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"What we've all contrived to"If you'd all of you rather she should be Beaufort's one the right way about it"

He wondered what Mrs Welland would have said if he had uttered the words instead ofthem He could picture the sudden deco iven an air of factitious authority Traces still lingered on thehter's; and he asked himself if May's face was dooe of invincible innocence

Ah, no, he did not want May to have that kind of innocence, the innocence that seals the ainst experience!

"I verily believe," Mrs Welland continued, "that if the horrible business had come out in the newspapers it would have been my husband's death-blow I don't know any of the details; I only ask not to, as I told poor Ellen when she tried to talk toan invalid to care for, I have to keep ht and happy But Mr Welland was terribly upset; he had a slight te to hear what had been decided It was the horror of his girl's learning that such things were possible--but of course, dear Newland, you felt that too We all knew that you were thinking of May"

"I' to cut short the conversation

He had meant to seize the opportunity of his private talk with Mrs Welland to urge her to advance the date of his uments that would move her, and with a sense of relief he saw Mr Welland and May driving up to the door

His only hope was to plead again with May, and on the day before his departure he walked with her to the ruinous garden of the Spanish Mission The background lent itself to allusions to European scenes; and May, as looking her loveliest under a wide-brimmed hat that cast a shadow of erness as he spoke of Granada and the Alha--even the Easter cere his deer concession

"Easter in Seville? And it will be Lent next week!" she laughed

"Why shouldn't we be married in Lent?" he rejoined; but she looked so shocked that he saw his mistake