'Is that Bolivick?' I asked the coachman.
'You might have been here before, Edgecumbe,' I said.
'No, no, I don't think I have--and yet--I don't know. It is familiar to me in a way, and yet it isn't. But it _is_ glorious. See, the sun's rim is almost touching the hill tops,--what colour! what infinite beauty! Must not God be beautiful!'
The carriage dashed through a pair of great grey granite pillars, and a minute later we were in park lands, where the trees still threw their shade over the cattle which were lying beneath them.
'An English home,' I heard him say, 'just a typical English home. Oh, the thought of it is lovely!'
The carriage drew up at the door of the old mansion, and getting out, I saw Lorna Bolivick standing there.
'I am glad you've come,' and she gave a happy laugh. 'I should never have forgiven you if you hadn't,' and she shook my hand just as naturally as if she had known me all her life. Then she turned towards Edgecumbe. 'And this is your friend,' she said; 'you don't know how pleased I am to see you.'
But Edgecumbe did not speak. His eyes were riveted on her face, and they burned like coals of fire. I saw, too, by the tremor of his lips, how deeply moved he was.
For a moment I thought that Lorna Bolivick was somewhat annoyed at the intense and searching look which Edgecumbe gave her. Her face flushed somewhat, and a suggestion of anger flashed from her eyes. But this was only for a moment; probably she remembered Edgecumbe's mental condition, and made allowance accordingly.
Edgecumbe still continued to look at her steadily, and I noticed that his eyes, which, except at the times when they were wistful, were quiet and steadfast, now shone like coals of fire. I saw, too, that he was unable to govern his lips, which were trembling visibly.
'Why do you look at me like that?' she said nervously; 'any one would think you had seen me before somewhere.'
He hesitated a second, and then said, 'In my dreams,'--and then, realizing that his behaviour, to say the least of it, was not ordinary, he hurriedly went on, 'Please forgive me, Miss Bolivick, but I never remember having spoken to a woman before.'
She looked at him in astonishment. I suppose the statement to her seemed foolish and outrageous.