Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 17, No. 099, March, 1876

on: "Mr. D-- has business in England which cannot be attended to by

" Realizing in the next instant the purport of the suggestion, she flung away from my hands and rushed into the parlor, wher

and satisfying my partners, who would expect me to travel fast and work hard in the short time they had allotted

answer me in turn, I hoped we should be able to

ndon, while I am spending my day among dusty boxes and files of deeds in a dark old

ss of such a journey-tried to shut myself out and think only of her in the picture. But I failed, of course, and went on stupidl

nce. What new look was this in

e, slowly withdrawing her hand

t she would be happy even in the dull London lodgings, and that she would defy the law-fil

at I should be quite in your way, an en

, and held herself cold and musing before me. I might take her hand, might kiss her unresisting ch

you off this minute to New York? Come, get your hat and let's walk over to the parson

ight quiver of her pretty, poutin

before her, and her arms tense and straining at the clasping hands. With her head bent slightly forward, and her brown hair hanging in one long tress over her shoulder, she went swiftly up and down, while I lay back on the sofa and watched her. She would speak it out presently, the thought that was hurting her. So I felt secure and waited, following every movem

her hand upon it said, "Good-night, Charl

se of her vanishing dress; and though I called after her in low, beseeching

my impulse to dash after her and knock at her door till she answe

maids, but recoiled at the suggestion that this would publish a lovers' quarrel. So I retreated along the hall, my footsteps making no noise on the India matting, and

, and there was a delicious sweet and pure fragrance about the knitting-work. I took possession of it and thrust it into my breast-pocket. A magazine she had been reading, with the palest slip of a paper-knife-a bit of delica

r to come down. But Lenox nights were very still, and the near neighbors on eit

f her reappearance, until I heard, at last, footsteps coming along the hall in rapid tread. I darted up

se me, sir. The parlor was so-I

d indifference. "Do you want Miss Bessi

sion at the key she held in her hand. She was retiring again

lock up, Mary?" I

no consequence. I thou

nd then carry this note to Miss Bessie. It is so late that I

nothing, and waited respectfully until I had scribbled a hasty note, rifling Bessie's writing-desk for the envelo

ain starts at nine to-morrow morning, but you will be ready-will you not?-at six to take a morning wal