He did look surprised at my appearance; so
surprised that his explanation of his errand died away into an
unintelligible murmur. But I wasn't curious about it.
I tried to read a newspaper, only to gather from some headlines that
Strathay and his cousin were passengers by an out-going steamship. I
wonder if it was all money, money, that kept him from me--or was it more
than half the fear of beauty?
I couldn't read anything else, not even a note from Mrs. Marmaduke; it was
dated from her country place; she hoped to see me--"in the autumn!" Peggy
is in Europe; the General's going if she's not gone already. "May see you
at the wedding of that odd Miss Bryant," ran her last brusque message. "I
begged an invitation; really I like her. But the chances are against my
being here."
All gone, I thought; my last hope, all my friends.
There was a note from Mrs. Baker; I compelled myself to glance at that,
and when I had done so, seized my hat and veil. She would call, it said,
that afternoon!
With no thought but of escape, I left the house; I cared not where I went,
nor what I did. I knew the Judge had sent Aunt Frank to pry into my
troubles; I walked with feverish haste, I would have liked to fly to avoid
her.
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