Book Two The Woman - Chapter 38 In Which I Meet My Cousin - Sir Maurice Vibart

As I approached the smithy, late though the hour was (and George
made it a rule to have the fire going by six every morning), no
sound of hammer reached me, and coming into the place, I found it
empty. Then I remembered that to-day George was to drive over to
Tonbridge, with Prudence and the Ancient, to invest in certain
household necessities, for in a month's time they were to be
married.

Hereupon I must needs contrast George's happy future with my
dreary one, and fall bitterly to cursing myself; and, sitting on
the Ancient's stool in the corner, I covered my face, and my
thoughts were very black.

Now presently, as I sat thus, I became conscious of a very
delicate perfume in the air, and also, that some one had entered
quietly. My breath caught in my throat, but I did not at once
look up, fearing to dispel the hope that tingled within me. So I
remained with my face still covered until something touched me,
and I saw that it was the gold-mounted handle of a whip,
wherefore I raised my head suddenly and glanced up.

Then I beheld a radiant vision in polished riding-boots and
speckless moleskins, in handsome flowered waistcoat and
perfect-fitting coat, with snowy frills at throat and wrists;
a tall, gallant figure, of a graceful, easy bearing, who stood,
a picture of cool, gentlemanly insolence, tapping his boot
lightly with his whip. But, as his eye met mine, the tapping
whip grew suddenly still; his languid expression vanished, he
came a quick step nearer and bent his face nearer my own--a
dark face, handsome in its way, pale and aquiline, with a
powerful jaw, and dominating eyes and mouth; a face (nay, a
mask rather) that smiled and smiled, but never showed the man
beneath.