she remembered his words--almost the last she had heard him utter--that
she must always consider him "as a friend and brother."

"I will do so," she murmured. "I will not doubt him, or his true regard
for me. It is all he can give; and while he gives me that, I shall
endure life contentedly, even unto the end."

CHAPTER XLIII

It was mid-winter before the inhabitants of the Dell were visited by
their friend, Lyle Derwent, now grown a rich and important personage.
Olive rather regretted his apparent neglect, for it grieved her to
suspect a change in any one whom she regarded. Christal only mocked the
while, at least in outside show. Miss Rothesay did not see with what
eagerness the girl listened to every sound, nor how every morning, fair
and foul, she would restlessly start to walk up the Harbury road and
meet the daily post.

It was during one of these absences of hers that Lyle made his
appearance. Olive was sitting in her painting-room, arranging the
contents of her desk. She was just musing, for the hundredth time, over
her father's letter, considering whether or not she should destroy it,
lest any unforeseen chance--her own death, for instance--might bring the
awful secret to Christars knowledge. Lyle's entrance startled her, and
she hastily thrust the letter within the desk. Consequently her manner
was rather fluttered, and her greeting scarcely so cordial as she would
have wished it to be. The infection apparently communicated itself to
her visitor, for he sat down, looking agitated and uncomfortable.

"You are not angry with me for staying so long away, are you, Miss
Rothesay?" said Lyle, when he had received her congratulations on his
recent acquisitions. "You don't think this change in fortune will make
any change in my heart towards you?"

Olive half smiled at his sentimental way of putting the matter, but it
was the young man's peculiarity. So she frankly assured him that she
had never doubted his regard towards her. At which poor Lyle fell into
ecstasies of delight.

They had a long talk together about his prospects, in all of which
Olive took a warm and lively interest. He told her of his new house and
grounds; of his plan of life, which seemed very Arcadian and poetical
indeed. But he was a simple-minded, warm-hearted youth, and Miss
Rothesay listened with pleasure to all he said. It did her good to see
that there was a little happiness to be found in the world.

"You have drawn the sweetes