" The speaker was a young lady, and the tone of this
speech intimated that jealousy was at the bottom of it. But there
was another side to the story. Turning to Hubert Tracy, with an air
of playful badinage, the young lady continued: "And I believe that
Miss Marguerite has a lover too. Surely, Mr. Tracy, you must know
about it for you are on intimate terms with the family. You can
enlighten us upon the subject."
Hubert Tracy was master of his feelings, but he had difficulty to
suppress himself. An opportune bustle among some of the other guests
gave him time to reply in a cool and wholly indifferent manner which
would turn their attention to another source.
It was only when this would-be suitor had thrown off the mask of
studied indifference that he began to realize the state of his mind.
"It will never be," he cried, in a fit, half-anger, half-emotional,
as he paced his room during the silent hours that precede the dawn.
"I don't want to injure the fellow in any other way. Arnold says
wipe him out; but--heavens! those words--he is a good young man!
what makes them haunt me! It seems as if my mother and the dear
girls at home are repeating them to me: Why was I not dragged up,
instead of living hourly under the influence of a sainted mother and
devoted self-sacrificing sisters? Ah! young man; it is a hard
struggle for you to fall when you think of 'Home, sweet home!'"
Such was the soliloquy of Hubert Tracy as he sat himself down in a
half-desperate state and commenced writing a letter with that
nervous haste which showed he was anxious to get rid of the
disagreeable task at once.
Pages:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54