I can't help it. Good-by,
Tommie!"
Putting him away from her gently, she walked towards the door. The dog
instantly followed. She put him away from her, for the second time, and
left him. He was not to be denied; he followed her again, and took the
skirt of her dress in his teeth, as if to hold her back. Robert forced
the dog, growling and resisting with all his might, to let go of
the dress. "Don't be rough with him," said Isabel. "Put him on her
ladyship's lap; he will be quieter there." Robert obeyed. He whispered
to Lady Lydiard as she received the dog; she seemed to be still
incapable of speaking--she bowed her head in silent assent. Robert
hurried back to Isabel before she had passed the door. "Not alone!" he
said entreatingly. "Her Ladyship permits it, Isabel. Let me see you safe
to your aunt's house."
Isabel looked at him, felt for him, and yielded.
"Yes," she answered softly; "to make amends for what I said to you when
I was thoughtless and happy!" She waited a little to compose herself
before she spoke her farewell words to Lady Lydiard. "Good-by, my Lady.
Your kindness has not been thrown away on an ungrateful girl. I love
you, and thank you, with all my heart."
Lady Lydiard rose, placing the dog on the chair as she left it. She
seemed to have grown older by years, instead of by minutes, in the short
interval that had passed since she had hidden her face from view. "I
can't bear it!" she cried, in husky, broken tones. "Isabel! Isabel! I
forbid you to leave me!"
But one person could venture to resist her.
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