Marrying and Giving in Marriage Author:Mrs. Molesworth General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1887 Original Publisher: Hurst Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select fr... more »om more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER VI. Leonora was watching anxiously for her sister, when the latter went home. Lady Christina was busy in her own room, so the two girls were alone for a little. ' He came, Ave,' said Leo, eagerly. ' I was practising in the little drawing-room, and mamma wanted something fetched, so she called me in. I told him -- -just as you said.' ' Yes, dear,' said Aveline, wearily, sitting down by the side of the bed, and leaning her head on it. ' What's the matter, Ave dear ? You look so white,' said the young girl, anxiously. ' Did you tell him where I had gone ? ' ' Yes, of course -- he was rather funny, I thought. He only smiled when I asked him about going to see some other places, and said he wished we could. But he didn't fix anything, and he had to speak to mamma. Some other people came in.' 'He couldn't fix anything. He's going away,' said Aveline. ' Oh, Ave!' exclaimed Leo. ' Did you see him -- did he tell you ? Perhaps it's nonsense.' ' No, no. It's quite true. I saw him. He came to call at the Ayrtons'! Leo,' Aveline went on impressively,' do you remember what I said that evening at home, when we were first talking of coming to Paris, that I almost wished Mr. Hereward were not to be here ?' ' Yes,' said Leo, ' I remember.' ' Well,' said Aveline, ' I wish it more than ever -- I mean I wish he hadn't been here. Oh, how I wish it!' ' But why ?' asked the child. ' Perhaps he can't help going away -- perhaps he'll come back soon. You seem as unhappy as if ' 'As if what?' ' As if you thought he didn't care for you,' said Leo, softly, ' and I am sure he does.' A...« less