CHAPTER XXVIII

Here we go!  Lovers Three!

The three discarded lovers of Broadstone—­all discarded, although one of them would not admit it—­would have departed the next day had not that day been Sunday, when there were no convenient trains.  Mr. Du Brant was due in Washington; Mr. Hemphill was needed very much at his desk, especially since Mr. Easterfield had decided to spend a few days with his wife; and Claude Locker wanted to go.  When he had finished the thing he happened to be doing it was his habit immediately to begin something else.  All was at an end between him and Miss Asher.  He acknowledged this, and he did not wish to stay at Broadstone.  But, as it could not be helped, they all stayed over Sunday.

Mr. Easterfield planned an early afternoon expedition to a mission church in the mountains; it would be a novel experience, and a delightful trip, and everybody must go.

In the course of the morning Mr. Du Brant strolled in the eastern parts of the grounds, and Mr. Locker strolled over that portion of the lawn which lay to the west.  Mr. Du Brant did not meet with any one with whom he cared to talk, but Mr. Locker was fortunate enough to meet Miss Raleigh.

“I am glad to see you,” said he; “you are the person above all other persons I wish to talk to.”

“It delights me to hear that,” said the lady, her face showing that she spoke the truth.

“Let us go over there and sit down,” said he.  “Now, then,” he continued, “you were present, Miss Raleigh, at a very peculiar moment in my life, a momentous moment, I may say.  You enjoyed a privilege—­if you consider it such—­not vouchsafed to many mortals.”

“I did consider it a privilege, you may be sure,” exclaimed Miss Raleigh, “and I value it.  You do not know how highly I value it!”

“You heard me offer myself, body and soul, to the lady I loved.  You were taken into our confidence, you saw me laid upon the table—­”

“Oh, dreadful!” cried the lady.  “Don’t put it that way.”

“Well, then,” said he, “you saw me postponed for future consideration.  You promised you would regard everything you heard as confidential; by so doing you enabled me to speak when otherwise I might not have dared to do so.  I am deeply grateful to you; and, as you already know so much about my hopes and my aspirations, I think it right you should know all there is to know.”

The conscience of Miss Raleigh stirred itself very vigorously within her, and her voice was much subdued as she said: 

“I am sure you are very good.”

“Well, then,” said Locker, “the proposal you heard me make has been declined.  I am discarded; and not directly in a face-to-face interview, but through another by a message.  It would have been inconvenient for Miss Asher personally to communicate the intelligence, so as Mrs. Easterfield was coming this way she kindly consented to convey the intelligence.”