Page 98 (1/1)

"I say, old , and I think you had better hear it now"

Lewis turned obediently, aravity of his friend's face

"So them a Mrs Andrehoed to that fellow Stocks"

Lewis's face whitened and he turned away his eyes He could not credit it Two days ago she had been free; he could swear it; he reht of his blindness, and in a great horror of self-hout it all his cri hi, when all the while the other man had been the real lover She had despised hi idler; and he--that he should ever have ventured for one second to hope! Curiously enough, for the first tiirl seenity and worth

"Thanks very lad I know No, I don't think I'll go into the house yet"

The days passed and Alice waited with anxious heart for the coard Lewis To-day he will co found her--poor heart!--still expectant She told herself a thousand ti, it was a mere fashion of speech; and then her heart would revolt and bid common sense be silent He came indeed with some of the Etterick party on a formal call, but this was clearly not the fulfilirl waited and despaired, while the truant at Etterick was breaking his heart for the unattainable

Mr Stocks, having won the official consent, conducted his suit with commendable discretion Suit is the word for the performance, so full was it of elaborate punctilios He never intruded upon her unhappiness A studied courtesy, a distant thoughtfulness were his only coayer, then would he strive with subtle delicacies of irl saw his kindness and was grateful In the revulsion against the Andrews he seemed a link with the er his ot her past dislike; she thought only of this, the siood man, contrasted with the showy and fickle-hearted--truetinsel His very weaknesses seemed hos which deep down in her soul she knew she ht that he saw the mood and took pains to foster it