"I told the thick-headed girl, as plainly as possible, Colonel Egerton, on purpose to prepare you. I knew the memories--humph pooh," and Winter stopped abruptly, for Egerton, whose eyes were fixed on Kate's face, raised his hand significantly as he observed her changing colour.
And this was their first meeting--not very demonstrative, yet Kate was satisfied. Winter rattled on, apparently well pleased, but Egerton and Kate were very silent, the latter particularly so.
"I was hurrying down Pall Mall, in hopes of catching Mrs. Winter before she started on any shopping expedition, when suddenly, an iron grasp on my shoulder arrested my progress. I just looked round, previous to calling the police, and saw Egerton's face considerably browner than when last I beheld it--he was not very connected at first."
"No," interrupted Egerton, "I was breathless--I had just issued from my club, when I caught a glimpse of your well-remembered figure--to give chase was my first impulse--better get into a scrape than miss the man I had been so long looking for, so here I am; and are you quite well, Miss Vernon? You look--"
"You must not tell me I am looking ill," said Kate, with something of her old archness, a soft smile playing round her lips, and dimpling her cheek, as a sudden gleam of sunshine calls forth a thousand diamond sparkles from the bosom of a sleeping lake.
"You do not look well," persisted Egerton, too earnest to be complimentary; and then, strange to say, there was an awkward pause--their hearts were too full to speak on any common-place topic, and they dared not touch upon anything deeper.
Winter did good service, however, and at last Kate ventured to ask--
"Have you been long in England, Captain--I mean Colonel Egerton."
He smiled, his own bright smile--lip and eyes in unhesitating harmony.
"Yes--call me Captain Egerton, it reminds me of old times and pleasant days. I arrived here nearly a month ago--I had been ordered home by the doctor, at the same time Mary, (my sister, Mrs. Wentworth), wrote requesting I would return, on account of Egerton's health; besides," he added, with another smile, "I was home-sick, and restless to learn more than letters could tell me. I was almost a fortnight at Allerton."