Page:Comin' Thro' the Rye (1898).djvu/411

Rh circulates once again; and whereas a minute ago I was a dead woman, now I am quick.

"But why did you not bring him?" I ask. "There could be nothing to detain him."

"He is here," says George; "he bade me to tell you," he goes on slowly and painfully, "that he was waiting for you at the old place—yes, at the old place, and you were to go at once, he said."

"He will have to wait a little, then," I say, with a delicious happy laughter bubbling straight up from my heart to my lips. "Oh, he has kept me waiting for him long enough! I don't seem to be able to take it all in at once," I add, putting my hand to my head; "but by-and-by, yes, by-and-by I shall be perfectly happy! How tired you look, George! how pale! How can I ever thank you enough for bringing him back to me? We shall never forget it, George—Paul and I—when we are so happy we shall never forget that we owe it all to you, for if you had not gone to Rome in time-'

"I know," he says, shivering. "Vasher is waiting for you, Nell."

"What a hurry you are in," I say, as I tie the strings of my cloak. "Now do you know that I mean to scold him—perhaps he was afraid I should, so did not come up to the house? Perhaps! But I shall be able to see him whenever I please now, you know, for he has come to stay."

George groans.

"Are you ill?" I ask, turning round from the looking-glass, where I am putting on my hat.

I must try and make myself look nice now Paul has come back.

But George does not answer.

"And I have been so wretched," I say, laughing softly, "though you always told me there was nothing in that presentiment, or the