All hopes for him were
then over and he started at once for Monaco; or, as he himself told
himself, for the devil.
Among the lovers of Florence some memory may attach itself to poor Hugh
Anderson. He too had been absolutely true to Florence. From the hour in
which he had first conceived the idea that she would make him happy as
his wife, it had gone on growing upon him with all the weight of love,
He did not quite understand why he should have loved her so dearly, but
thus it was. Such a Mrs. Hugh Anderson, with a pair of horses on the
boulevards, was to his imagination the most lovely sight which could be
painted. Then Florence took the mode of disabusing him which has been
told, and Hugh Anderson gave the required promise. Alas, in what an
unfortunate moment had he done so! Such was his own thought. For though
he was sure of his own attachment to her, he could not mount high enough
to be as sure of her to somebody else. It was a "sort of thing a man
oughtn't to have been asked to promise," he said to the third secretary.
And having so determined, he made up his mind to follow her to England
and to try his fortune once again.
Florence had just wished Harry good-bye for the day, or rather for the
week. She cared for nothing now in the way of protestations of
affection.
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