Good-by, Mr. Dodd; try and believe that none of us
you leave in this house are worth remembering, far less regretting."
She vanished haughtily; David crept back to the ball-room. It seemed
dark by comparison now she who lent it luster was gone. He stayed a
few minutes, then heavy-hearted to bed.
The next morning he shook hands with Mr. Bazalgette, the only one who
was up, kissed the terrible infant, who, suddenly remembering his many
virtues, formally forgave him his one piece of injustice, and, as he
came, so he went away, his bag on his shoulder and his violin-case in
his hand.
He went to Cousin Mary and asked for Eve. Cousin Mary's face turned
red: "You will find her at No. 80 in this street. She is gone into
lodgings." The fact is, the cousins had had a tiff, and Eve had left
the house that moment.
Oh! my sweet, my beloved heroines--you young vipers, when will you
learn to be faultless, like other people? You have turned my face into
a peony, blushing for you at every fourth page.
David came into her apartment. He smiled sweetly, but sadly. "Well, it
is all over. I have offered, and been declined."
At seeing him so quiet and resigned, Eve burst out crying.
"Don't you cry, dear," said David. "It is best so. It is almost a
relief. Anything before the suspense I was enduring."
Then Eve, recovering her spirits by the help of anger, began to abuse
Lucy for a cold-hearted, deceitful girl; but David stopped her
sternly.
Pages:
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394