Read "Beaumaroy Home from the Wars" by Antonio Hope online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
When Captain Alec brought his fiancee home after the dinner of welcome and congratulation at Old Place, it was nearly twelve o'clock. Jeanne, however -- in these days a radiant Jeanne, very different from the mournful creature who had accompanied Captain Cranster's victim to Inkston a few weeks before -- was sitting up for her mistress, and since she had to perform this duty -- which was sweetened by the hope of receiving exciting confidences; for surely that affair was "marching"? -- it had been agreed between her and the other maids that she should sit up for the doctor also. She told the lovers that Doctor Mary had been called for by Mr. Beaumaroy, and had gone out with him presumably to visit his friend Mr. Saffron. It did not occur to either of them to ask when Mary had set out; they contented themselves with exchanging a glance of disapproval. What a pity that Mary should have anything more to do with this Mr. Saffron and his Beaumaroy!
However there was a bright side to it this time. It would be kind of Cynthia to sit up for Mary and minister to her a cup of tea, which Jeanne should prepare; and it would be pleasant -- and quite permissible -- for Captain Alec to bear her company. Mary could not be long, surely; it grew late.