Was I right?

by Mrs. O. F. Walton

But when we were outside, Evelyn turned so white and faint that I did not know how to get her back to the garden. I made signs to Sir William to come; but he was reading the newspaper, and did not look up, and I did not like to leave Evelyn alone whilst I went to call him.

At this moment, to my great joy, Mr. Stanley came up, and seeing how ill Evelyn looked, at once offered her his arm, and walked with her back to her father.

As I followed them into the garden I could not help contrasting Mr. Stanley's open, manly face with that of Mr. Donald Trafford, who had by no means improved in appearance since I saw him last. I wondered whether Evelyn was struck by the difference. I almost thought that she was, for she thanked Mr. Stanley very pleasantly for his kind help, and explained that she had suddenly turned faint when she was in the shop, but said she would be quite better in a few moments.

Sir William was very much frightened when he saw his daughter come up to him, looking as pale as death, and leaning on Mr. Stanley's arm; but she tried to laugh him out of his fears, and told him that she was rather tired, and that it was nothing of consequence. Mr. Stanley, however, hurried up to the hotel to get a glass of water, and, as soon as he was gone, Evelyn burst into tears.

"What is the matter, my darling?" said Sir William, in a very distressed voice. "I am afraid the journey has been too much for you. Perhaps I was foolish not to follow Lady Eldridge's advice, and go on with her to Cairo. You are not strong enough to rough it yet; I almost think we had better turn back."

"Oh no, papa, it is not that," said Evelyn; "it is not that at all. Tell him, May, what it was."

"Evelyn had a great surprise when she went into that shop, Sir William," I said, "for there, dressed like a foreigner, and selling behind the counter, was her cousin, Mr. Trafford!"

"Donald!" said Sir William, starting from his seat. "Donald in that shop! Surely not! Surely you must have been mistaken! I cannot think that he would dare to come to a place like Port Said, where so many English people are continually passing through. Oh no, Evelyn, child, you must be wrong."

"No, Sir William," I said, "we certainly saw Mr. Trafford; I am quite sure we were not mistaken."

At this moment Mr. Stanley returned, and we could not talk any more about it. But Sir William seemed lost in thought, and did not enter into the conversation, which Evelyn and I tried to keep up.