Page:Alice Stuyvesant - The Vanity Box.djvu/54

 just mopes about the house, or takes a short walk in the woods; and she has gone off in her looks! She's fallen away, you can't think; and she was slender enough as it was. She's lost colour too, and her colour was her greatest beauty. Richard, the second footman, used to stand and gape at her as if she was a Madonna, but even he said to Edward to-day that she'd changed."

"It's on account of poor Mr. Ian Barr, of course."

"Yes, that's what we all think. It can't be anything else. She is like another girl since he gave up his berth as steward, and went away, goodness knows where—unless she does. By the by, I came through the woods, and saw her there, up by the Tower. There was a novel in her hand, but she had an excited look, not as if she'd come to read, and I thought she had the air of being a bit put out at the sight of me. I couldn't help saying to myself, 'I wonder if she expects to meet somebody?'"

"You 'can't help' too many things, it seems to me, my dear," said Rose. "You can't help feeling this and that about poor Edward, who worships the ground you walk on"

"Do you advise me to make it up with him, then?"

"Yes, indeed, if you love him. There's nothing that's worth much except love if you re thinking of taking a man. And if it's that you've come to ask me"