110 "My darling child!" She was clasped in Miss Chester's arms and fervently kissed. "How glad I am to see you again! And have you had a happy time?"
"Of course we have!" Marie bent to kiss her again to end further questioning, and they went into the drawing-room together.
Marie looked round her with sad eyes. It seemed such an eternity since she was here—such an eternity since that Sunday afternoon when Chris had asked her to go for a walk with him and the walk had ended in that never-to-be-forgotten moment outside Westminster Abbey.
Then she had looked forward to radiant days of happiness, but she felt now that ever since she had been going backwards, retreating from the golden hopes that for a little while had dazzled her eyes.
Miss Chester was pouring out tea and talking all the time.
"I have had your rooms all redecorated, Marie, because—though of course I know you will get a house of your own before long—I like to think that you will often come here, you and Chris."
"Yes, dear, thank you."
Marie tried to speak enthusiastically, but it was a poor little failure, and Miss Chester looked up quickly, struck by some new tone in the girl's voice.
But she made no comment until later on when she and Chris were alone for a moment, and then she said anxiously:
"Chris, I don't think you ever told me how very ill Marie was after that accident in the sea?"