Immediately after dinner, Muriel wrote a note to Wentworth, bidding him come to the house instantly. This she dispatched by Patrick, bidding him find the young artist, if possible, and give it into his own hand; and Patrick, who would have gone through fire and flood for his young mistress, promised to find Wentworth if he was to be found, and started off on his errand.
It was about four o’clock when Wentworth arrived. He was shown up into the studio, where Muriel was waiting for him. Pale and wan, and grave even to coldness, he was the handsome and gallant Wentworth still; a man to be loved at first sight by women and by men, even now, when a storm had blown upon his May.
He bowed coldly and constrainedly to Muriel as he entered, though he was struck by her exceeding beauty as she glided forward with her natural affable smile and curtsey to greet him. But Wentworth was sick of all the world at that moment, and affecting not to see Muriel’s outstretched hand, he looked aside and reached her a chair.
“What is it you wished to see me for, Muriel?” he said, half coldly, half carelessly, drawing up another chair for himself.
“Richard?” Her voice carried a soft rebuke, though it was gentle and low. “Not glad to see me, your friend, your sister, Richard.”
He kept his gaze fixed upon the floor, but his lip quivered, and the faded colors of the carpet suddenly swam. The next instant he felt her arms around him, and blind with tears, he let his forehead sink upon her shoulder.
“Forgive me, Muriel,” he faltered, in a moment, lifting his face to hers, and wanly smiling through his tears. “Indeed I love you, but my heart is half broken, and I am weary of the world.”
“Ah, Richard,” she said, with tender gaiety, “there is a fairy prince here who mends broken hearts, and makes the world-weary glad again.”
Her arms fell from him, and as they fell, he caught her hand and pressed it to his lips.
“Your magic is strong, dear fairy prince,” he said, with sad playfulness, “but there are spells no magic can unbind. Come—let us speak of other things.”