Part 24 (1/2)

Hilda scarcely listened as the young man and the child chatted and laughed together, her heart was dwelling altogether in the future. She fancied herself even now driving to the play by her husband's side; she saw the pretty dress she meant to wear; in her mind was reflected as in a picture the image of her fair self, and the image also of the man who was still in her heart lover as well as husband. No matter for the present cloud, he was still her lover. She wondered if he would give her another tender glance, and if, as they sat side by side when the curtain was up and the actors were moving about on the stage, he would touch her hand with his, and show her in that way that she was forgiven.

”If he would only understand that I must keep both my vows,” she murmured, ”if I could only get him to really comprehend that much, much as I love my Judy, I would rather be alone with him--that is, I would rather be alone with him, if it makes him unhappy to have my sweet little Judy in the house. But how happy she is since I brought her home; how gay her voice sounds now.”

”I said you were a mutineer,” laughed Rivers. ”I know by your manner that you will never put up with the inevitable.”

”Don't!” said Judy; Hilda was looking at a lovely landscape, a friend she knew came up and spoke to her. ”Don't!” said Judy, turning and looking full at the young man; her eyes were grave, her childish face grew suddenly white and drawn. ”Perhaps I am going to give up being a mutineer,” she murmured.

CHAPTER XVI.

A LITTLE GIRL AND A LITTLE CROSS.

Love that hath us in the net, Can he pa.s.s, and we forget?

Many suns arise and set, Many a chance the years beget.

Love the gift is love the debt.

Even so.

Love is hurt with jar and fret.

Love is made a vague regret.

Eyes with idle tears are wet.

Idle habit links us yet, What is love? for we forget: Ah, no! no!

--TENNYSON.

Mrs. Quentyns and Judy enjoyed their lunch with Rivers. They went into the Park afterward for a short time, and then Hilda, remembering that the hours were flying, and that she must be dressed and ready to receive her husband before six that evening, bade the young man a hasty good-by, and drove home with Judy.

”I am so glad you are going to the play,” said the little girl. ”Why don't you often go--why don't you constantly go out in the evening?”

”If I did, Judy, what a dull time you'd have.”

”You're quite mistaken, Hilda; I shouldn't be dull at all. You don't know how I like story-books, and Susan is such a nice girl. She has got brothers and sisters at home, and she tells me about them when you are out. I am never lonely; I couldn't possibly be sad in the same house with you. If I saw you once or twice a day it would be enough for me--it would really.”

”My dear little pet,” laughed Hilda, ”how solemnly you are talking, what a frightfully earnest tone has got into your voice, and how you are puckering your poor little forehead. I have only one thing to say in reply to your generous wish to leave me so much by myself, namely, that I should find it extremely inconvenient and extremely lonely to have you in the house and only see you twice a day.”

”But suppose I weren't with you at all, Hilda--suppose I were still at the Rectory.”

”That would be different,” said Hilda, in a light tone; ”you would be in your natural home, and I----”

”But you _would_ be lonely if I were away from you, Hilda; do say you'd be fearfully lonely!”

The pa.s.sion in Judy's voice was unnoticed by Hilda.

”I'd miss you, of course, my pet,” she said; ”but I do declare that stupid driver is taking us wrong. Oh, if he goes up that way it will be such a round that I shall be late for Jasper's dinner. Poke your parasol through the little window in the roof, Judy, and stop him, do.”

Judy obeyed, the driver received his directions in due course, and a moment or two later Hilda and Judy were standing in the little hall at Philippa Terrace. Quentyns came suddenly forward.

”Why, Jasper, you have come back already,” said the wife. ”It isn't five yet, but I--I can dress in no time. Have you got the tickets?--where are we going?”