er. He
did not know, however; he was not thinking of her.

"Bertie," she said again, "Bertie, you are not angry? I did not know
what I was saying."

"You are a woman," he said gently, and it was just by reason of
this gentleness that there seemed to be a reproach in his voice. He
reproached her for being a woman.

"I am a woman--just as other women, just as other women." Her voice
sounded like a moan. "I thought myself different, stronger--perhaps
worse than other women. I was wrong. Oh, Bertie! cannot you see that she
loves you as I loved you long ago--oh, so long ago? And someone has said
that there is no past tense in love! No, no! she does not love you as
I loved you--guiltily; no, her love is the love that purifies, that
exalts. She loves you, and she waits for you to tell her that you love
her. You love her, Bertie?"

There was a long pause before he said:

"Do I?"

"Do you not?"

"God knows."

And it was at this point that Phyllis came up. Was there no expression
of suspicion on her face as she looked at them standing together?

If there was, they failed to notice it.

"I came out to get a rose," she said. "How quickly you dressed, Ella!
Ah, you have got your rose--a beauty! Your gardener is generous; he
actually allows you to pluck your own roses."

"Mr. Courtland will choose one for you," said Ella. "You may trust Mr.
Courtland."

"To choose me a rose? Well, on that recommendation, Mr. Courtland, I
think I may safely place myself in your hands. I will accept a rose of
your choosing."

And she did.

CHAPTER XXXII.

LET THEM BOTH GO TOGETHER TO PERDITION.

There could be no doubt whatever that, after all, he had not proposed to
her.

That was what Herbert Courtland's fellow-guests said when they learned
that he had left for London by an early train on Monday morning.

And the way she had thrown herself at his head, too!

Of course she pretended not to feel his departure any more than the rest
of the party; and equally as a matter of course, Mrs. Linton protested
that Mr. Courtland had disappointed her.

And perhaps he had, too, some of the guests whispered to one another.

Mr. Linton shrugged his shoulders and remarked that business was
business.

Everyone agreed with the general accuracy of this assertion, but it was
not one that required much boldness to make, and what it had to do with
Mr. Courtland's hurried departure no one seemed quite able to perceive.

The general idea