His tone was cold and grave; but Nesta started, and turned white to her very lips; then with an effort she recovered her composure, and held out her hand.
'It is a long time since we have met,' she said.
There was a pause, but Betty came to the rescue with the delightful unconsciousness of childhood.
'Do you know my Miss Fairfax?' she asked the major. 'You never told me you did. Didn't she sing beautifully? Did you like "Tribulation"? We like it the best of all her songs, don't we, Prince?'
She stooped to caress her little dog; then, as he broke away from her, she darted after him.
Major St. Clair stood still, and his eyes never moved from Nesta's face.
'Do we meet as strangers?' he asked.
'No,' she said, a little unsteadily, and her lips quivered in spite of herself, as she strove in vain to meet his gaze calmly; 'as old friends, I hope.'
'Never!' he said, a passionate light coming to his eyes; 'it must be everything or nothing to me, as I told you long ago.'
She was silent; a little sigh escaped her, so hopeless and yet so patient, that Major St. Clair continued hotly,—