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Madeline turned upon him sharply

"Mr Early," she said, "it isn't wholly courteous in you to take

advantage ofalone with you in your own do your pardon," Sebastian answered "It was a wholly unpre been an ardent desire I did not mean to

speak, but your oords seemed to break down the barriers of my

passion I could wish that you would permit me to put it in the forht Your fine sense of

the proprieties must be my rule of conduct I shall only trust that I

may soon find a time to speak when I shall not offend your delicacy,

and when, I pray, I may not offend your heart"

"Neither now nor at any other tio any

further," said Madeline laughingly, for it was hard to take the bombast

of Mr Early very seriously He eon And Sebastian remained only partly satisfied as to the effect

which he wished to produce He wanted to give her so to think

about, and sothat he was

resolved should follow He was convinced that to stand alone with hi ireat hall was certainly a place to capture the

iination--not only fro that melted into shadow in the far-off roof, but fros, gathered abroad or