and after awhile coming to myself, I found JOSEPHINE--now pale
and now flustered--at my side. But still the wish was in my thoughts.
"_Do_, do let us go home."

"Well, LOTTY, love; we _will_ go home. In a little while; a very little
while; a day or two"--

"Now, FRED; to-day."

"Why, to-day, LOTTY, is impossible. The fact is, I expect--but never
mind;" and I felt sure there was something FRED was hiding from me,
something I ought to know. But before I could reply, he took his hat and
left the room. I don't know what could have possessed me; but, for the
minute, I felt alone--all alone in the world; and the next, such a
newer, deeper love--I had thought it impossible to be so--for FREDERICK;
and then--but JOSEPHINE was present, looking so curiously at me, that I
was directly called to myself.

"You'd never think of going home, Ma'am, without a peep at France?" said
JOSEPHINE.

"What I think can in no way concern you," I replied very freezingly;
for, somehow, I could not _quite_ understand JOSEPHINE'S looks.

"Certainly not, Ma'am; only to be so near France, and not to cross, what
would people say? And lace I'm told so cheap there! Not that I wish to
go myself. Certainly not. Oh dear no. Old England for me. I'm sure I can
stay here till you come back with the greatest pleasure in--no, not
exactly that: still, Ma'am, I _can_ stay."

And the more she talked, and the more I looked at her, the more she
seemed in a sort of pucker and flurry that--I'm not suspicious: still,
it did appear mysterious.

"I shall not go to France. We shall return straight home, and you may,
or may not--just as you please, JOSEPHINE, so make it entirely agreeable
to yourself--go back with us, or stay here alone." And with this, I left
the room to join FRED; and he--I discovered to my great annoyance--had
gone out. Gone out! It was very odd.

I couldn't rest indoors. So, without a word to JOSEPHINE, I put on my
things--snatched them on I should rather say--and followed FRED. Up and
down the beach--but no signs of him. Where _could_ he be?

As the time went on, and I continued to look for and expect him, I could
scarcely contain myself. I sat down upon the beach; and the sun,
setting, looked so magnificent. I tried to calm and comfort myself,
making out a home in the clouds. Such a home! With such gardens and
golden plains and palaces of ruby pillars--but no; it wouldn't do. And I
felt all the angrier that I had so tried to cheat myself.