"All right," he said simply. "I'll remember."
Ever so much later that evening he rose to bid her good-night.
"Whatever comes, you've been an angel to me," he said in that hasty five
seconds that her hand was his.
"Shall I ever regret it?" she asked, looking up to his eyes.
"Never," he declared earnestly, "never, never. I can swear that, and I
shall be able to swear the same thing when I'm as old as my Aunt Mary."
Mrs. Rosscott lowered her eyes.
"Who could ask more?" she said softly.
"I could," said Jack--"but I'll wait first."
CHAPTER NINETEEN - AUNT MARY'S RETURN
Joshua was at the station to meet his mistress, and Lucinda, full to the
brim with curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.
Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity which was sufficiently
overpowering to counteract the effect of her bonnet's being somewhat awry.
She greeted Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness that was indescribable,
and her glance glided completely over Lucinda and faded away in the open
country on the further side of her.
Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy stock and stormy glances
neither bent nor broke her spirit.
"I'm glad to see you come back looking so well," she screamed, when Aunt
Mary was in and they were off.
Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner that appeared a trifle
indignant, and riveted her gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.
"I thought it was more like heaven myself," she said coldly.
Pages:
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188