"Never mind me. I am sorry I look so bad, it frightens you. But people
soon get used to it."
"I was taken by surprise," said Amethyst, with a great struggle for
composure. "I hope you will soon look better."
"My mother will call on Lady Haredale," said Lucian punctiliously, but
with wistful eyes.
Amethyst gave him her hand, as Sylvester made a decided movement, but,
as he held it close for a moment, the contrast with the well-remembered
grasp of his strong brown fingers broke her down completely, and she
hurried away, half-blinded with tears. Lucian did not speak another
word till the drive was over and he was back again on his couch. Then
he whispered--
"Syl!"
"Yes--what is it?"
"Won't she come sometimes and let me see her? Tell her how it is with
me. I should like it, so much. Just to look at her!"
"I will tell her, and I am sure she will come. Rest now, and I will go
and find her," said Sylvester, gently.
"Yes, that's what I want. Tell her how the Jackson girls come to tea,
and many people. And the mother will call. But _you_ tell her the
truth."
"Yes."
"Just a few times more," said Lucian, as he watched his messenger go.
Sylvester went with hurried steps, urged as much by his own feelings as
by Lucian's words. He made his way down into the sunny road where he
had left Amethyst, and soon overtook her walking fast along it, with
little heed to the beauty of sea or sky.
"I am grieved to have given you such a shock," he said, "but I was
obliged to think first of him."
"Oh, I knew he was ill, but he looks as if he was dying!" broke out
Amethyst, with a husky voice.
"Yes," said Sylvester, "that is the sad truth. Life is all over for
him, he cannot recover. He wishes you to know it. But, if you will,
come sometimes to Casa Remi, as others do, and let him see you. It will
give him pleasure. Mrs Leigh thinks society good for him. If he could
see the old friendliness restored, he would not fret so much over his
past want of insight."
"I thought that he believed himself to have been perfectly right."
"Ah, he has learned many lessons--in a hard school, poor boy! But you
will give him this great pleasure--for a little while?"
"If Mrs Leigh wishes--it is for her to decide," said Amethyst, still a
little stiffly; then with a sudden break down--"Oh, how he is altered!"
"Yes, indeed."
Sylvester was pale, he turned his troubled eyes upon her.
"It is impossible, just now," he said, "to think of ourselves--of
oneself I mean, of anything but of him."
"I will do just what _you_ think is best for him," said Amethyst. "Tell
him I will come. You understand?" She put her hand into Sylvester's,
and he held it in his own.
"I understand," he said.
Their eyes met as they parted. She looked very unhappy; but Sylvester's
heart bounded as he felt that once again she yielded to his influence,
and she forgot that she had ever dreaded meeting him again, and had been
half angry when his verses reached her.