And that very afternoon Marian had a most pressing
errand to Charlotte Hall, to purchase groceries, which the little family
had got entirely out of during the continuance of the snow.
There was no certainty that she should see Thurston; still she hoped to
do so, nor was her hope disappointed.
He overtook her a short distance from the village, on her road home.
Their meeting was a very glad one--heart sprang to heart and hand to
hand--and neither affected to conceal the pleasure that it gave them.
After the first joyous greetings, and the first earnest and affectionate
inquiries about each other's health and welfare, both became grave and
silent for a little while. Marian was reflecting how to propose to leave
him for a three-months' visit to the gay capital, little thinking that
Thurston himself was perplexed with the question of how to break to her
the news of the necessity of his own immediate departure to England for
an absence of at least six or eight months. Marian spoke first.
"Dear Thurston, I have something to propose to you, that I fear you will
not like very well; but if you do not, speak freely; for I am not
bound."
"I--I do not understand you, love! Pray explain at once," said he, quick
to take alarm where she was concerned.
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