The lightning moments fled; ten o’clock came ere he knew. Indeed, it was half-an-hour thereafter before he chanced to look at his watch; and instantly he rose, with a quite boyish confusion on his clear, finely-cut face.
"When do you go back to Heimra?" said Mary to him—the two young ladies having accompanied him out into the hall.
"I hardly know," said he. "I am waiting for a rather important letter that I must answer at once."
"For I have sent for the photographer," said she, "and he may be here the day after."
"But I will stay over," said he; "oh, yes, certainly; I should be so pleased if I can be of the least service to you."
"Oh, thank you." And then she hesitated. "To-morrow—to-morrow you will simply be waiting for the mid-day mail?"
"Yes—is there anything that I can do for you in any way?"
"Oh, no," she made answer, with still further hesitation. "Some day—I am going to ask you to let me have a peep at the _Sirène_. She seems such a pretty little yacht."
"Won’t you come along and look over her to-morrow morning, if the weather is fine?" said he, quickly.
"Would you like to go, Käthchen?" asked Mary, with a little shyness.
"Oh, I should be delighted," answered the useful Käthchen, divining what was wanted of her.
"If you are sure it is not troubling you," said Mary to her departing guest.
"Why, it will give me the greatest possible pleasure," said he. "Come as early as ever you like. It will be quite an event: it is many a day since I had the honour of receiving visitors on the little _Sirène_."
"Then about eleven," said Mary; and therewith he took his leave.
When they got back to the drawing-room, Kate Glendinning threw herself into the chair she had recently quitted.
"Well, I think he is simply splendid!" said she, as if she had some difficulty in finding words to express her enthusiasm. "That’s all I can say—just splendid. He is so curiously straightforward, outspoken, independent; and yet all the time he is so careful to treat you with marked respect. If his eyes laugh at you, it is in such a good-natured way that you can’t take offence. And he never agrees with you for courtesy’s sake—never—oh, not a bit; but yet, as I say, to you he is always so respectful—in so many little ways—didn’t you notice? Ah, well, Mamie," continued the observant but nevertheless cautious-tongued Käthchen, "it’s a curious world, the way things happen in it. Do you remember, when you first came here, your distress about the destruction of Castle Heimra? You said nothing could ever atone for that; and I was of your opinion then. But I am not so sure now. I should not be so surprised, after all, if there were to be some atonement for the pulling down of Castle Heimra."