But time is stronger than I fancied, and here I am writing to
you. Fate must have been in her most ironical mood to bring us
so near in this corner of the world. I thought you were in
another continent; but if you will let me accept the chance
which brings us together, and call upon you as an old friend,
I shall really be grateful: for there will be much to talk
about, even if we avoid, as I promise to do, all that is
painful; and I am very lonely. I have seen your husband, and
hope you are very happy.--Believe me, very sincerely yours,
Philip Fogo."
"What does it mean?" asked Mrs. Goodwyn-Sandys helplessly.
"It means, Nellie, that we have just time enough, and none to spare;
in other words, that 'Goodwyn-Sandys' has come near to being a
confoundedly fatal--"
"Then he must have known--"
"Known! My treasure, where are your wits? Beautiful namesake--
jilted lover--'hence, perjured woman'--bleeding heart--years pass--
marry another--finger of fate--Good Lord!" wound up the Honourable
Frederic. "I met the fellow one day, and couldn't understand why he
stared so--gave me the creeps--see it all now."
He lay back in his chair and whistled.
There was a tap at the drawing-room door, and the buttoned youth
announced that Mrs.
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