CHAPTER XXIV.
Midnight though it was, I sat up until John and his wife came home.
They said scarcely anything, but straightway retired.

In the morning, all went on in the house as usual, and no one ever knew of this night's episode, except us three.
In the morning, Guy looked wistfully around him, asking for the "pretty lady;" and being told that she was gone, and that he would not be likely to see her again, seemed disappointed for a minute; but soon he went down to play at the stream, and forgot all.
Once or twice I fancied the mother's clear voice about the house was rarer than its wont; that her quick, active, cheerful presence--penetrating every nook, and visiting every creature, as with the freshness of an April wind--was this day softer and sadder; but she did not say anything to me, nor I to her.
John had ridden off early--to the flour-mill, which he still kept on, together with the house at Norton Bury--he always disliked giving up any old associations.

At dinner-time he came home, saying he was going out again immediately.
Ursula looked uneasy.

A few minutes after, she followed me under the walnut-tree, where I was sitting with Muriel, and asked me if I would go with John to Kingswell.
"The election takes place to-day, and he thinks it right to be there.
He will meet Mr.Brithwood and Lord Luxmore; and though there is not the slightest need--my husband can do all that he has to do alone--still, for my own satisfaction, I would like his brother to be near him." They invariably called me their brother now; and it seemed as if the name had been mine by right of blood always.
Of course, I went to Kingswell, riding John's brown mare, he himself walking by my side.

It was not often that we were thus alone together, and I enjoyed it much.