Then Webster took leave of his two aunts, who followed him to the
street door, and waited until the cab he whistled for arrived. But just
before he left the room he looked back at May; there was a look on her
face as if she were thinking of something, but Webster felt vaguely it
was not of him.
"I am better away," he thought, as he seated himself in the cab and
waved his hand to his aunts. But all the same he sighed deeply as he
lost sight of Pembridge Terrace.
And the week after he was gone seemed very quiet without him to the
three ladies there. His comings and goings had made a little stir each
day, and he had brought in the news, and it certainly was not so lovely
as before. Miss Eliza, however, found consolation in gazing into the
shop windows down Westbourne Grove, and Miss Webster in her household
duties. And just ten days after he left, news came to May which filled
her whole being with excitement.
It was contained in a letter from John Temple; a letter duly forwarded
under cover to Miss Webster, and placed in May's hand by that lady with
a little tremulous sigh. But five minutes after she had received it May
returned to the room with a face beaming with joy, and cheeks covered
with blushes.
"Oh, Miss Webster!" she cried, and ran up impetuously and kissed that
kind lady; "John is coming! He is coming to-morrow; there is only one
more day to wait, and he will be here!"
CHAPTER XXII.
NEWS.
May was in a state of great excitement all the day after receiving
John Temple's letter. She was so restless she could not stay in the
house; but it was evidently a happy restlessness. She went out to shop,
and bought all sorts of pretty knick-knacks, and sorely troubled Miss
Eliza's mind by her extravagance.
"Never mind, it won't matter now," she said, sweetly, when Miss Eliza
ventured to remonstrate, and there was such a glad look in her eyes as
she spoke that her gentle companion had not the heart to say anything
further.
The truth was that John Temple was not only coming, but in his letter
he had told May that they would be married at once.
"I am weary of waiting, my Mayflower," he had written, "and am longing
for the sight of your dear face and the touch of your dear hand."
Sweet, welcome words that thrilled through the girl's heart, making the
world all sunshine! May had always trusted John, but she had felt that
in her position waiting was very trying, though she had never for a
moment blamed him for the delay. She judged his love by hers; his heart
by her own. But now it was all over--the anxiety, the uncertainty. John
would be with her to-morrow, and her life henceforth would be full of
joy.
She counted the hours until they should meet, as many a fond, foolish
woman has counted them before. She brought out her prettiest frocks;
she smiled at her fair reflection in the glass.
"How will he think I am looking?" she thought, and she wondered, too,
if she would see any change in him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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