FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162  
163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   >>   >|  
d severely, but there was little fear of this man's resolution deserting him. She was, however, troubled by a recurrence of the unpleasant sense of guilt when he disappeared; it was difficult to persuade herself that she had been quite honest, and the difficulty was new to her. In the meanwhile Lisle walked on rapidly, disregarding the ache that the motion started in his injured arm and shoulder. In his dejected mood, the twinge at every step was something of a welcome distraction. Since a sacrifice must be made, it should, he resolved, be made by him; Millicent should not suffer, though he admitted that he had no reason for supposing that she would have been willing to do so. She had never shown him more than confidence and friendliness, and it was only during the past few weeks that he had ventured to think of the possibility of winning her. Even then, the thought had roused no excess of ardent passion; much as he desired her, a strong respect and steadfast affection were more in keeping with his temperament. Nevertheless, had he known that she loved him and he could confer benefits upon her in place of demanding a sacrifice, he would have been strangely hard to deter. On his return, Nasmyth met him at the door. "Where have you been?" he asked with some indignation. "To Mrs. Gladwyne's," Lisle informed him. "You walked to the house, after what Irvine said when you insisted on his taking the bandages off?" "I took them off; he only protested. Anyway, I didn't break my leg." Nasmyth noticed his gloomy expression. "Well," he responded, "I suppose there was very little use in warning you to keep quiet; but you look as if you had suffered for your rashness." "That's true," answered the Canadian with a grim smile. "After all, it's what usually happens, isn't it?" They went in, Nasmyth a little puzzled by his companion's manner; but Lisle offered no explanation of its cause. CHAPTER XXI THE LAST AFTERNOON It was a bright day when Lisle took his leave of the Marples. They gave him a friendly farewell and when he turned away Bella Crestwick walked with him down the drive. "I don't care what they think; I couldn't talk to you while they were all trying to say something nice," she explained. "Still, to do them justice, I believe they meant it. We are sorry to part with you." "It's soothing to feel that," Lisle replied. "In many ways, I'm sorry to go. I've no doubt you'll miss your brother
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162  
163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Nasmyth
 

walked

 

sacrifice

 

Canadian

 

answered

 
protested
 
bandages
 

Irvine

 
insisted
 

taking


Anyway

 

expression

 
puzzled
 

warning

 
suppose
 

responded

 
gloomy
 
rashness
 

noticed

 

suffered


Marples

 

justice

 

explained

 

soothing

 

brother

 

replied

 

couldn

 

AFTERNOON

 

bright

 

CHAPTER


manner

 
offered
 

explanation

 

Crestwick

 

turned

 
friendly
 

farewell

 
companion
 

confer

 
twinge

distraction
 

dejected

 
started
 
injured
 

shoulder

 

supposing

 
reason
 

admitted

 
resolved
 

Millicent