And then, in sensuous curiosity, his thoughts turned on the pleasure of
life in this beautiful house, in the society of two charming women.

'Perhaps I shall marry one of them. Which do I like the better? I haven't
the least idea.' And then, as his thoughts detached themselves, he
remembered Emily's tears.




X


It was a day of English summer, and the meadows and trees drowsed in the
moist atmosphere; a few white clouds hung lazily in the blue sky; the
garden was bright with geraniums and early roses, and the closely cropped
privets were in full leaf. Hubert's senses were taken with the beauty of
the morning, and there came the thought, so delicious, 'All this is mine.'
He noticed the glitter of the greenhouses, and thought the cawing of some
young rooks a sweet sound; a great tortoiseshell cat lay basking in the
middle of the greensward, whisking its furry tail. Hubert stroked the
animal; it arched its back, and rubbed itself against his legs. At that
moment a half-bred fox-terrier barked noisily at him; he heard some one
calling the dog, and saw a slight black figure hastening down one of the
side-walks. Despite the dog's attempts on his legs, he ran forward.

'Emily! Emily!' he called. She stopped, turned, and stood looking at him.

'My dear cousin,' he said. 'I'm sorry about last night. I hope that Mrs.
Bentley has told you. I begged of her to do so.'