During the next two weeks many similar conversations made the hours to all three hearts something far more than time chopped up into minutes. There was scarcely a barren moment, and faith and hope and love grew in them rapidly toward higher skies and wider horizons. Then General Houston was so much relieved that he insisted on going back to His post, and John returned to Texas with him. But with the pleasant memories of this short, stirring visit, and frequent letters from John and Richard, the summer passed rapidly to Phyllis. Her strength was nearly restored, and she went singing about the house full of joy and of loving-kindness to all living things. The youngest servant on the place caught her spirit, and the flowers and sunshine and warmth all seemed a part of that ampler life and happiness which had come to her. Richard returned in the fall. He had remained a little later than he intended in order to be present at Antony's marriage. "A very splendid affair, indeed," he said; "but I doubt if Lady Evelyn's heart was in it." It was rather provoking to Phyllis that Richard had taken entirely a masculine view of the ceremony, and had quite neglected to notice all the small details which are so important in a woman's estimate. He could not describe a single dress. "It seemed as if every one wore white, and made a vast display of jewelry. Pshaw! Phyllis, one wedding is just like another." "Not at all, Richard. Who married them?" "There was a Bishop, a dean; and a couple of clergymen present. I imagine the knot was very securely tied." "Was the squire present?" "No. They were married from the earl's town house. The squire was unable to take the journey. He was very quiet and somber about the affair." "George Eltham, I suppose, was Antony's chief friend?" "He was not there at all. The Elthams went to the Continent shortly before the wedding. It troubled the squire." "Why? What particular difference could it make?" "He said to me that it was the beginning of a change which he feared. 'George will leave t' firm next. Antony ought to have married Cicely Eltham. I know Eltham--he'll be angry at Cicely having been passed by--and he'll show it, soon or later, I'm sure.'" "But Antony had a right to please himself." "I fancy that he had been very attentive to Miss Eltham. I remember noticing something like it myself the summer you and I were first at Hallam." "Elizabeth says, in her last letter, that they are in Paris." "Probably they are back in England by this time. Antony has taken a very fine mansion at Richmond." "Is the bride pretty?" "Very--only cold and indifferent, also. I am almost inclined to say that she was sad."