You are in my heart...you are in my mind
My dear, I have grown with you
But when I meet you in flesh and blood
Will you know I am a part of you?
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Frank returned to his room in a daze. He had seen Lydia, heard her voice and her views of him. It amazed him; could this be the same Lydia he had met five years back? Is she the same girl who looked like she knew nothing about the ways of the world? When did she learn all that? Is it the St. George's effect?
He recounted her views word by word as if it was a gospel he had learnt by heart. But when his feverish frenzy had died down he realized that her words were a critique of his philosophy and his world view.
This realization brought with it a new insecurity – the one he had never experienced before – will she disapprove of him? Will she stay away from him when they finally meet?
His heart twitched for the first time; it could not bear the idea of falling in her esteem. Frank felt a chill and he looked up at the sky. It was already past noon and the sun had moved away to the southern section of the sky.
He shrugged off the chill and woke himself up; "What am I thinking? That's not me! Where did these useless thoughts come from?" – he was surprised. "It's the work of an idle mind, I dare say."
Work was his best strategy and his only refuge. It had served him well in the past. He picked up the files on the desk and went through them one by one.
Oliver came in twice to check on his brother and had food brought in but found him too busy to even eat. The food had turned cold and was sent out to be reheated and brought in.
It was already quarter past four by the time Frank was done. He rose from his desk a different man than the unsteady and emotional one in the morning. It was as if his heart had reset itself and all the unnecessary emotions had been flushed away.
He went straight to wash and dress for the evening. At five, he descended and was looking for Sara. He was famished by now and needed something to eat.
Frank heard the shuffle of rustling silk and was drawn towards it. He went into the room thinking it to be his sister-in-law, Sara.
The room was dimly lit, depending heavily on the retreating golden rays of the evening Sun. They fell directly on the lovely face of that dear girl. Unsuspecting and merry, Lydia was finishing the flower arrangement in the drawing room.
No matter how well prepared he was for their second meeting, yet Frank's heart fluttered uncontrollably and blood gushed speedily making him feel warm and dizzy all at once.
The hall outside was brilliantly lit and its light was stealing into the drawing room allowing it additional brightness. This light was obstructed by Frank, who stood transfixed on the doorstep. The long shadow that he cast touched Lydia and she shivered instinctively.
She turned around to look at the obstruction and could only see a manly figure. The face was hidden in the shadow. Even so, she knew it wasn't John and it wasn't her brother-in-law either. The silhouetted figure did not stir.
She was startled. "Who are you?" - She called out sharply, breaking Frank's trance. In her shocked surprise she dropped the flowers in her hand and was trying to stand up but only managed to topple the table in front of her which began wobbling side to side. The flower arrangement that she was working on began sliding.
Frank was aroused to action and was quick at his feet. He rushed to her aid. First, he grabbed the table and prevented the sliding bouquet from falling down; then, he bent lower to gather the fallen flowers and presented them to Lydia, saying- "I am sorry to have startled you, I had come here looking for Sara; I thought you were her. I was equally surprised to see you."
His face had turned crimson matching the hues of the evening sky. He felt the heat of his emotions on his face. Fortunately, he was at an advantage of standing in the darker part of the room so that Lydia could not see his emotions on his face clearly. His grateful eyes stayed on her lovely face, mapping in it all the passing emotions.
There was something assuring about him that put her to ease. Instinctively, she moved towards him and looked at him searchingly as if trying to place him somewhere in her memory. "Have me met before? Why do you feel familiar?"
He turned a little so she may see him better in the sunlight that came sweeping in from the western window. "Do you recognize me?"- he asked gently.
Dear reader, how could she not have recognized him?! Who can forget a kind heart that was once so full of sympathy for them?
Alas! Lydia's eyes spoke for her: they were filled with curiosity and ignorance. "Have we met before?" – she asked in that little voice of innocence. Frank was taken aback.
"It's me, Frank Tulliver." He said,
"Oh! so you are the heroic brother-in-law of Sara." Lydia said with a smile. "She is very fond of you. She has been talking about you all day."
Frank was surprised, "Is that all I am to you?"
Lydia was taken aback at his of familiarity tone and his question. What does he mean by that? "Do I know you?" she asked in bewilderment.
Frank came dangerously close to her, "Do you not know me or are you pretending not to know me?" he said in annoyance.
Lydia's heart began pounding, his proximity was frightful. She quacked and almost fell on the chair. Frank stepped forward and held her steady. "Are you ok?" he looked at her in concern.
She shook her head vigorously, "Let me go…" – she pleaded, "I don't know you… let me go."
He let go off her and stepped aside. "I am sorry if I have frightened you. I did not mean it. You see, I am equally surprised. We met in Glensfield." He paused and looked at her intently; Lydia showed no signs of recollection.
"John" Oliver called out at the foot of the staircase, "Have you seen Frank?"
"Yes, sir; he is in the drawing room." -- replied the faithful servant.