"
Miss Desborough's eyes sparkled even through her veil as she glanced at
her companion and said, "I GUESS NOT."
As the "tea" party had not yet returned, it fell to the consul to
accompany Miss Desborough and her maid to the station. But here he was
startled to find a collection of villagers upon the platform, gathered
round two young women in mourning, and an ominous-looking box.
He mingled for a moment with the crowd, and then returned to Miss
Desborough's side.
"Really," he said, with a concern that was scarcely assumed, "I ought
not to let you go. The omens are most disastrous! You came here to a
death; you are going away with a funeral!"
"Then it's high time I took myself off!" said the lady lightly.
"Unless, like the ghostly monk, you came here on a mission, and have
fulfilled it."
"Perhaps I have. Good-by!"
*****
In spite of the bright and characteristic letter which Miss Desborough
left for her host,--a letter which mingled her peculiar shrewd sense
with her humorous extravagance of expression,--the consul spent a
somewhat uneasy evening under the fire of questions that assailed him
in reference to the fair deserter.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173