Oh, my Beloved! my toil and
waiting has not been all in vain!"
"Well, what do you want me to do?" I said, rather sulkily. "Mind, it
mustn't be this evening, because Mrs. Maitland has a lot of people
coming to dinner, and we can't possibly leave the drawing-room."
"The crisis will be at midnight in the ruined chapel," observed Irene,
as if she were stating the most ordinary fact; "but you must meet me an
hour before to make all sure."
"Preposterous!" I exclaimed; "it's quite out of the question. Wander
about the garden at midnight indeed! What would people say if they saw
us?"
"Do you imagine that I allow myself to be influenced by the opinion of
poor-spirited fools?" inquired Irene with fine scorn. And then, suddenly
changing her tactics, she sobbed and prayed me to grant her this one
boon--it might be the last thing she would ever ask.
Well, she was very handsome, and I am but human. Before she left me I
had promised to do what she wished.
It may be imagined that I passed a miserable day, distracted by a
thousand gloomy apprehensions which increased as the fatal hour
approached. I have mentioned that there was to be a dinner party that
evening.
"A lot of country neighbours," as Maitland explained. "They like a big
feed from time to time. I put out the old port and my wife wears her
smartest dress and all the diamonds.
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