A Canadian Heroine, Volume 2

ntic telegraph had but been in operation she might have been startled by some vehement message coming in immediate protest against her decision; but as it was, the letter

purpose of his life would be to give Lucia the choice of accepting or refusing him as soon as he had a home to offer her, it was needless unkindness to try to conceal her from him. Wherever she might be, he should certainly find her in the end, and he implored her mother to spare him the anxiety and delay of a search. Finally he wrote, "I cannot understand in the least wh

te him from Lucia; and when it was finished and sent off, quite regardless of the fact that it would have left England just as soon if w

ter than usual, but only because he was so annoyed at his own anxiety and absence of mind that he set himself with a sort of dogged determination to conquer them, or at any rate keep them out of sight. The more, however, that he held

, he had a strong fancy that he might at once learn the secret of her distress himself, and help her to keep it from others. He calculated that six weeks' absence from Hunsdon would enable him to do this, and at the same time to make arrangements for his father's comfort more satisfactory th

isitors, even in the country. Still Maurice, who had some acquaintance with the family, thought he might ride over and see her there, and take his chance of being able to get an opportunity of explaining the ser

d attached to his heir. The disadvantage of this was that he required more and more of Maurice's company, and seemed to dislike sparing him a moment except while he slept. This was not promising for the succe

iable tête-à-tête while Mr. Beresford slept that the wished-for conversation took place, and Lady Dighton unconsciously helped her cous

way from Hunsdon a little more than you have been doing, and co

uld get away from Hunsdon for a little while, but I am afra

at him wi

, "that you had any friend

s that I want to go back to

er side of the worl

st as great an invalid as my grandfather, and has no one but an old house

, but he was of much too frank a nature to play off this little piece of dissimulation without a tell-tale change of countenance. Lady Dighton's

se accounts o

. But he will

ou first left him? I do

to leave Cacouna. I had no reason to be uneasy about him while they were ther

Could not my uncle come

ght in his own trap, but he re

Affairs to settle, the farm to sell or let, an

on laughed

in the space of a fortnight, which is the very utmost you could possibly have ou

, a little vexed, "and of course I shoul

ore practicable. Is there no person who would undertake th

d a little reluctantly

ive the directions himself, and I do not see what more you could do; and for anyt

ok his head

gone now. No, Louisa, your schemes are very good, but

you want me to help you to persuad

be hard. I would not ask him if

cousin's face, which was

you are, Maurice,

blood rush to h

st come. "Don't be shocked, Louisa; it is not altogether about my

self afterwards that he had from the first been half disposed to confess the whole story, and only wanted to know how she was likely to take it; but the truth was that, being as utterly

began to yield to the illusion (if illusion it was) which presented to her a queenly yet maidenly vision, a brilliant flower which might be worth transplanting from the woods even to the stately shelter of Hunsdon. It was clear enough that this girl, whatever she might be, had too firm a hold up

d prospects, had now thought it more honourable to break off their intercourse, and carry her child away, lest he should feel bound to what was now an unequal connection. This idea of Lady Dighton's arose simply from a misconception of Maurice's evident res

ed her willingness to help him, he began to fancy his difficulties were half remove

dy Dighton said, "we mu

ed Maurice in s

safe to propose to my grand

eeks? It is re

, but I am afraid it is a goo

for a day if it were not a thing that must be done no

in love do so overrate trifles; but she was r

ny particular cause for delaying since it must be done. But st

rate. He will be he

do you wis

would not lose an ho

ather to death. No, you mu

certain of bein

lantic as other people do of going across the Chan

h which his granddaughter always contrived to amuse him. Then she went away, turning as she drove off to give Maurice a last enco

r from it and from Hunsdon, when they were suddenly recalled by a strange gurgling gasping sound. Al

life and death; taking little notice of anybody, but growing so restlessly uneasy whenever Maurice was out of his sight, that