"
"Yes, but, my child, why do you weep? Surely there is
nothing in that to produce such emotion. He will soon be
back again."
"Oh! yes, I hope so. Forgive me, my dear mamma, but I
have a very bad head-ache, and never felt more nervous
than I do this evening. Perhaps it is the effect of my
ride in the heat of the sun. Shall we go on. It is nearly
sunset, and I dread your being exposed to the night-air."
"Oh! it is so delicious," softly returned the invalid;
"I feel as if I had not lived for the last twelve months,
until now. Only a little while longer, shall I not, Mr.
Ronayne? Perhaps I may never have an opportunity of
ascending to this summer-house again."
During this short conversation, trifling in itself, but
conveying, under the circumstances, so much subject for
deep and painful reflections, the young officer had
evinced much restlessness of manner, yet without interposing
any other remark than to join Miss Heywood's entreaties
that her mother would suffer herself to be conducted
home, before the dew should begin to fall. In order,
moreover, as much as possible to leave them uninterrupted
in the indulgence of their feelings, he had from the
first risen, and stood with his back to them, within the
entrance of the summer house, and was now, with a view
to drown their conversation to his own ear, whistling to
Loup Garou, sitting on his haunches outside the garden-gate,
looking fixedly at him.
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