connection with anything,
he seems that eager to hear every word, that I can't help feeling sorry for
him. Be careful and don't make me your second victim."

"I do not believe I am responsible for Hugh's condition, and it is not fair
for you to speak as if I was; but now he is able to be about, I am in
constant terror lest he will corner me sometime and renew his attack. That
is the only thing that makes me feel glad that I am leaving Halifax. I am
afraid I could not bear such another scare as he gave me that day in the
boat."

"I will make it known to him in some way that you are to be my wife; and
when he hears it, I am sure he will never trouble you again. When
everything is settled, I will go and claim you; and I fancy Hugh will not
stay in Halifax when we are married. How soon do you think you will be
going away?"

"Sometime within a month. Papa is weatherwise, and thinks the winter will
set in early, so is anxious to hasten our departure."

A few evenings later, there was a small family party at Mrs. Beverly's, to
which Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood and the twin girls were invited. Cora and Elsie
Gurney were also going with Lancy and Hugh. This being the first time Hugh
was able to appear at such a gathering, he was building many air-castles in
connection with it, for he would there meet Dexie for the first time since
his illness. He had made inquiries as to whether Dexie would be present,
and being assured that she intended going, he looked forward to the meeting
with a pleasure that was not unmixed with pain.

But when Dexie heard that Hugh intended going, and had been asking about
her intentions also, she thought she would give it up; yet considering that
she must of necessity meet him sooner or later, she thought it would be
wiser to do so among a number of people.

Everything seemed to go wrong with Gussie that day. She had heard by some
chance that Dexie and Lancy were really engaged, and as Dexie would neither
admit nor deny the fact, she felt exasperated almost to madness.

As the day wore on, Gussie's incessant bickerings became unbearable, and
among other things she charged Dexie with the most heartless behavior in
regard to Hugh, until she could not bear the thought of meeting him, so she
silently decided to remain at home, but to say nothing about her decision
until the last moment; consequently, no one had a chance to tell Hugh that
Dexie had changed her mind.

When the guests were assembled in the co