“Did I? Something was amiss with you--I did not know what--but I saw it in your looks.”
“Could you read my looks even then, little lady?”
It was idle to deny it--and why should I, when it made him happy? Radiantly happy his face was now--the sharp lines softened, the wrinkles smoothed out. He looked ten years younger; ah! I am glad I am only a girl still; in time I shall actually make him young.
Here, the hall-bell sounded--and though visitors are never admitted to this special little parlour, still Max turned restless, and said he must go.
“I will tell you the truth; I am happier out of your sight than in it, just at present.”
“To-night, I mean to start--on that journey I told you of.” Which was to him a very painful one, I perceived.
“Go then, and get it over. You will come back to me soon.”
“God grant it.” He was very much agitated.
The only woman he had ever wished for his wife. This, I was. And I felt like a wife. Talk of Penelope's long courtship--Lisabel's marriage--it was I that was, in heart and soul, the real _wife_; ay, though Max and I were never more to one another than now; though I lived as Theodora Johnston to the end of my days.
So I took courage--and since it was not allowed me to comfort him in any other way, I just stole my hand inside his, which clasped instantly and tightly round it. That was all, and that was enough. Thus we sat side by side, when the door opened--and in walked papa.
How strangely the comic and the serious are mixed up together in life, and even in one's own nature. While writing this, I have gone off into a hearty fit of laughter, at the recollection of papa's face when he saw us sitting there.
Though at the time it was no laughing matter. For a moment he was dumb with astonishment--then he said severely:--
“Doctor Urquhart, I suppose I must conclude--indeed, I can only conclude one thing. But you might have spoken to me, before addressing yourself to my daughter.”
Max did not answer immediately--when he did, his voice absolutely made me start.
“Sir, I have been very wrong--but I will make amends--you shall know all. Only first--as my excuse,” here he spoke out passionately, and told papa all that I was to him, all that we were to one another.