If Madame
van Hunker could spare me on such sudden notice he would like to take
me back with him at once.
There was no reason for delay. Millicent had her child, and was
really quite will again; and I had very little preparation to make,
having with me as little clothing as possible. She took Eustace to
the tiled fireplace in the parlour, and served him with manchet-cake
and wine, but prayed him to pardon her absence while she went to aid
me. I think neither wished for a tete-a-tete. They had understood
one another over the king-cups, and it was no time to go farther. I
need not tell of the embraces and tears between us in my chamber.
They were but natural, after the time we had spent together, but at
the end Millicent whispered:
'You will tell him all, Margaret! He is too noble, but his
generous soul must feel no bondage towards one who has nothing--not
even a face or a purse for him.'
'Only a heart,' I said. But she shook her head in reproof, and I
felt that I had done wrong to speak on the matter.
After a brief time we took leave with full and stately formality. I
think both she and I were on our guard against giving way before my
brother, who had that grave self-restrained countenance which only
Englishmen seem able to maintain. He was thin, and there was a
certain transparency of skin about his cheeks and hands; but to my
mind he looked better than when he left us at Paris, and I could not
but trust that the hope which had returned to him would be an
absolute cure for all his ill-health.
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