MIGGIE had purposely absented herself from Grassy Spring more than
two whole weeks, and when Richard asked the cause of it she
answered that she did not know, and, indeed, she could not to
herself define the reason of her staying so long from a place
where she wished so much to be, unless it were that she had not
quite recovered from the shock it gave her to know that Arthur had
once been engaged, even though he had wearied of the engagement.
It seemed to her that he had built between them a barrier which
she determined he should be the first to cross. So she studiously
avoided him, and thus unconsciously plunged him deeper and deeper
into the mire, where he was already foundering. Her apparent
indifference only increased the ardor of his affection, and though
he struggled against it as against a deadly sin, he could not
overcome it, and at last urged on by Nina, who begged so hard for
Miggie, he resolved upon going to Collingwood and taking Nina with
him.
It was a warm, pleasant afternoon in May, and Nina had never
looked more beautiful than when seated in the open carriage, and
on her way to Collingwood, talking incessantly of Miggie, whom she
espied long before they reached the house.
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