Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/65

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
A STRANGE, SAD COMEDY
53

to Shrewsbury. But nothing of the sort had been said for a long time now, and meanwhile Mr. Romaine was on the American side, and nobody in his native county had heard a word of it.

"And Miss Jemima Corbin," said Mr. Romaine, a faint smile wrinkling the fine lines about his mouth. "When I knew her she was a very pretty young lady; there have been a great many pretty young ladies in the Corbin family," he added, with old-fashioned gallantry.

"Aunt Jemima is still Miss Corbin," answered Letty, also smiling. "She never could find a man so good as my grandfather, 'brother Archibald,' as she calls him, and so she would not have any at all."

"May I ask if your grandfather is here with you? and is he enjoying good health?"

"Yes, he is now in the Casino—I don't know exactly where, but he will soon come for me."

This reawakening of his early life was not without its effect on Mr. Romaine, nor was it a wholly pleasant one. For time and Mr. Romaine were mortal enemies. His face flushed slightly, and he sat down on a garden