Volume Iii Part 20 (2/2)
”I do,” said Grace; ”if I am in a very good temper I can wear blue or white with a quiet conscience; if I am in a rage I wear red.”
”My dear Miss Rivers! You do say such funny things.”
”I shall then avoid speaking to you if I see you in a red gown,” laughed Sir Albert.
”You had better----but please enlighten Lady Lyons, she is dying to know why one's 'best' gowns should not be aired on grand occasions.”
”I fancy the idea is that it is better taste not to outs.h.i.+ne one's guests,” Sir Albert said; ”the d.u.c.h.ess has such magnificent jewels that it would be easy to outdo every one else.”
”That is rather a delicate nice feeling,” said Grace, warmly.
”But I would rather wear my jewels, if I had any,” said Lady Lyons. ”Sir Albert, did you notice my b.u.t.terfly the other night? No! how strange!
Well, never mind! I will go and get it for you, it has a history.”
She left the room, and Sir Albert seized his opportunity. ”Miss Rivers,”
he began, hurriedly, ”you have some idea, have you not, of what your sister is to me?”
”I think I have” said Grace demurely.
”Will you do me a very great kindness?” he said, earnestly. ”Will you send me a line now and again? All that dreadful time the only plan, for _her_ sake, was to keep away.”
”I suppose it was,” said Grace; ”it must have been difficult.”
”It has been very difficult.”
”And when I send you this line, 'now and again,' am I to say anything to her?”
”I see no reason you should not let her know you are so kind as to write to me,” he answered.
”Nor do I. I only wanted to know.”
”If at any time you think she would care to see me--if I could ever be of use--you will let me know?”
”I will. Not that sending a letter to Norway or Finland, let alone the Antipodes, holds out much prospect of your being able to come within a reasonable time,” she added, laughing.
”Distance sounds more than it is,” he answered, composedly, ”and I may not go quite so far as the Antipodes.”
”Or Norway?” she said, mischievously.
He coloured vividly.
”Miss Rivers, I mean to put the sea between us, till....”
”Till she has forgotten, in some measure,” said Grace, kindly. ”I think you are right; because, just now, everything is so terrible to her. She might think happiness in connection with you quite out of the question; and if you came forward just now she might put herself into a position from which it might be difficult for her to draw back. I think you must wait till she has quite recovered, and then she may become conscious of a great blank in her life, and wish for you.”
”G.o.d grant it may be so!” he said, fervently.
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