One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
mother. They made no reply. They never had done so when
there was allusion to her mother. Their silence now struck a
gong at the girl’s bosom.
Dorothea had it in mind to say, that if she thirsted for any
special comfort, the friends about her would offer consolation
for confidence.
Before she could speak, Perrin the footman entered, bearing
the card of the Hon. Dudley Sowerby.
Mr. Dudley Sowerby begged for an immediate interview
with Miss Radnor.
The ladies were somewhat agitated, but no longer perplexed
as to their duties. They had quitted Moorsedge to avoid the
visit of his family. If he followed, it signified that which they
could not withstand:—The ‘Tivoli falls!’ as they named the
fateful tremendous human passion, from the reminiscences
of an impressive day on their travels in youth; when the leaping
torrent had struck upon a tale of love they were reading.
They hurriedly entreated Nesta to command her nerves;
peremptorily requested her to stay where she was; showed
her spontaneously, by way of histrionic adjuration, the face
to be worn by young ladies at greetings on these occasions;
kissed her and left her; Virginia whispering: ‘He is true!’
Dudley entered the drawing-room, charged with his happy
burden of a love that had passed through the furnace. She
stood near a window, well in the light; she hardly gave him
welcome. His address to her was hurried, rather uncertain,
coherent enough between the drop and the catch of articulate
syllables. He found himself holding his hat. He placed it
on the table, and it rolled foolishly; but soon he was by her
side, having two free hands to claim her one.
‘You are thinking, you have not heard from me! I have
been much occupied,’ he said. ‘My brother is ill, very ill. I
have your pardon?’
‘Indeed you have—if it has to be asked.’
‘I have it?’
‘Have I to grant it?’
‘I own to remissness!
‘I did not blame you.’
‘Nesta … !’
Her coldness was unshaken.
He repeated the call of her name. ‘I should have written—
I ought to have written!—I could not have expressed … You
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