"Allow me to be the judge," answered St. Leon, and other than that,
not a word was spoken until they reached Mr. Dayton's door. Then,
carefully carrying Lizzie into the house, he was about to leave, when
Lucy detained him to thank him for his kindness, adding that she hoped
to see him again.
"Certainly, I shall call to-morrow," was his reply, as he sprang down
the steps, and entering his sleigh, was driven back to Mr. Graham's.
He found the company about dispersing, and meeting Ada in the hall,
asked to accompany her home. Ada's pride for a moment hesitated, and
then she answered in the affirmative. When St. Leon had seated her in
his sleigh he turned back, on pretext of looking for something, but in
reality to ask Anna Graham where Ada lived, as he did not wish to
question her on the subject.
When they were nearly home St. Leon said, "Miss Harcourt, have you
always lived in S----?"
"We have lived here but two years," answered Ada; and St. Leon
continued:
"I cannot rid myself of the impression that somewhere I have met you
before."
"Indeed," said Ada, "when and where?"
But his reply was prevented by the sleigh's stopping at Mrs.
Harcourt's door. As St. Leon bade Ada good night he whispered, "I
shall see you again."
Ada made no answer, but going into the house where her mother was
waiting for her, she exclaimed, "Oh, mother, mother, I've seen
him!--he was there!--he brought me home!"
"Seen whom?" asked Mrs. Harcourt, alarmed at her daughter's agitation.
"Why, Hugh St. Leon!" replied Ada.
"St. Leon in town!" repeated Mrs. Harcourt, her eye lighting up with
joy.
'Twas only for a moment, however, for the remembrance of what she was
when she knew St. Leon, and what she now was, recurred to her, and she
said calmly, "I thought you had forgotten that childish fancy."
"Forgotten!" said Ada bitterly; and then as she recalled the unkind
remark of Lucy Dayton she burst into a passionate fit of weeping.
After a time Mrs. Harcourt succeeded in soothing her, and then drew
from her all the particulars of the party, St Leon and all. When Ada
had finished her mother kissed her fair cheek, saying, "I fancy St.
Leon thinks as much of little Ada now as he did six years ago;" but
Ada could not think so, though that night, in dreams, she was again
happy in her old home in the distant city, while at her side was St.
Leon, who even then was dreaming of a childish face which had haunted
him six long years.
CHAPTER IV.
LUCY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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