Her father's return seemed vague and
uncertain; it might take place in ten or twenty years--it might
never be. Hugh offered her freedom and liberty in two years.
"If others should seek your love," he said, "should praise your
beauty, and offer you rank or wealth, you will say to yourself
that you will be true to Hugh?"
"Yes," she said, firmly, "I will do so."
"Two years will soon pass away," said he. "Ah, Beatrice," he
continued, "I shall leave you next Thursday; give me all the
hours you can. Once away from you, all time will seem to me a
long, dark night."
It so happened that the farmer and his men were at work in a
field quite on the other side of Knutsford. Dora and Lillian
were intent, the one upon a box of books newly arrived, the other
upon a picture; so Beatrice had every day many hours at her
disposal. She spent them all with Hugh, whose love seemed to
increase with every moment.
Hugh was to leave Seabay on Thursday, and on Wednesday evening he
lingered by her side as though he could not part with her. To do
Hugh Fernely justice, he loved Beatrice for herself.
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