He was invited
to make up a rubber, but he could not bring himself to care for cards
at the present moment. So he sat apart and listened to the music.
If all things went right with him to-morrow that music,--or the
musician who made it,--would be his own for the rest of his life. Was
he justified in expecting that she would give him so much? Of her
great regard for him as a friend he had no doubt. She had shown it in
various ways, and after a fashion that had made it known to all the
world. But so had Lady Laura regarded him when he first told her of
his love at Loughlinter. She had been his dearest friend, but she had
declined to become his wife; and it had been partly so with Violet
Effingham, whose friendship to him had been so sweet as to make him
for a while almost think that there was more than friendship. Marie
Goesler had certainly once loved him;--but so had he once loved Laura
Standish. He had been wretched for a while because Lady Laura had
refused him. His feelings now were altogether changed, and why should
not the feelings of Madame Goesler have undergone a similar change?
There was no doubt of her friendship; but then neither was there any
doubt of his for Lady Laura.
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