I 'll make him show me that miniature someday , for I 'm interested in that girl , thought Lillian with a pensive sigh . As he held his hand for her little foot in dismounting her at the hall door , Paul seemed to have shaken off his grave mood , for he looked up and smiled at her with his blithest expression . But Lillian appeared to be the thoughtful one now and with an air of dignity , very pretty and becoming , thanked her young squire in a stately manner and swept into the house , looking tall and womanly in her flowing skirts . Paul laughed as he glanced after her and , flinging himself onto his horse , rode away to the stables at a reckless pace , as if to work off some emotion for which he could find no other vent . `` Here 's a letter for you , lad , all the way from some place in Italy . Who do you know there ? '' said Bedford , as the boy came back . With a hasty `` Thank you , '' Paul caught the letter and darted away to his own room , there to tear it open and , after reading a single line , to drop into a chair as if he had received a sudden blow . Growing paler and paler he read on , and when the letter fell from his hands he exclaimed , in a tone of despair , `` How could he die at such a time ! '' For an hour the boy sat thinking intently , with locked door , curtained window , and several papers strewn before him . Letters , memoranda , plans , drawings , and bits of parchment , all of which he took from a small locked portfolio always worn about him . Over these he pored with a face in which hope , despondency , resolve , and regret alternated rapidly . Taking the locket out he examined a ring which lay in one side , and the childish face which smiled on him from the other . His eyes filled as he locked and put it by , saying tenderly , `` Dear little heart ! I 'll not forget or desert her whatever happens . Time must help me , and to time I must leave my work . One more attempt and then I 'm off . '' * * * * * `` I 'll go to bed now , Hester ; but while you get my things ready I 'll take a turn in the corridor . The air will refresh me . '' As she spoke , Lady Trevlyn drew her wrapper about her and paced softly down the long hall lighted only by fitful gleams of moonlight and the ruddy glow of the fire .
At the far end was the state chamber , never used now , and never visited except by XXXXX , who occasionally went in to dust and air it , and my lady , who always passed the anniversary of Sir Richard 's death alone there .
Hester Italy Lillian Paul Trevlyn fire gleams hour locket paler