Walter was touched to the heart by this look of trouble on the innocent, young-old face.
"I thought it was always right to give up one's own way," he said, in the light tone which he had come to employ with her.
She made an effort to smile in response.
"Oh yes, oh yes, it's the fashion to say so. You are a self-denying race, to believe yourselves; but this time you must not yield."
"To whom am I supposed to be about to yield?" he asked. "You may be sure I sha'n't unless I can't help myself."
The tears overflowed her bright old eyes; her hands shook as they held his.
"God bless you! God bless you!" she said. "I will do nothing but pray for you, and you will tell me when you come back."
He left her lying back upon her cushions sobbing under her breath. All this half-perplexed, half-amused the young man. She was a very strange little creature, he felt, neither old nor young; there was no telling the reason of her emotion. She was so much indulged in all her whims, like a spoiled child, that perhaps these tears were only her regrets for a lost playmate. At the same time Walter knew that this was not so, and was angry with himself for the thought. But how find his way out of the perplexity? He shook it off, which is always the easiest way; and soon the landscape began to attract his attention, and he forgot by degrees that there was anything very unusual in the circumstances of his journey. It was not till the first long stage of this journey was over that he was suddenly roused to a recollection of everything involved, by the appearance of Symington at the carriage window, respectfully requesting to know whether he had wanted anything. Walter had not remembered, or if he had remembered had thought no more of it, that this quietly officious retainer had taken all trouble from him at the beginning of his journey, as he had done during his stay in Mr. Milnathort's house.
"What! are you here?" he said, with surprise, and a mixture of amusement and offence.
"I beg your pardon, my lord," said Symington, with profound and serious respect, yet always a twinkle in his eye, "but as the other man did not turn up—and your lordship could scarcely travel without some attendance——"