quiringly; they asked what his lips could not presume to ask. "Your adopted child—what is she?—who?"
As if answering to the eyes, Lady Montfort said—
"Wait here a moment; I will go for her."
She left him, descending the stairs into the garden, joined George Morley and his companion; took aside the former, whispered him, then drawing the arm of the latter within her own, led her back into the room, while George Morley remained in the garden, throwing himself on a bench, and gazing on the stars as they now came forth, fast and frequent, though one by one.
CHAPTER XXV.
"Quem Fors dierum cunque dabit
Lucro appone."—Horat.
Lionel stood, expectant, in the centre of the room, and as the two female forms entered, the lights were full upon their faces. That younger face—it is she—it is she, the unforgotten—the long lost. Instinctively, as if no years had rolled between—as if she were still the little child, he the boy who had coveted such a sister—he sprang forward and opened his arms, and as suddenly halted, dropped the arms to his side, blushing, confused, abashed. She! that vagrant child!—she! that form so elegant—that great peeress's pupil—adopted daughter, she! the poor wandering Sophy! She!—impossible!
But her eyes, at first downcast are now fixed on him. She, too, starts—not forward, but in recoil; she, too, raises her arms, not to open, but to press them to her breast; and she, too, as suddenly checks an impulse, and stands, like him, blushing, confused, abashed.
"Yes," said Caroline Montfort, drawing Sophy nearer to her breast—"yes, you will both forgive me for the surprise. Yes, you do see before you, grown up to become the pride of those who cherished her, that Sophy who—"
"Sophy!" cried Lionel, advancing; "it is so, then! I knew you were no stroller's grandchild."
Sophy drew up—"I am, I am his grandchild, and as proud to be so as I was then."
"Pardon me, pardon me; I meant to say that he too was not what he seemed. You forgive me," extending his hand, and Sophy's soft hand fell into his forgivingly.
