"And alone?"
"Yes, I can't condemn Millie to be my companion here. Have you come
from Thorpe?"
"No," said Wareham, with wonder.
"Lady Fanny certainly said in a letter that you were expected," said
Mrs Ravenhill, a little vexed with herself for a slip which appeared to
prove them interested in his movements. She added rashly, "Or perhaps I
made a mistake."
"I have not received any invitation to Thorpe," returned Wareham,
reserving the fact that one had been talked about. "Has Lady Fanny gone
back?"
"Yes. There were to be large shooting-parties, and her brother wanted
her. You had a sad time after we saw you. It shocked us greatly to
hear of Mr Forbes' death, and now his father."
Wareham entered into particulars. She listened with interest, saying at
last--
"I am glad the poor young fellow had friends. The seeds of illness must
have been in him when we saw him, and yet he seemed so full of life!"
He wanted to find out whether Miss Dalrymple was at Thorpe, and could
not bring himself to put the question. But the certainty that they
would know led him to propose calling, which he would have fled from but
for this inducement. He left Mrs Ravenhill to finish her drawing, and
went to his club, a couple of hours earlier than usual, to ascertain
whether any letter had arrived from Thorpe. The question of accepting
or not accepting the invitation, he flattered himself remained in the
balance. The fact of its arrival would prove to him that Miss Dalrymple
was there.
Nothing came. He read the evening papers, impressed by their dullness;
dined, dropped in at a theatre, and was immeasurably bored. What had
come to the world that it could do no better?
Another day and no note. Now he wandered into wonder whether his
reticence had for ever disgusted Anne, knowing nothing of his pledge.
She had given him openings enough, he saw them the more clearly when he
looked back at them; her verdict must have been either indifferent or
stupid.
The Ravenhills, with that link of Lady Fanny, began to look so
attractive that he grew anxious for the time to arrive when he might pay
his promised visit, and took many precautions to find them at home. He
chose five o'clock, and was rewarded by hearing that both Mrs and Miss
Ravenhill were out. The delay added to his determination. He left word
that he would try his luck again at the same time, and went through
another restless twenty-four hours, scourging himself with contempt that
it should be so, and amazed to find his cool control swept away by a
surging tide of passion.
This time the Ravenhills were at home. Millie greeted him charmingly.
The curves of her face had grown softer, her eyes had gained depth, the
alert air, which sometimes annoyed him, was absent. Each time that he
saw her he thought her prettier than before, but now no dream of
comparing her with Miss Dalrymple crossed his heart. There Anne sat
supreme.
The talk of course fell upon those last days at Bergen. They sat near
the fire, with the tea-table in a cosy corner and the room cheerfully
lighted, while Millie plied him with questions. Both thought, and
thought truly, that their interest lay with Hugh, yet with both the
figure of Anne stood always in the background; he wanted Millie to speak
her name, she was secretly relieved that he had not yet mentioned her.
Then another lady came in, to whom Mrs Ravenhill devoted herself, and
Wareham and Millie drew off a little.