Phantom Fortune, a Novel by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon
page 285 of 654 (43%)
page 285 of 654 (43%)
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o'clock, when she was generally in attendance, ready to give Lady
Maulevrier her afternoon tea, and sit and talk with her, and tell her any scraps of local news which she had gathered in the day. There were days on which her ladyship preferred to take her tea alone, and Mary was left free to follow her own devices till dinner-time. 'I do not feel equal even to your society to-day, my dear,' her ladyship would say; 'go and enjoy yourself with your dogs and your tennis;' forgetting that there was very seldom anybody on the premises with whom Lady Mary could play tennis. But in these lonely days of Mary Haselden's life there was one crowning bliss which was almost enough to sweeten solitude, and take away the sting of separation; and that was the delight of expecting and receiving her lover's letters. Busily as Mr. Hammond must be engaged in fighting the battle of life, he was in no way wanting in his duty as a lover. He wrote to Mary every other day; but though his letters were long, they told her hardly anything of himself or his occupation. He wrote about pictures, books, music, such things as he knew must be interesting to her; but of his own struggles not a word. 'Poor fellow,' thought Mary. 'He is afraid to sadden me by telling me how hard the struggle is.' Her own letters to her betrothed were simple outpourings of girlish love, breathing that too flattering-sweet idolatry which an innocent girl gives to her first lover. Mary wrote as if she herself were of the least possible value among created things. |
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