Mr. Sheldon had given them very little of his society during that
day. He went out immediately after his interview with Valentine, on a
sea-coast ramble, which lasted till dinner-time. After dinner he remained
in the room where they had dined. He was there now. The light of the
candles, by which he read his papers, shone out upon the dusk.
"Will you come for a stroll with me, Diana?" asked Valentine.
Miss Paget assented promptly; and they went out into the garden, beyond
the reach of Mr. Sheldon's ears, had that gentleman been disposed to
place himself at his open window in the character of a listener.
"I want to tell you my plans about Charlotte," Valentine began. "I am
going to London to-morrow to search for a greater physician than Dr.
Doddleson. I shall find my man in an hour or so; and, if possible, shall
return with him in the evening. There is no apparent reason to anticipate
any sudden change for the worse; but if such a change should take place,
I rely on you, dear, to give me the earliest tidings of it. I suppose you
can get a fly here, if you want one?"
"I can get to St. Leonards, if that is what you mean," Miss Paget
answered promptly. "I dare say there is a fly to be had; if not, I can
walk there. I am not afraid of a few miles' walk, by day or night. If
there should be a change, Valentine--which God forbid--I will telegraph
the tidings of it to you.
Pages:
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373