There is no reason to be uneasy. I am going to
superintend the search myself. I will return to you as soon as
possible."
Lady Janet listened absently. There was a certain expression in
her eyes which suggested to Julian that her mind was busy with
some project of its own. He stopped as he passed Mercy, on his
way out by the billiard-room door. It cost him a hard effort to
control the contending emotions which the mere act of looking at
her now awakened in him. His heart beat fast, his voice sank low,
as he spoke to her.
"You shall see me again," he said. "I never was more in earnest
in promising you my truest help and sympathy than I am now."
She understood him. Her bosom heaved painfully; her eyes fell to
the ground--she made no reply. The tears rose in Julian's eyes as
he looked at her. He hurriedly left the room.
When he turned to close the billiard-room door, he heard Lady
Janet say, "I will be with you again in a moment, Grace; don't go
away."
Interpreting these words as meaning that his aunt had some
business of her own to attend to in the library, he shut the
door. He had just advanced into the smoking-room beyond, when he
thought he heard the door open again.
Pages:
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259