He wore mourning still for his
brother, and was the most distinguished-looking man in the chateau that
day. Anne was in a trailing lilac silk, with a white gossamer-bonnet.
That the heart of each went out to the other, as it had perhaps never
gone out before, it may be no sin to say. Sin or no sin, it was the
truth. The real value of a thing, as you know, is never felt until it
is lost. For two months each had been dutifully striving to forget the
other, and believed they were succeeding; and this first accidental
meeting roused up the past in all its fever of passion.
No more conscious of what he did than if he had been in a dream, Lord
Hartledon held out his hand; and she, quite as unconscious, mechanically
met it with hers. What confused words of greeting went forth from his
lips he never knew; she as little; but this state of bewildered feeling
lasted only a minute; recollection came to both, and she strove to
withdraw her hand to retreat.
"God bless you, Anne!" was all he whispered, his fervent words marred by
their tone of pain; and he wrung her hand as he released it.
Turning away he caught the eyes of his wife riveted on them; she had
evidently seen the meeting, and her colour was high. Lord Hartledon
walked straight into the next room, and Maude went up to Anne.
"How do you do, Miss Ashton? I am so glad to meet you. I have just heard
you were here from Mrs.
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