Tuesday morning, _November 29th._
Veronique would not let me go to bed, she insisted upon my eating, andthen after dinner I sat in an old but lovely wrap of white crepe, and shebrushed out my hair for more than an hour--there is such a tremendous lotof it, it takes time.
I sat in front of the sitting-room fire and tried not to think. One doesfeel a wretch after a scene like that. At about half-past nine I heardnoises in the passage of people, and with only a preliminary tap Robertand Lady Merrenden came into the room. I started up, and Veronique droppedthe brush in her astonishment, and then left us alone.
Both their eyes were shining and excited, and Robert looked crazy withjoy; he seized me in his arms, and kissed me, and kissed me, while LadyMerrenden said, "You darling Evangeline! you plucky, clever girl! Tell usall about it!"
"About what?" I said, as soon as I could speak.
"How you managed it."
"Oh, I must kiss her first, Aunt Sophia!" said Robert. "Did you ever seeanything so divinely lovely as she looks with her hair all floating likethis, and it is all mine, every bit of it!"
"Yes, it is," I said, sadly, "and that is about all of value you willget."
"Come and sit down," said Robert, "Evangeline, you darling--and look atthis."
Upon which he drew from his pocket a note. I saw at once it was the duke'swriting, and I shivered with excitement. He held it before my eyes.
"Dear Robert," it began. "I have seen her. I am conquered. She will make amagnificent duchess. Bring her to lunch to-morrow. Yours, TORQUILSTONE."
I really felt so intensely moved I could not speak.
"Oh, tell us, dear child, how did it happen, and what did you do, andwhere did you meet!" said Lady Merrenden.
Robert held my hand.
Then I tried to tell them as well as I could, and they listenedbreathlessly. "I was very rude, I fear," I ended with, "but I was soangry."
"It is glorious," said Robert. "But the best part is that you intended togive me yourself with no prospect of riches. Oh, darling, that is the bestgift of all!"
"Was it disgustingly selfish of me?" I said. "But when I saw your poorbrother so unhappy-looking, and soured, and unkind, with all hisgrandeur, I felt that to us, who know what love means, to be together wasthe thing that matters most in all the world."
Lady Merrenden then said she knew some people staying here who had anapartment on the first floor, and she would go down and see if they werevisible. She would wait for Robert in the hall, she said, and she kissedus good-night and gave us her blessing.
What a dear she is! What a nice pet, to leave us alone!
Robert and I passed another hour of bliss, and I think we must have got tothe sixth heaven by now--Robert says the seventh is for the end, when weare married. Well, that will be soon. Oh, I am too happy to writecoherently!
I did not wake till late this morning, and Veronique came and said mysitting-room was again full of flowers. The darling Robert is!
I wrote to Christopher and Lady Ver in bed, as I sipped my chocolate. Ijust told Lady Ver the truth, that Robert and I had met by chance anddiscovered we loved each other, so I knew she would understand, and Ipromised I would not break his heart. Then I thanked her for all herkindness to me, but I felt sad when I read it over; poor, dear LadyVer--how I hope it won't really hurt her, and that she will forgive me!
To Christopher I said I had found my "variation" worth while, and I hopedhe would come to my wedding some day soon.
Then I sent Veronique to post them both.
To-day I am moving to Carlton House Terrace. What a delight that will be!and in a fortnight--or at best three weeks--Robert says we shall quietlygo and get married, and Colonel Tom Carden can give me away after all.
Oh, the joy of the dear, beautiful world, and this sweet, dirty,entrancing, fog-bound London! I love it all--even the smuts!