I am not sure," she went
on, with astonishing candour, "whether I can. But I wish
you happiness with all my heart. Are you happy now?"
He turned his great dark eyes on her. "I am as happy, I
dare say, as I have any need to be."
"But you are happier since your letter came?"
"No," he said. The simple word fell on her heart, and
she forbore.
They went on again in silence until they arrived at a
place from which they saw the gleam of the river and the
line of the hills beyond. Advena stopped.
"We came here once before together--in the spring. Do
you remember?" she asked.
"I remember very well." She had turned, and he with her.
They stood together with darkness about them, through
which they could just see each other's faces.
"It was spring then, and I went back alone. You are still
living up that street? Good night, then, please. I wish
again--to go back--alone."
He looked at her for an instant in dumb bewilderment,
though her words were simple enough. Then as she made a
step away from him he caught her hand.
"Advena," he faltered, "what has happened to us? This
time I cannot let you."
CHAPTER XIX
"Lorne," said Dora Milburn, in her most animated manner,
"who do you think is coming to Elgin? Your London friend,
Mr Hesketh! He's going to stay with the Emmetts, and Mrs
Emmett is perfectly distracted; she says he's accustomed
to so much, she doesn't know how he will put up with
their plain way of living.
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