Page:The Outcry (London, Methuen & Co., 1911).djvu/306

292 "Why, right near! I'll come back." And Mr. Bender's flight was on the wings of optimism.

But it all gave Hugh a quick question for Lady Grace. "Why does the Prince come, and what in the world's happening?"

"My father has suddenly returned—it may have to do with that."

The shadow of his surprise darkened visibly to that of his fear. "Mayn't it be more than anything else to give you and me his final curse?"

"I don't know—and I think I don't care. I don't care," she said, "so long as you're right and as the greatest light of all declares you are."

"He is the greatest"—Hugh was vividly of that opinion now: "I could see it as soon as I got there with him, the charming creature! There, before the holy thing, and with the place, by good luck, for those great moments, practically to ourselves—without Mackintosh to take in what was happening or any one else at all to speak of—it was but a matter of ten minutes: he had come, he had seen, and I had conquered."