the possibility of anything like a real attachment; a man who lavished his whole stock of feeling upon the one attachment of his youth.’
She said all this very quietly, but with a suppressed bitterness. I think it needed all her powers of restraint to keep her from some passionate outburst that would have betrayed the secret of her life. I was now more than ever convinced that she had known Angus Egerton in the past, and that she had loved him.
‘You see, I am not afraid of his being put to the test,’ Milly said proudly. ‘I know he loved some one very dearly, a long time ago. He spoke of that yesterday. He told me that his old love had died out of his heart years ago.’
‘He told you a lie,’ cried Mrs. Darrell. ‘Such things never die. They sleep, perhaps — like the creatures that hide themselves in the ground and lie torpid all the winter — but with one breath of the past Buffalo Sabres Drakter they flame into life again.’
‘I am not going to make any such foolish trial of your lover’s faith, Milly,’ said Mr. Darrell. ‘Whether your fortune is Maillot Écosse Pas CHer or is not a paramount consideration with him can Ostaa Halpa Nike Air Max 87 Naisten make no possible difference in my decision. Nothing will ever induce me to consent to your marrying him. Of course, if you choose to defy me, you are of age and your own mistress; but on the day that makes you Angus Egerton’s wife you will cease to be my daughter.’
‘Papa,’ cried Milly, ‘you will break my heart.’
‘Nonsense, child; hearts are not easily broken. Let me St.Louis Rams Barn hear no more of this unfortunate business. I have Washington Redskins Hattar spoken to you very plainly, in order that there might be no chance of misunderstanding between us; and I rely upon your honour that there shall be no clandestine meeting between you and Angus Egerton in the future. I look to you, Miss Crofton, also, and shall hold you answerable for any accidental encounters out walking.’
‘You need not be afraid, papa,’ Milly answered disconsolately. ‘I daresay Mr. Egerton will leave Yorkshire, as he spoke of doing yesterday.’
‘I hope he may,’ said Mr. Darrell.
Milly rose to leave the room. Half-way towards the door she stopped, and turned her white despairing face towards her father with a hopeless look.
‘I shall obey you, papa,’ she said. ‘I could Ostaa Halpa Nike Air Huarache Naisten not bear to forfeit your love, even for his sake. But I think you will break my heart.’
Mr. Darrell went over to her and kissed her.
‘I am acting best for your ultimate happiness, Milly, be sure of that,’ he said in a kinder tone than he had used before. ‘There, my love, go and be happy with Miss Crofton, and let us all agree to forget this business as quickly as possible.’
This was our dismissal. We went back to Milly’s pretty Kevin De Bruyne Drakt sitting-room, where the sun was shining and the warm summer air blowing on birds and flowers, and books and drawing materials, and all the airy trifles that had made our lives pleasant to us until that hour. Milly sat on a low stool at my feet, and buried her face in my lap, refusing all comfort. She sat like this for about an hou |