He instantly ran out and telegraphed—
“Don’t accept on any account.”
Then he sought Mrs Langley, and opened Robin’s case to her. Mrs Langley listened with a smile of intelligence, and soon after went to her daughter’s room, the window of which commanded a splendid view of the western sea.
“Letta, dear, are you moralising or meditating?”
“Both, mamma.”
“Well, I will try to help you,” said Mrs Langley, seating herself by the window. “By the way, did you hear that Mr Wright has been offered a lucrative appointment in the Telegraph Department of India, and is going off at once;—has not time even to say good-bye to his old friend Sam Shipton?”
Letta turned very pale, then extremely red, then covered her face with both hands and burst into tears.
“So, Letta, you love him,” said her mother, gently. “Why did you not let me know this sooner?”
“Oh, mamma!” said poor Letta, “why do you put it so—so—suddenly. I don’t love him—that is—I don’t know that I love him. I’ve never thought about it seriously. He has never opened his lips to me on the subject—and—and—”
“Letta, dear,” said her mother, tenderly, “would you wish to prevent his going away if you could? Open your heart to your mother, darling.”