"I am sorry I have kept you so long, but there will be less dust

than if we had gone sooner. The other carriages will have had time

to get out of our way," she said, pleasantly. "Winston," coming up

to her brother, and speaking in an undertone, "will it be quite

convenient for you to send for Aunt Rachel on next Friday?"

"Entirely! The carriage shall be at your service at any hour or day

you wish," with more cordiality than was common with him.

However treacherous others might be in their reserve and

half-confessions, here was one who had never deceived him or

knowingly misled him to believe her better, or otherwise, than she

was. Honesty and truth were stamped upon her face by a life-long

practice of these homely virtues--not by meretricious arts. It was

tardy justice, but he rendered it without grudging, if not heartily.

A few words passed as to the hour at which the carriage was to call

for Mrs. Sutton, and Mabel kissed her "Good-by," the others shaking

hands with her, and with three or four of the Tazewell kinsmen who

officiated as masters of ceremonies, and Mrs. Aylett made an

impatient movement toward the front steps. Directly in her route,

leaning against a pillar of the old-fashioned porch, was Frederic

Chilton, no longer dreamy and perplexed, but on the alert with eye

and ear--not losing one sound of her voice, or trick of feature. She

inclined her head slightly and courteously, the notice due a friend

of the house she, as guest, was about to leave. He did not bow, nor

relax the rigor of his watch. Only, when she was seated in the

carriage, he bent respectfully and mutely before Mabel, who followed

her hostess, and paying as little attention to the two gentlemen as

they did to him walked up to Mrs. Sutton, and said something

inaudible to the bystanders. As they drove out of the yard, the

Ridgeley quartette saw the pair saunter, side by side, to the

extreme end of the portico, apparently to be out of hearing of the

rest, but no one remarked aloud upon the renewed intimacy and then

confidential attitude.

"If it is anything very startling, the old gossip will never keep it

to herself," Mr. Aylett congratulated himself, while his wife's

complexion paled gradually to bloodlessness, and Herbert sat back in

his corner, sulky and dumb. "And she is coming to us on Friday!"




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024