Читать книгу Within the Precincts онлайн

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“I am afraid you are moping,” he said, “missing Augusta. To be sure, it does make a great difference in the house.”

“No, my dear,” said Lady Caroline, “I can’t say I was thinking of Augusta. She is quite happy, you know.”

“I hope so,” he said, laughing. “If they are not happy now, when should they be happy? the honeymoon scarcely over, and all sorts of delights before them.”

“Yes; that is just what I was going to say,” said Lady Caroline; “so why should I mope?”

“Why, indeed?” He took his aunt’s soft hand into his, and caressed it. Rollo was fond of his aunt, strange though it may appear. She had never scolded him, though this was the favourite exercise of all the rest of his family. When he came home in disgrace she had always received him just the same as if he had come in triumph. Whoever might find fault with him for wasting his talents, or disappointing the hopes of his friends, his Aunt Caroline had never done so. He could not help laughing a little as he spoke, but he caressed her soft white hand as he did so, compunctious, to make amends to her for the ridicule. Lady Caroline, it need not be said, attached no idea of ridicule to his laugh. “But I have come to tell you,” said Rollo, “that I have been out again walking up and down the Dean’s Walk, as I did the night of the wedding, and I have not been able to hear a note of your singer—the girl with the wonderful voice.”