It might be
that he would curtail his leave of absence and get back to
Washington as quickly as possible.
The Trefoils did not start for an hour after this, during which
Arabella could hardly find an opportunity for a word in private.
She could not quite appeal to him to walk with her in the grounds,
or even to take a turn with her round the empty ballroom. She came
down dressed for walking, thinking that so she might have the best
chance of getting him for a quarter of an hour to herself, but he
was either too wary or else the habits of his life prevented it.
And in what she had to do it was so easy to go beyond the proper
line! She would wish him to understand that she would like to be
alone with him after what had passed between them on the previous
evening, but she must be careful not to let him imagine that she
was too anxious. And then whatever she did she had to do with so
many eyes upon her! And when she went, as she would do now in so
short a time, so many hostile tongues would attack her! He had
everything to protect him; and she had nothing, absolutely nothing,
to help her! It was thus that she looked at it; and yet she had
courage for the battle. Almost at the last moment she did get a
word with him in the hall. "How is he?"
"Oh, better, decidedly."
"I am so glad. If I could only think that he could live! Well, my
Lord, we have to say good-bye.
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