Lord Edwin rode as straight as Ida herself; it was a magnificent
run--of course, "the best run of the season"--and Lord Edwin, securing
the brush, fastened it to her saddle. Those who saw the act--they were
not many, for the pace had been fast and hard--exchanged significant
glances. Lord Edwin was over at the Hall next day and displayed a keen
interest in the restoration, and bent for some time over the plans
which he had humbly begged Ida to show him. He was a modest young
fellow, with more intelligence and good sense than generally goes with
his age, and Ida liked him. It was inevitable that they should meet
almost every day; it was almost as inevitable that he should fall in
love with her; for she was not only the most beautiful girl in the
county, but there was an element of romance in her loneliness and her
fortunes which naturally appealed to him.
He went to his father one day and confided in him; but, though Lord and
Lady Bannerdale were more than pleased, they begged him not to be too
sanguine.
"Sanguine!" he exclaimed, colouring. "I live in a state of mortal fear
and dread; for though I love her more every time I see her, I never
leave her without feeling that my case is hopeless. There is something
about Ida--oh, of course I can't explain!--but I feel as if I could no
more speak to her of love than I could--could jump over this house."
"And yet she is so gentle and friendly," said Lady Bannerdale to
encourage him.
The young fellow, wise in his generation, shook his head.
"That's just it, mother," he said, gravely. "She treats me as if I were
a brother, quite a young brother; and I know that if I were to speak to
her, to let her know how much I love her, it would mean the end of
everything. I should never be able to see her again--and I could not
stand that; for I am only happy when I am with her--and then I am
miserable with the thought of having to leave her."
"You must be patient, my dear fellow," said Lord Bannerdale. "Ida Heron
is a girl in a million, and she is worth waiting for."
"Oh, I'll wait," said Lord Edwin; "but sometimes I feel that all the
waiting in the world won't win her," he added, with a sigh.
One day--it was in the Christmas week which Ida had been prevailed upon
to spend with the Bannerdales--Lord Bannerdale came in at luncheon-time
with some news.