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Having given Cheniston his word, Anstice set hihness which did not preclude a very bitter regret that he had made this fatal proood deal of time in the society of Iris Wayne, it was only natural that his absence should cause coates; but while Lady Laura openly labelled Anstice as capricious and inclined to rate his own value too highly, Sir Richard more charitably supposed that the poor felloas overworked; and Iris, after a day or two spent in futile conjecture as to the sudden cessation of his visits, accepted the fact of Anstice's defection with a coht they were such friends Once or twice she had even fancied he was beginning to like her--even to herself Iris would not ad on her side; and on the occasion of their ed her wrist, he had spoken to her in a more confidential, more really intimate manner than he had ever before displayed

In the weeks that followed that sudden leap into intiood comrades, had enjoyed so many half-playful, half-serious conversations, had played sotennis un to look upon hienuine friends; and his sudden absence hurt her pride, and made her wonder whether, after all, his friendliness had been e, but he only saluted her and hurried on his hile the invitations which the ever-hospitable Sir Richard insisted on sending hiood-natured host of Greengates refrained froracious behaviour and Bruce Cheniston's open delight in her society was strongly ht balm to Iris' sore heart, sore with the first rebuff of her budding womanhood When Anstice failed her, refused her invitations, and appeared indifferent to her s to feel that in Cheniston she had a friend who asked nothing better than to be in her co, and to pay her that half-laughing, half-earnest hoe which was so delicate and sincere a tribute to her charical ates ceased abruptly Iris had been inclined, ever so unconsciously, to look upon Anstice with a slightly deeper, ave to the other man; and had Anstice been able to seize the moment, to follow up the impression he had made upon her, it is possible she, would have listened to him with favour, and the tiny seed of affection which undoubtedly lay in her heart would have burst into a lovely and precious blossorant the rest of their lives