should have so much power over you. "Only twelve miles,"
she says, "and he knows that we are here!" I told her that
you knew Miss Boncassen was gone.

But though Miss Boncassen has left us we are a very
pleasant party, and surely you must be tired of such a
place as Crummie-Toddie. If only for the sake of getting a
good dinner once in a way do come over again. I shall be
here yet for ten days. As they will not let me go back to
Grex I don't know where I could be more happy. I have been
asked to go to Custins, and suppose I shall turn up there
some time in the autumn.

And now shall I tell you what I expect? I do expect
that you will come over to--see me. "I did see her the
other day," you will say, "and she did not make herself
pleasant." I know that. How was I to make myself pleasant
when I found myself so completely snuffed out by your
American beauty? Now she is away, and Richard will be
himself. Do come, because in truth I want to see you.

Yours always sincerely,

MABEL GREX.

On receiving this he at once made up his mind to go to Killancodlem,
but he could not make up his mind why it was that she had asked him.
He was sure of two things; sure in the first place that she had
intended to let him know that she did not care about him; and then
sure that she was aware of his intention in regard to Miss Boncassen.
Everybody at Killancodlem had seen it,--to his disgust; but still
that it was so had been manifest. And he had consoled himself,
feeling that it would matter nothing should he be accepted. She had
made an attempt to talk him out of his purpose. Could it be that she
thought it possible a second attempt might be successful? If so, she
did not know him.

She had in truth thought not only that this, but that something
further than this, might be possible. Of course the prize loomed
larger before her eyes as the prospects of obtaining it became less.
She could not doubt that he had intended to offer her his hand when
he had spoken to her of his love in London. Then she had stopped
him;--had "spared him," as she had told her friend. Certainly she had
then been swayed by some feeling that it would be ungenerous in her
to seize greedily the first opportunity he had given her. But he had
again made an effort. He surely would not have sent her the ring had
he not intended her to regard him as her lover. When she received
the ring her heart had beat ve