ll, I
am sure it would have been entirely different."

But not one word of all this did Harry Kendal hear. His brain was on
fire. He only realized one thing--that he was a beggar on the face of
God's earth; and, to make matters worse, he had by his own rash act
driven Dorothy from beneath that roof, thereby cutting off his own
chance of marrying her and being master of Gray Gables.

He clinched his hand and ground his handsome white teeth together in
terrible rage.

There was but one thing to do, and that was to find Dorothy ere the
fortnight waned, and marry her at once--that is, if he could ever
persuade her to forgive him.

He had parted from her in bitter anger, and said words to her that women
never forgive when uttered by those whom they love. The worst part of
the whole affair was, their quarrel had been over another girl.

"No steps will be taken until the fortnight has elapsed," said the
lawyer in his metallic voice; "and at the expiration of that time, if we
do not congratulate you, Mr. Kendal, upon your marriage to Miss Dorothy,
we shall have to make great changes at Gray Gables. Allow me to wish you
both a very good-morning."

With these brief words the brisk little lawyer took a hasty departure.

Mrs. Kemp and Kendal stood looking at each other long after his
departure with faces pale as death.

It was the housekeeper who broke the silence.

"I am sorry for you, Mr. Kendal," she said. "It is a terrible thing to
have one's hopes dashed after that fashion--and when one doesn't deserve
it, either. You were always so good and faithful and true to Dorothy,
sir; even keeping your promise with her through the most terrible
affliction that ever could have befallen her--that of blindness. It is
dreadful to think that the moment she regained her sight, and believing
herself to be the possessor of a great fortune, that she should show
every one so plainly that she thought you were not good enough for her
to marry by running away from you, Mr. Kendal!"

Every word she so innocently uttered cut him like a sharp sword.

"Not good enough for her?" he echoed, crushing back the imprecation that
sprang to his lips. His blood boiled at the construction which she put
upon the matter. It was a terrible blow to his pride, yet he dared not
utter the truth until he should know whether or not he should be able to
find Dorothy and marry her within the allotted fortnight.

Without a word Kendal turned on his heel and qu