ied, hesitatingly:

"Still, as we shall not have many more walks together, if"----

"I will come," he said, smiling.

And he came. Moreover, he contrived to keep her beside him. Lyle, poor
fellow, went whistling in solitude down the other side of the road,
until at the Dell he said goodnight, and vanished.

Harold had talked all the way on indifferent subjects, never once
alluding to Olive's departure. He did so now, however, but carelessly,
as if with an accidental thought.

"I wonder whether you will return before I leave Har-bury--that is, if I
should really go. I should like to see you once again. Well, chance must
decide."

Chance! when she would have controlled all accidents, provided against
all hindrances, woven together all purposes, to be with him for one
single day!

At once the thought broke through the happy spell which, for the time,
his kindness had laid upon her. She felt that it was _only_ kindness;
and as such he meant it, no more! In his feelings was not the faintest
echo of her own. A sense of womanly pride arose, and with it a cruel
pang of womanly shame. These lasted while she bade him good-night,
somewhat coldly; then both sank at once, and there remained to her
nothing but helpless sorrow.

She listened for the last sound of his footsteps down the road. But
she heard them not; and thought, half-sighing, how quickly he must have
walked away!

A very few days intervened between Miss Rothesay's final decision and
her departure. During this time, she only once saw Harold Gwynne. She
thought he might have met her a little oftener, seeing they were so soon
to part. But he did not; and the pain it gave warned her that all was
happening for the best. Her health failing, her cheerful spirit broken,
even her temper growing embittered with this mournful struggle, she saw
that in some way or other it must be ended. She was thankful that all
things had arranged themselves so plainly before her.

There was planned no farewell meeting at the Parsonage; but Mrs. Gwynne
spent at the Dell the evening before Olive's departure. Harold would
have come, his mother said, but he had some important matters to
arrange; he would, however, appear some time that evening. However, it
grew late, and still his welcome knock was not heard. At last one came;
it was only Lyle, who called to bid Miss Rothesay good-bye. He did so
dolorously enough, but Olive scarcely felt any pain.

"It is of no use waiting," said Mrs.