“And will you come back to Tercanbury with me? I should like you to know that so long as I live my home will be yours. And I will try and make you forget that I was ever——”
The Dean broke off with a gesture of appeal, unable to finish.
“I know you’re very good,” smiled Herbert, “and you see I have brought Bella back to you.”
The Dean hesitated a moment shyly, then bent down and very tenderly kissed the pale, suffering lad.
IV
Some days after the party at Lady Edward Stringer’s Basil went to Brighton, and was met at the station by Jenny and her sister. Sending the traps by porter, they set out for the lodgings, but were quickly joined by a very smart young man, introduced to Basil as Mr. Higgins, who paired off with Annie Bush, When they had gone ahead, Basil asked who he was.
“He’s Annie’s latest,” answered Jenny, laughing.
“Have you known him long?”
“We got to know him the second day we were down. I noticed him look at us, and I said to Annie: ‘There you are, my dear; there’s company for you when Basil comes, because I can’t stick walking three in a row.’”
“Who introduced him to you?”