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"I--I shall miss--very--very much miss--pray pardon et out into the air--I shall--shall ood-bye!" and he staggered unsteadily, half blindly to the door and out into the street without another word He certainly did look ill

Gwen's face was a study In it surprise, fear, pain, and disled for predominance She tried to retain her self-control while I was present, but it was all in vain Aher face in the cushions, wept long and bitterly I stole quietly away and sent Alice to her, and after a tiained her self-control, if not her usual interest in affairs

As day after day passed, however, and Maitland neglected to call, transacting such business as he had through me, the shadow on Gwen's face deepened, and the elasticity of iven such pro place to a dreamy, far-away stolidity of disposition which I knew full well boded no good I stood this sort of thing as long as I could, and then I deterive him a "piece of erent resolutions vanished He was sitting at his table trying to work out sole ht I had not seen hirown to look ten years older His face was drawn, haggard, and deathly pale

"For Heaven's sake, George," I exclaimed, "what is the matter with you?"

"I've an idea I'hastly attempt at a smile This was too much for me He should have the lecture after all Themay be spleeny, but the man who says he is spleeny is, of the two, the one an, "don't you get to thinking that when you hide your own head in the sand no one can see the colour of your feathers You ht as well try to cover up Bunker Hill Monument with a wisp of straw Don't you suppose I know you love Gwen Darrow? That's what's the matter with you"

"Well," he replied, "and if it is, what then?"

"What then?" I ejaculated "What then? Why go to her like a man; tell her you love her and ask her to be your wife That's what I'd do if I loved--" But he interrupted me before I had finished the lie, and I was not sorry, for, if I had thought before I became involved in that last sentence, how I feared to speak to Jeannette --well, I should have left it unsaid I haveadvice till it has become a fixed habit