Never Forgotten (Volume 2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER THE SIXTH. THE BALL ONE TILL THREE. Fermor, a little softened, was indeed making his way over to Violet, and generously publishing an amnesty for the past. Violet saw him coming, and the wistful look fled. Showers, with Miss Carlay on his arm, was drifted up near him. The low triumph on Showers's face was too much, and he walked straight across to Miss Carlay. The round fair honest face looked up at him hopefully, almost with delight. "I never expected to see you here," said Fermor. "Nor did I hear you were coming--though there was nothing surprising in that. I mean my not hearing it." She smiled. "How were we to tell you?" she said, gently. "We never see you now. You have given us up." "I am very busy now," said Fermor. "I have given up vanities. I have forsworn all my old ways and pleasures. I have no right to amuse myself. I am to look the world in the face now, and who cares about me now?" "I am very sorry, very sorry," said the girl, opening and shutting her fan. "I thought we were friends of yours, and you--bore with us so kindly." "O yes," said Fermor, with artificial carelessness (he was getting into one of the dramatic situations he loved), "that is all the old story, you know. It is very good of you to say so. But after all, what does it reduce itself to? A book or so lent, an hour or so of my tediousness bestowed "on you. This is the way we go through life. Tomorrow you will be next door to some one else. And his figure will be refracted into heroic proportions. The day after, I shall be next door to some one else, and she will be refracted too. I have not told you half of my philosophy yet. You were right, after all, in dealing with me as the merest of acquaintances." "I never dreamt of such a thing," she said, a little sadly; "and if ...