Physically she
was much handsomer, stately as a queen, fair and radiant, and "most
divinely tall."
She drove into Leeds to meet the stage which brought Richard, and was
quite as demonstrative as he had any right to expect; but he felt
abashed slightly by her air of calm authority. He forgot that when
he had seen her first she was in a comparatively dependent position,
and that she was now prospective lady of the manor. It was quite
natural that she should have taken on a little dignity, and it was not
natural that she should all at once discard it for her lover.
The squire, too, was changed, sadly changed; for he had had a fall
in the hunting field, and had never recovered from its effects. He
limped to the door to meet Richard, and spoke in his old hearty way,
but Richard was pained to see him, so pale and broken.
"Thou's welcome beyond ivery thing, Richard," he said, warmly. "If
ta hed brought Phyllis, I'd hev given thee a double welcome. I'd hev
liked to hev seen her bonny face again afore I go t' way I'll nivver
come back."
"She was not strong enough to bear the journey."
"Yonder shooting was a bad bit o' work. I've nowt against a gun, but
dash pistols! They're blackguardly weapons for a gentleman to carry
about; 'specially where women are around."
"You are quite right, uncle.
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