Clarence
certainly did, when the good man turned back to say, 'Which hotel?
Eh? That's too far off. You must come nearer. I would see you in,
but I've got a woman to see before church time, and I'm short of a
curate, so I must be sharp to the hour.'
'Can I be of any use?' eagerly asked Martyn. 'I'll follow you as
soon as I have got these fellows to their quarters.'
We had Amos with us, and were soon able to release Martyn, after a
few compliments on my not being as usual THE invalid; and by and by
he came back to take Emily to inspect a lodging, recommended by our
friends, close to the beach, and not a stone's throw from the
Rectory built by Mr. Fordyce. As we two useless beings sat opposite
to each other, looking over the roofs of houses at the blue expanse
and feeling the salt breeze, it was no fancy that Clarence's cheek
looked less wan, and his eyes clearer, as a smile of content played
on his lips. 'Years sit well on her,' he said gaily; and I thought
of rewards in store for him.
Then he took this opportunity of consulting me on the chances for
Frith, telling of the original offer, and the quiet constancy of his
friend, and asking whether I thought Emily would relent. And I
answered that I suspected that she would,--'But you must get well
first.'
'I begin to think that more possible,' he answered, and my heart
bounded as he added, 'she would be satisfied since you would always
have a home with US.
Pages:
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391