Graves had wanted to press them years and
years ago. He had at length made her an offer, and she had angrily
refused him. A foolish girl! said indignant Mrs. Graves, reproachfully.
Her son was a model son, and would make a model husband; and he would
be a wealthy man, as Anne knew, for he must sooner or later come into the
entailed property of his uncle. It was not at all pleasant to Lord
Hartledon to stand there in his pew, with recollection upon him, and the
gaze of the Ashtons studiously turned from him, and Jabez Gum looking out
at him from the corners of his eyes as he made his sonorous responses. A
wish for reconciliation took strong possession of Lord Hartledon, and he
wondered whether he could not bring himself to sue for it. He wanted
besides to stay for the after-service, which he had not done since he was
a young man--never since his marriage. Maude had stayed occasionally, as
was the fashion; but he never. I beg you not to quarrel with me for the
word; some of the partakers in that after-service remain from no higher
motive. Certainly poor Maude had not.
On the third Sunday, Lord Hartledon went to church in the evening--alone;
and when service was over he waited until the church had emptied itself,
and then made his way into the vestry. Jabez was passing out of it, and
the Rector was coming out behind him. Lord Hartledon stopped the latter,
and craved a minute's conversation.
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