Gone Away by Marjorie Moore Read Free Book Online

be married. I hope you’ll be happy.” Patricia held out her hand. “I’d better be going now. I hope I ’ll hear from Miss Hanny soon and I hope she’ll have me.”
    “I’ll make sure of that. You’re coming with me, don’t make any mistake.” As she opened the door for Patricia, Maimie leaned toward her as she stood on the doorstep ready to go, and her voice became more serious. “I hope you find a job out there ... or perhaps a husband. That ought to be easy enough; you’re very attractive,” she ended candidly.
    Patricia’s pale face flushed—she wasn’t sure whether at the suggestion or the compliment, but she knew that her heart was full of conflicting emotions as she hurried down the broad stone steps.

 
    CHAPTER SIX
    It was not until the boat train was preparing to steam out from St. Pancras that Patricia renewed her acquaintance with Miss Hanny and her niece. True to her word, Maimie had persuaded her aunt to engage Patricia, and, as she had promised, engineered matters so that any further meetings between the two were avoided. Patricia had reason to believe that the Rev. Dare’s reference played no small part in assisting Miss Hanny’s choice of companion for her niece. No sooner had she been in receipt of the letter than Patricia had received an effusive answer engaging her, and enclosing first-class tickets for the journey. As the two girls stood on the platform beside the door of their compartment, Miss Hanny bombarded them with final instructions.
    “Now, Maimie dear, mind you cable me the moment you arrive. I shan’t have a moment’s peace until I know you are safely there. I suppose Seymour quite understands about meeting you?” she inquired for the hundredth time.
    “ Of course, Auntie,” Maimie repeated patiently. “He understands perfectly. He will be on the quay at Singapore,” she repeated, as if she were explaining to a troublesome child. “I showed you his letter; it was all quite clear.”
    “It would be dreadful if he didn’t,” Miss Hanny exclaimed fussily; then, turning to Patricia, who stood silently by Maimie’s side, continued speaking. “Mind you don’t leave Maimie until she is safely married. I explained in my letter, I will pay your expenses while you remain with my niece. You understand my wishes, don’t you?”
    “Perfectly, Miss Hanny. I shall remain with your niece until after her wedding,” Patricia promised.
    Miss Hanny glanced up and down the crowded platform. “It must be nearly time for the train to leave. Dear me, I can’t really believe you’re going; it seems fantastic! To think it all happened through that stay in Harrogate! I wish I’d never gone near the place, ” she exclaimed with agitation.
    “Auntie dear,” Maimie pressed the older woman’s arm affectionately, “don’t say that. I expect Seymour and I were intended for one another. Even if you hadn’t taken me to Harrogate, we should have met somewhere.”
    “Why you had to fall in love with a man living in such an outlandish place, I can’t understand.” Miss Hanny wiped away a tear. “Surely there are plenty of nice Englishmen about. ”
    “He is English,” Maimie insisted. “People out East usually retire quite young. Seymour and I will buy a nice country house in England and settle there before long; anyway, we’ll be home on leave in two years, and then you’ll see plenty of me,” she added reassuringly.
    “Dear me, the platform is emptying; you’d better be getting in the carriage.” Harriet Hanny urged the two girls toward their compartment as the porter began to slam the doors. “You’ll be off in a minute or two. She leaned toward the open window of the carriage and kissed her niece. “Take care of yourself, my dear.” She dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. “I hope you’ll be very happy. Mind you cable me, and I’ll expect long letters with all the news.”
    Maimie barely had time to return her aunt’s embrace before the train slid into