"I will see you in," he said in a matter-of-fact way, "and then I shall go back to Government House, and bring Mrs. Valliant home."
Peter, the Kanaka, had got up from his blanket, in which he had been sleeping in the verandah, after the fashion of an Australian black. He rubbed his eyes at sight of Elsie. She bade him wait and watch still for Mrs. Valliant, speaking quite composedly, and then turned to Frank. "Will you come in for a minute and hear what I have to say?"
He followed her into the little drawing-room, which was lighted by one lamp, turned low. She raised the wick and stood by the table, a little tremulous again now, but never, he thought, had he seen her look more beautiful. She had let her cloak drop, and the lace from her head. Her pretty ball-dress was scarcely crushed, and the roses on her bodice were fresh and overpoweringly sweet. She had thrown away the bouquet. On her face were still traces of tears and humiliation, and her eyes shone very brightly. On her neck was the deep angry scratch which the point of the diamond star had made. She put out her two hands to him, and he held them in his and stood looking at her.
"Well, Elsie; what is it to be?"
"It is to be as you wish," she said. "Only—only, Frank, don't expect too much from me yet. I will try—I will try hard to forget."
"Thank you, dear," he said gently. "That is all I ask. God bless you, Elsie, you have made me very happy."
"Tell them, tell them to-night," she said feverishly. "I want everybody to know—tell them at the ball. Tell mamma. But don't tell her anything else, Frank. Let that be between you and me. Let it never be spoken of again from this night. Only see that Lord Astar knows."
"He shall know," said Frank, grimly. "And I will tell your mother. She wouldn't have been sorry six months ago. Perhaps she will be disappointed now. But," he added, "Ina will be glad."
"Yes, Ina will be glad," Elsie said thoughtfully.
