Page:Alice Stuyvesant - The Vanity Box.djvu/161

 girl turned a leaden screw in Terry Ricardo's breast. She hated herself for it; but it was there, and ached dully, with the same grinding ache which had banished all the joy of life and youth from her girlhood. She would conquer it soon, she told herself, and said aloud: "I promise you that Maud and I will do something for Miss Verney. We are on our way now to return a call of Mrs. Haynes, and we will ask for Miss Verney."

"She may refuse to see you," said Sir Ian, anxiously.

"1 won't take no for an answer," Terry assured him, accepting the responsibility for herself alone, whatever Maud might do. "I promise you to be her friend, and not to be discouraged if she doesn't want my friendship at first. I will find a way to get at her, and to help her: trust me to do it."

"I do," he said. And then, impulsively, "You are a very noble woman. I have more than I can ever thank you for."

After that, as if he half regretted, or were ashamed of this outburst, he shook hands with them both hastily, pressing Terry's fingers so hard that her rings ground into them under her gloves; and then walked away with long strides, as if he were hurrying to catch a train.

"Poor Sir Ian, he looks haunted!" exclaimed Maud, when she had told her coachman to drive on.

Terry shivered a little, but did not speak.

"I shouldn't be surprised if he never came back