"
Of course there came no answer except a succession of blushes. Anne's
work, which she had carried with her, took all her attention just then.
"Can you guess her name, Anne?"
"I don't know. Is it Maude Kirton?"
He winced. "If you have been told that abominable rubbish, Anne, it is
not necessary to repeat it. It's not so pleasant a theme that you need
make a joke of it."
"Is it rubbish?" asked Anne, lifting her eyes.
"I think you ought to know that if any one does. But had anything
happened, Anne, recollect it would have been your fault. You have been
very cool to me of late. You forbid me the house for weeks and weeks; you
went away for an indefinite period without letting me know, or giving me
the chance of seeing you; and when the correspondence was at length
renewed, your letters were cold and formal--quite different from what
they used to be. It almost looks as if you wished to part from me."
Repentance was stealing over her: why had she ever doubted him?
"And now you are going away again! And although this interview may be
our last for months, you scarcely deign to give me a word or a look of
farewell."
Anne had already been terribly tried by Mrs. Graves: this was the climax:
she lost her self-control and burst into tears. Lord Hartledon was
softened at once. He took her two hands in his; he clasped her to his
heart, half devouring her face with passionate kisses.
Pages:
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246