I can scarcely believe that this happiness is not some
dream, which will melt away presently, and leave me alone and
desolate--the fool of my own fancy."
He led Honoria back towards the house. Even in this moment of supreme
happiness he was obliged to remember Miss Beaumont, who would, no
doubt, be lurking somewhere on the watch for her pupil.
"Then you will give up all thought of a professional career, Honoria?"
said the baronet, as they walked slowly back.
"I will obey you in everything."
"My dearest girl--and when you leave this house, you will leave it as
Lady Eversleigh."
Miss Beaumont was waiting in the drawing-room, and was evidently
somewhat astonished by the duration of the interview between Sir Oswald
and her pupil.
"You have been admiring the grounds, I see, Sir Oswald," she said, very
graciously. "It is not quite usual for a gentleman visitor and a pupil
to promenade in the grounds _tete-a-tete_; but I suppose, in the case
of a gentleman of your time of life, we must relax the severity of our
rules in some measure."
The baronet bowed stiffly. A man of fifty does not care to be reminded
of his time of life at the very moment when he has just been accepted
as the husband of a girl of nineteen.
"It may, perhaps, be the last opportunity which I may have of admiring
your grounds, Miss Beaumont," he said, presently, "for I think of
removing your pupil very shortly.
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