muchmourning in Fitzjohn's Avenue. I expect his family will be glad to havegot rid of him."
He kissed her very tenderly, as he bade her good-bye.
"A new life, little woman, from to-day?"
"A new life from to-day," she repeated softly, "as long as I am surethat you really care."
"I do care," replied Moreno, speaking with unusual fervour for a man ofhis cautious temperament.
Of the London section of the brotherhood little remains to be told.Shortly afterwards Lucue was stabbed to death in a violent quarrel witha brother anarchist. Jaques and Maceda, alarmed at the fate of theirSpanish colleagues, took but a perfunctory part in further propaganda.In twelve months' time the London section had ceased to exist as anactive force.
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On a mellow October day, a few months after those thrilling events inMadrid, Isobel was married in the quiet little church on her uncle'sestates. It was in this church that her father had been christened.Her bridesmaids were Lady Mary and two cousins. Her uncle, the head ofthe family, gave her away.
For the Head of the Family and his wife had behaved quite properly onthe occasion. They had insisted that she should be married from theirhouse, that she should have the whole-hearted support of her kindred.
Such an arrangement suited her very well. Her bereavement had been sorecent that the idea of a fashionable wedding would have been repugnantto her. Here in this quiet little church, where generations of Clandonshad been christened, many of them married, she gave herself to the manof her choice.
With the advent of his great-aunt's considerable fortune, Guy's brieffit of ambition died out. And it must be admitted that, although he hadstuck gallantly to his post, and refused to show the white feather, hisexperience of diplomatic life had been more exciting than pleasant. Sohe severed his connection with the Foreign Office, having made up hismind to lead the easy and agreeable life of a man of wealth andposition.
They were to spend their honeymoon in Italy. On their return, theywould renovate Aunt Henrietta's charming country residence in Hampshireand take a house in London, where they intended to spend a good deal oftheir time.
For Guy was very proud of his beautiful Isobel, and he could see a timewhen she would become a very charming and popular hostess.
The young couple drove away amidst the cordial greetings of the smallcompany assembled. Only a few intimate connections of the two familieswere present.
Moreno had been invited, but he had excused himself on some plausiblepretext. He had no desire to thrust himself into an aristocratic_milieu_, to which he was unaccustomed. He sent the bride a veryhandsome present, with a card on which was written: "From Andres Moreno,as a souvenir of thrilling times in Spain."
While Lord Saxham was saying good-bye to the Clandons, Maurice Farquharconducted Lady Mary to the car which was to drive them back to TicehurstPark, a distance of about fifty miles.
"You will not forget that you are due to us on the twenty-fifth," shereminded him as they shook hands.
"Is it likely? I have been looking forward to it ever since you sent methe invitation."
"I am looking forward to it, too," said Mary softly, and a ratherbecoming colour swept over her cheek, making her look quite attractive.
The Earl joined them and mounted the car. He waved his hand cheerfullyas they drove off. "Not good-bye, but _au revoir_, Farquhar. See youon the twenty-fifth."
He watched the car drive out of sight, thinking of many things. He hadloved Isobel with all the fervour of first love, but Isobel was gonefrom him. And Mary was very sweet and attractive, and took no pains toconceal that she took great pleasure in his society. Well--perhaps someday!
But even in his secret thought the young and ambitious barrister couldhardly bring himself to believe that a girl of Mary's birth and longdescent would give herself to a man who had only his brains to recommendhim.
Still, this younger generation of the Rossetts had a strange democraticstrain in them. Guy had chosen his bride from the small squirearchy.It was openly rumoured in the clubs that, having come into a snug littleincome from great-aunt Henrietta, Lord Ticehurst had made up his mind tomarry his chorus-girl, and defy his father.
Lady Mary had also been well provided for from the same kind source.She might prove as democratic as the others.
And, while Farquhar was ruminating over all these things, Isobel and herhusband had set out on the first stage of their journey to the enchantedland of wedded romance.
The End.
Whither Thou Goest Page 44
