Page 42 (1/2)

"Yes, willingly," Arthur replied, wishing that she would go before

she indulged in any more speculations as to why he did not love Anna

Ruthven

But Lucy was not done yet, and Arthur felt as if the earth were giving

way beneath his feet when, as he lifted her into the saddle and took

her hand at parting, she said, "Now, re to be

jealous of that other love There is only one person who could make me

so, and that is Anna Ruthven; but I knoas not she, for that

night we all came from Mrs Hobbs' and she ith me up-stairs, I

asked her honestly if you had ever offered yourself to her, and she

told lad

it was not Anna"

Lucy was far down the road ere Arthur recovered froiven him What did it mean, and why had Anna said he

never proposed? Was there soain, with all the incidents of Anna's refusal,

even to the reading of the letter which he already knew by heart

Then, as the thought came over him that possibly Mrs Meredith played