Childishness was not exactly left
behind in it, but a different stage was reached. Sydney felt herself
to have done a noble work, and gloried in watching till her hero
should have achieved greatness on a crust a day, and Jock was equally
touched and elated at the intimation that his doings were so much to
her.
Friendship sang the same note. Cecil, honest lad, had never more
than the average amount either of brains or industry, and despised
medicines to the full as much as did his sister. Abhorring equally
the toil and the degradation, he deemed it a duty to prevent such a
fall, and put his hope in his uncle. Nay, if his mother had not
assured him that it was too late, he would have gone off at once to
seek Sir James at his club.
Lord Fordham had been in bed long before the others returned, but in
the morning a twisted note was handed to his mother, briefly saying
he was running down to see how it was with them at Belforest.
When a station fly was seen drawing to the door, Allen, who was
drearily leaning over the stone wall of the terrace, much
disorganised by having received no answer to his letter, instantly
jumped to the conclusion that Elvira had come home, sprang to the
door, and when he only saw the tall figure emerge, he concluded that
something dreadful had happened, grasped Fordham's hand, and demanded
what it was.
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