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"The best and kindest friend any girl ever had I wish"

She broke off "Oh, well"

There was a silence In the castle soan to sing

"That's Edwin Pluhed Somehow the intrusion of Plunedly and as a sombre commentary on

the situation or because he was the sort ofthat

particular song, was chanting Tosti's "Good-bye" He was giving to

its never very cheery notes a wailing an to howl in sye's nerves He ht feel broken-hearted

later, but for the moment, with this double accompaniment, it was

impossible for a man with humour in his soul to dwell on the deeper

eht him to

earth He felt cal over quietly," he said "There's

certain to be soo to Lord

Marshrasp

of his subject"

"I could," said Maud, "but, just at present, I feel as if I'd

rather do anything else in the world You don't realize what it

must have cost father to defy Aunt Caroline openly like that Ever

since I was old enough to notice anything, I've seen how she

dominated him It was Aunt Caroline who really caused all this

trouble If it had only been father, I could have coaxed him to let