ad at first become
almost angry at her persistent refusal of his offering--and no less with
the manner than the fact of it. But he saw that she began to look worn
and ill--and his vexation lessened to simple perplexity.

He ceased now to remain in the house for long hours together as before,
but made it a mere centre for antiquarian and geological excursions in
the neighbourhood. Throw up his cards and go away he fain would have
done, but could not. And, thus, availing himself of the privileges of
a relative, he went in and out the premises as fancy led him--but still
lingered on.

'I don't wish to stay here another day if my presence is distasteful,'
he said one afternoon. 'At first you used to imply that I was severe
with you; and when I am kind you treat me unfairly.'

'No, no. Don't say so.'

The origin of their acquaintanceship had been such as to render their
manner towards each other peculiar and uncommon. It was of a kind to
cause them to speak out their minds on any feelings of objection and
difference: to be reticent on gentler matters.

'I have a good mind to go away and never trouble you again,' continued
Knight.

She said nothing, but the eloquent expression of her eyes and wan face
was enough to reproach him for harshness.

'Do you like me to be here, then?' inquired Knight gently.

'Yes,' she said. Fidelity to the old love and truth to the new were
ranged on opposite sides, and truth virtuelessly prevailed.

'Then I'll stay a little longer,' said Knight.

'Don't be vexed if I keep by myself a good deal, will you? Perhaps
something may happen, and I may tell you something.'

'Mere coyness,' said Knight to himself; and went away with a lighter
heart. The trick of reading truly the enigmatical forces at work in
women at given times, which with some men is an unerring instinct, is
peculiar to minds less direct and honest than Knight's.

The next evening, about five o'clock, before Knight had returned from
a pilgrimage along the shore, a man walked up to the house. He was a
messenger from Camelton, a town a few miles off, to which place the
railway had been advanced during the summer.

'A telegram for Miss Swancourt, and three and sixpence to pay for the
special messenger.' Miss Swancourt sent out the money, signed the paper,
and opened her letter with a trembling hand. She read:

'Johnson, Liverpool, to Miss Swancourt, Endelstow, near Castle Boterel.

'Amaryllis telegraphed off Holyhead, f