I wish you happy, sir--I wish you a kind good-bye."
Mr. Gilmore came next.
"I hope we shall have a future opportunity of bettering our
acquaintance, Mr. Hartright. You quite understand about that
little matter of business being safe in my hands? Yes, yes, of
course. Bless me, how cold it is! Don't let me keep you at the
door. Bon voyage, my dear sir--bon voyage, as the French say."
Miss Halcombe followed.
"Half-past seven to-morrow morning," she said--then added in a
whisper, "I have heard and seen more than you think. Your conduct
to-night has made me your friend for life."
Miss Fairlie came last. I could not trust myself to look at her
when I took her hand, and when I thought of the next morning.
"My departure must be a very early one," I said. "I shall be
gone, Miss Fairlie, before you----"
"No, no," she interposed hastily, "not before I am out of my room.
I shall be down to breakfast with Marian. I am not so ungrateful,
not so forgetful of the past three months----"
Her voice failed her, her hand closed gently round mine--then
dropped it suddenly. Before I could say "Good-night" she was
gone.
The end comes fast to meet me--comes inevitably, as the light of
the last morning came at Limmeridge House.
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