I am
astonished myself. There is something mysterious in the interest which
you have inspired in my mind."
Although the baronet had thought continually of his _protegee_ during
the past week, he had never asked himself if there might not be some
simple and easy solution possible for this bewildering enigma. He had
never asked himself if it were not just within the limits of
possibility that a man of fifty might fall a victim to that fatal fever
called love.
He looked at the girl's beautiful face with the admiration which every
man feels for the perfection of beauty--the pure, calm, reverential
feeling of an artist, or a poet--and he never supposed it possible that
the day might not be far distant when he would contemplate that lovely
countenance with altered sentiments, with a deeper emotion.
"Come to the dining-room, Miss Milford," he said; "I expected you to-
day--I have made all my arrangements accordingly. You must be hungry
after your journey; and as I have not yet lunched, I hope you will
share my luncheon?"
Honoria assented. Her manner towards her benefactor was charming in its
quiet grace, deferential without being sycophantic--the manner of a
daughter rather than a dependent Before leaving the library, she looked
round at the books, the bronzes, the pictures, with admiring eyes.
Never before had she seen so splendid an apartment: and she possessed
that intuitive love of beautiful objects which is the attribute of all
refined and richly endowed natures.
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