GUY DARRELL'S DECISION.
Guy Darrell returned home from Carr Vipont's dinner at a late hour. On
his table was a note from Lady Adela's father, cordially inviting Darrell
to pass the next week at his country-house; London was now emptying fast.
On the table too was a parcel, containing a book which Darrell had lent
to Miss Vyvyan some weeks ago, and a note from herself. In calling at
her father's house that morning, he had learned that Mr. Vyvyan had
suddenly resolved to take her into Switzerland, with the view of passing
the next winter in Italy. The room was filled with loungers of both
sexes. Darrell had stayed but a short time. The leave-taking had been
somewhat formal--Flora unusually silent. He opened her note, and read
the first lines listlessly; those that followed, with a changing cheek
and an earnest eye. He laid down the note very gently, again took it up
and reperused. Then he held it to the candle, and it dropped from his
hand in tinder. "The innocent child," murmured he, with a soft paternal
tenderness; "she knows not what she writes." He began to pace the room
with his habitual restlessness when in solitary thought--often stopping--
often sighing heavily. At length his face cleared-his lips became firmly
set. He summoned his favourite servant. "Mills," said he, "I shall
leave town on horseback as soon as the sun rises. Put what I may require
for a day or two into the saddle-bags. Possibly, however I may be back
by dinner-time. Call me at five o'clock, and then go round to the
stables. I shall require no groom to attend me."
The next morning, while the streets were deserted, no houses as yet
astir, but the sun bright, the air fresh, Guy Darrell rode from his door.
He did not return the same day, nor the next, nor at all. But, late in
the evening of the second day, his horse, reeking hot and evidently hard-
ridden, stopped at the porch of Fawley Manor-House; and Darrell flung
himself from the saddle, and into Fairthorn's arms. "Back again--back
again--and to leave no more!" said he, looking round; "Spes et Fortuna
valete!"