. . .
I saw you drive up in the carriage, and I wondered if we should
be friends."
"Yes," said Howard, "it was you on the lawn--that was when I saw
you first!"
"And now we must go back and face the music," said Howard. "What do
you think? How shall we make it all known? I shall tell Aunt Anne
to-night. I shall be glad to do that, because there has fallen a
veil between us. Don't forget, dear child, how unutterably wretched
and intolerable I have been. She tried to help me out, but I was
running with my head down on the wrong track. Oh, what a miserable
fool I was! That comes of being so high-minded and superior. If you
only knew how solemn I have been! Why couldn't I just speak?"
"You might have spoken any time," said Maud. "Why, I would have
walked barefoot to Dorchester and back to please you! It does seem
horrible to think of our being apart all that time, out of such
beautiful consideration--and you were my own, my very own all the
time, every moment."
"I will come and tell your father to-morrow," said Howard
presently. "How will Master Jack take it? Will he call you Miss?"
"He may call me what he likes," said Maud. "I shan't get off
easily."
"Well, we have an evening and a night and a morning for our
secret," said Howard. "I wish it could be longer. I should like to
go on for ever like this, no one knowing but you and me."
"Do just as you like, my lord and master," said Maud.
"I won't have you talk like that," said Howard; "you don't know
what you give me.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212