meet the Forresters at Marseilles. Then I shall be with them for some months; they will not be quite a year in England.”
Mr. Guildford listened with interest. “I wish we could spend the summer up in the mountains too,” he said. “I am not as English as you, Miss Methvyn—at least, I am very sorry to go away.”
“The winter has passed pleasantly,” said Cicely. “I am glad I came here. I am very glad to be able to look forward a little. I began to fear something might prevent Amiel’s coming.”