In his first letter to her from Shotover he had spoken casually of a Miss Landis. It seemed the name was familiar enough to his mother, who asked about her; and he had replied in another letter or two, a trifle emphatic in his praise of her, because from his mother's letters it was quite evident that she knew a good deal concerning the very unconventional affairs of Sylvia's family.
Of his swift and somewhat equivocal courtship he had had nothing to say in his letters; in fact recently he had nothing to say about Sylvia at all, reserving that vital confidence for the clear sympathy and understanding which he looked forward to when he should see her, and which, through dark days and bitter aftermaths, through struggle and defeat by his master-vice, had never failed him yet, never faltered for an instant.
So he brought his letter to a close with a tender and uneasy inquiry concerning her health, which, she had intimated, was not exactly satisfactory, and for that reason she had opened the house in town in order to be near Dr. Grisby, their family doctor.
Sealing and directing the letter, he looked up to see Sylvia standing at his elbow. She dropped a light hand on his shoulder for a second, barely touching him--a fugitive caress, delicate as the smile hovering on her lips, as the shy tenderness in her eyes.
"More letters to your sweetheart?" she asked, abandoning her hand to him.
"One more--the last before I see her. … I wish you could see her, Sylvia."
"I wish so, too," she answered simply, seating herself on the arm of his chair as though it were a side-saddle.
They sat there very silent for a few moments, curiously oblivious to the chance curiosity of any one who might enter or pass.
"Would she--care for me--do you think?" asked the girl in a low voice.
"I think so,--for your real self."
"I know. She could only feel contempt for me--as I am."
"She is old-fashioned," he said reverently.
"That means all that is best in a woman. … The old fashion of truth and faith; the old fashion of honour, and faith in honour; the old, old fashion of--love. … All that is best, Stephen; all that is worth the love of a man. … Some day somebody will revive those fashions."
"Will you?"
"Dear, they would not become me," she said, the tenderness in her eyes deepening a little; and she touched his head lightly in humourous caress.
"What shall we do with the waning daylight?" she asked. "It is my last day with you. I told Howard it was my last day with you, and I did not care to be disturbed."