Alice, or the Mysteries — Complete

								

the smile and the look reminded her yet more forcibly of the time when
he had carried her in his arms and soothed her suffering and praised
her courage and pressed the kiss almost of a lover on her hand. At that
thought she blushed yet more deeply, and yet more eagerly turned to
escape.
Maltravers did not seek to detain her, but silently followed her steps.
She had scarcely gained the window, before little Cecilia scampered in,
crying,--
"Only think! Mr. Maltravers has come back, and brought such beautiful
horses!"
Cecilia stopped abruptly, as she caught sight of the stranger; and the
next moment Caroline herself appeared. Her worldly experience and quick
sense saw immediately what had chanced; and she hastened to apologize
to Maltravers, and congratulate him on his return, with an ease that
astonished poor Evelyn, and by no means seemed appreciated by Maltravers
himself. He replied with brief and haughty courtesy.
"My father," continued Caroline, "will be so glad to hear you are come
back. He will hasten to pay you his respects, and apologize for his
truants. But I have not formally introduced you to my fellow-offender.
My dear, let me present to you one whom Fame has already made known to
you; Mr. Maltravers, Miss Cameron, step-daughter," she added in a lower
voice, "to the late Lord Vargrave."
At the first part of this introduction Maltravers frowned; at the last
he forgot all displeasure.
"Is it possible? I thought I had seen you before, but in a dream. Ah,
then we are not quite strangers!"
Evelyn's eye met his, and though she coloured and strove to look grave,
a half smile brought out the dimples that played round her arch lips.
"But you do not remember me?" added Maltravers.
"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Evelyn, with a sudden impulse; and then checked
herself.
Caroline came to her friend's relief.
"What is this? You surprise me; where did you ever see Mr. Maltravers
before?"
"I can answer that question, Miss Merton. When Miss Cameron was but
a child, as high as my little friend here, an accident on the road
procured me her acquaintance; and the sweetness and fortitude she then
displayed left an impression on me not worn out even to this day.
And thus we meet again," added Maltravers, in a muttered voice, as to
himself. "How strange a thing life is!"
"Well," said Miss Merton, "we must intrude on you no more,--you have
so much to do. I am so sorry Sir John is not down to welcome you; but I
hope we shall be good neighbours. Au revoir!"
And, fancying herself most charming, Caroline bowed, smiled, and walked
off with her train. Maltravers paused irresolute. If Evelyn had looked
back, he would have accompanied them home; but Evelyn did not look
back,--and he stayed.
Miss Merton rallied her young friend unmercifully, as they walked
homeward, and she extracted a very brief and imperfect history of the
adventure that had formed the first acquaintance, and of the interview