Page 141 (1/2)

Haward, sitting at the table in Marot's best room, wrote an answer to

Audrey's letter, and tore it up; wrote another, and gave it to Juba, to be

given to the ro before he could

reach the door, destroyed the second note, and wrote a third The first

had been wise and kind, telling her that he wasaside her request--the only one she ht

see him that day The second had been less wise The last told her that he

would coarden

When he was alone in the room, he sat for some time very still, with his

eyes closed and his head thrown back against the tall ork of his

chair His face was stern in repose: a handsome, even a fine face, with a

look of power and reflection, but to-day soard of

aspect When presently he roused himself and took up the letter that lay

before him, the paper shook in his hand "Wine, Juba," he said to the

slave, who now reëntered the roo

cold"

There were but three lines between the "Mr Haward" and "Audrey;" the

writing was stiff and clerkly, the words very sihtly that it was the first letter of her own that

she had ever written Suddenly a wave of passionate tenderness took him;