“There lived no greater gentleman.”

And Captain Fitzgerald wondered if he were mad or what he could mean, as he watched him stride away down the street.

But when he told his wife, she understood, for she had just learned from Hector the whole story.

And perhaps—­who knows?  Far away in Shadowland Josiah heard those words, “There lived no greater gentleman.”  And if he did—­they fell like balm on his sad soul.

XXXI

It was eighteen months after this before they met again—­Hector and Theodora; and now it was May, and the flowers bloomed and the birds sang, and all the world was young and fair—­only Morella Winmarleigh was growing into a bitter old maid.

At twenty-eight people might have taken her for a matron of ten years older.

She had wondered for weeks what was the result of her action with the letters.  She hoped daily to hear of some catastrophe and scandal falling upon the head of Theodora.  But she heard nothing.  It was only after Josiah’s death that details were wafted to her through the Fitzgeralds.

How poor Mr. Brown had never really recovered from a slight stroke he had had on leaving Beechleigh, and of Theodora’s goodness and devotion to him, and of his worship of her.  And Morella had the maddening feeling that if she had left well alone this death might never have occurred, and her hated rival might not now be a free and beautiful widow, with no impediment between herself and Hector when they should choose to meet.

She had meant to be revenged and punish them, and it seemed she had only cleared their path to happiness.  There was really no justice in this world!

Theodora had gone to meet her father and step-mother in Paris.

Her sisters were married and very happy, she hoped.  Prosperity had wonderfully embellished their attractions, and even Sarah had found a mate.

And Lady Bracondale remained her placid, stately self.  Her grief and disappointment over Hector’s departure from England had passed away by now, as so had her treasured dream of receiving Morella Winmarleigh as a daughter.  But Anne whispered to her that she need not worry forever, and some day soon her brother might choose a bride whom even she would love.

Hector had continued his wanderings over the world for many months after Josiah’s death.  He felt, should he return to England, nothing could keep him from Theodora.

And she, too, had travelled and explored fresh scenes, and was now a supremely beautiful and experienced woman—­courted and flattered, and besieged by many adorers.

But she was still Theodora, with only one love in her heart and one dream in her soul—­to meet Hector again and spend the rest of her life in the shelter of his arms.

She heard of him often through her step-mother; and sometimes she saw Anne—­and both Hector and she understood, and knew the time would come when they could be happy.