Part 36 (2/2)
”I was sure there reatness behind, when it became necessary for a family lawyer to take such a journey as this,” Mary Selincourt said, with an easy laugh, doing her best to second the bishop's efforts to draw off attention froht as well start feeding the multitude, Nellie? or they will not be in a proper frame of mind to appreciate the bishop's sermon presently”
The diversion was effectual; everyone poured outside to where tables were spread under the trees by the river Tea, coffee, cakes, and lemonade became the concern of the moment And in the kitchen the tho had been iven, your ladyshi+p?” Jervis asked; but there was a note of anxiety in his bantering tone, for Katherine's head was averted, and held at an angle which made him apprehensive
”Jervis, why did you not tell me while there was tireat lady!” she burst out passionately
”I did not tell you because I was so horribly afraid you would want to draw back,” he admitted candidly, ”and I wanted you so badly that I could not afford to take the risk You are quite as fit to be a great lady as I a”
”But think of the work I have had to do?” she faltered, shrinking and shi+vering at the prospect before her
”Work is no degradation,” he answered hastily, ”or ainstwork on the face of the earth than I did then Perhaps it is better for us that we have had to toil so hard; we shall be better able to sympathize with other workers, and to help thee a houseful of servants,” she said, with such a coain
”You need not have e theaily Then his voice grew graver as he asked: ”When are you going to tellin the look on his face reminded her of the day when she had risked her life to save him from the flood, and the me up in her heart when Mr Clayrevelation
”I don't suppose it reallyas we love each other,” she said unsteadily ”And so-and so you are forgiven; but don't do it again”
”My dear, there are no more titles in our family that I know of,” he answered, as he lifted her veil to kiss her; ”so there is not the reher rank than a countess's”
”I don't want to have higher rank than a countess's,” she answered soberly ”But I s back in future, Jervis, or I shall always be in fear I want to know the bad as well as the good!”
”Do you call it bad to find yourself a countess?” he asked, with an air of et used to the idea,” she said, with a rather watery sreatness thrust upon her was by no means to her mind
Later on, when she caroup under the trees, although she was the same Katherine, quick to smile, and with a pleasant word for everyone, there was already a difference, and she carried herself with an added stateliness which caused Mrs Jenkin to rereatness had eaten into her soul
But it was Oily Dave who took the chief credit for the whole business, and, having succeeded in cornering the bishop and Mr Clay, he proceeded to infor ”If it hadn't been foroccasion such as this here to-day,” he said, standing before the boots planted wide apart, the ”top” hat carefully held in his left hand: for of course he could not have his head covered in presence of a bishop;for hiuisher
”Pray, as it that you did to help the business forward?” asked the bishop, with a twinkle in his eye, whilst Mr Clay's stiff black hair nearly curled with horror at the thought of a low-class person like Oily Dave having anything to do with e of his client, the Earl of Coirl, I-point of the whole affair”
”Without doubt it helped the process,” replied the bishop with a laugh; and then Mr Selincourt intervened by saying it was tiin, so Oily Dave was proround
The bishop was ; but the bride, in her white robe, sitting beside her husband, heard only the words of the text: ”He shall choose our inheritance for us”