ould
mention a railway ticket and small change to a man so recently
beatified?

The awkwardness of his position, a shyness that came over him at the
thought that they must soon see him and wonder why he was there,
suggested the wonder why he had desired that Bates should be happy; now
that he saw him opulent in happiness, as it appeared, above all other
men, he felt only irritation--first, at the sort of happiness that could
be derived from such a woman, and secondly, at the contrast between this
man's fulness and his own lack. What had Bates done that he was to have
all that he wanted?

It is an easier and less angelic thing to feel sympathy with sorrow than
with joy.

In a minute or two it was evident they had seen him, for he heard the
door slide and Bates came out on the little platform. He had gone into
the car feebly; he came out with so easy a step and holding himself so
erect, with even a consequential pose, that a gleam of derision shot
through the younger man's mind, even though he knew with the quick
knowledge of envy that it was for the sake of the woman behind the door
that the other was now making the most of himself.

Alec gave what he had to give; it was not his place to make comment.

Bates counted the change with a care that perhaps was feigned. If he
stood very straight, his hard hand trembled.

"I'm sorry ye were forced to come on with the cars; it's another added
to all the good deeds you've done by me." He had found a tongue now in
which he could be gracious.

"Oh, I shall soon get back," said Alec.

"I suppose ye've seen"--with attempted coolness--"that my young friend
here, Eliza Cameron, is going back with me."

"So I see." If his life had depended upon it, Alec could not have
refrained from a smile which he felt might be offensive, but it passed
unseen.

"When she saw ye out here, she asked me just to step out, for perhaps
ye'd be so kind as to take a message to a young lady she has a great
caring for--a Miss Rexford, as I understand."

"All right." Alec looked at the rails flying behind them, and stroked
his yellow moustache, and sighed in spite of himself.

"I'd like ye to tell Miss Rexford from me that we intend to be married
to-morrow--in the city of Quebec; but Sissy, she would like ye to say
that she'd have gone to say good-bye if she'd known her own mind sooner,
and that she prefairred to come" (he rolled the r in this "preferred"
with emphasis not too obvious) "--ye unde