"May I come in?" he said, his color coming and going. "I--I want to
speak to you."
She opened the door wide, and he entered and closed it after him.
She moved to the dressing table, and took up a toilet bottle in an
aimless fashion.
"I have come to tell you that I have to go abroad," he said. He had
thought out what he would say, but his voice sounded strange and forced,
and, by reason of his agitation, graver even than usual.
"Yes," she said, with polite interest. "When do you go?"
"To-day--at once," he said. "Can you be ready in time for us to catch
the afternoon mail?"
She turned her head and looked at him. The sun had come out, and shone
through the muslin curtains upon her pretty face and soft brown hair.
"I!" she said, surprised and startled. "I! Do you want me to go?"
"Yes," he said.
He stood, his eyes fixed on hers, his brows knit in suspense and
anxiety.
"Why?" she asked.
He came a little nearer, but did not stretch out his hands, though he
longed to do so.
"Because--I want you," he replied.
She looked at him, and something in his eyes, something new, strange,
and perplexing, made her heart beat fast, and caused the blood to rush
to her face.
"You--want--me?" she said, in a low voice, which quavered. Its tremor drew
him to her, and he held out his arms.
"Yes; I have wanted you--I have always wanted you. Ada, forgive me! Come
to me!"
She half yielded, then she shrank back, her face white, her eyes full of
remorse and something like fear.
"You--you don't know!" she panted.
"Yes, I know all--enough!" he said. "It was my fault as much--more than
yours. Forgive me, Ada! Let us forget the past; let us begin our lives
from to-day--this hour! No, don't speak! It is not necessary to say a
word. Don't let us look back, but forward--forward! Ada, I love you! I
have loved you all along, but I was a fool and blind; but my eyes are
opened, and----Do you care for me? Or is it too late?"
She closed her eyes, and seemed as if about to fall, but he caught her
in his arms, and, with a sob, she hid her face on his breast, weeping
passionately.
* * * * * Nell sank into a corner of the luxurious carriage, and stared vacantly
before her. The reaction had set in, and she felt bewildered and
confused. She was leaving Wolfer House "under a cloud." For all her life
one person, at least--Lord Wolfer--would deem her guilty of misconduct.
She shuddered and closed her eyes. How should she account to mamma for
her sudden return? Then she tried to console herself, to ease her aching
heart with the thought of the meeting, the reconciliation of the husband
and wife. She had not sacrificed herself in vain, not in vain!