ress.
It even left her under the agreeable impression that he liked her in a
friendly way, his abrupt dicta on costume notwithstanding. A certain
amount of approbation from without was essential to Bessie's inner
peace. As the boat rowed off she waved her hand with rosy benignity to
the two looking after her departure. Mr. Cecil Burleigh raised his hat,
and they moved away.

CHAPTER XV.

_A LITTLE CHAPTER BY THE WAY._

It must not be dissimulated what very dear friends Mr. Cecil Burleigh
and Miss Julia Gardiner were. They had known and loved one another for
six years as neither was ever likely to love again. They had been long
of convincing that a marriage was impossible between two such poor young
people--the one ambitious, the other fond of pleasure. They suited to a
nicety in character, in tastes, but they were agreed, at last, that
there must be an end to their philandering. No engagement had ever been
acknowledged. The young lady's parents had been indulgent to their
constant affection so long as there was hope, and it was a fact
generally recognized by Miss Julia Gardiner's friends that she cared
very much for Mr. Cecil Burleigh, because she had refused two eligible
offers--splendid offers for a girl in her position. A third was now open
to her, and without being urgent or unkind her mother sincerely wished
that she would accept it. Since the morning she had made up her mind to
do so.

If the circumstances of these two had been what Elizabeth Fairfax
supposed, they would have spent some blessed hours together before dusk.
They stayed on the pier, and they talked, not of their love--they had
said all their say of love--but of Mr. Cecil Burleigh's flattering
prospects. When he stated that his expectations of getting a seat in the
House of Commons were based on the good-will of the Fairfax family and
connections, Julia was silent for several minutes. Then she remarked in
a gentle voice that Miss Fairfax was a handsome girl. Mr. Cecil Burleigh
acquiesced, and added that she was also amiable and intelligent.

After that they walked home--to the dull little house in the by street,
that is. Mr. Cecil Burleigh refused to go in; and when the door closed
on Julia's "Good-bye, Cecil, goodbye, dear," he walked swiftly away to
his hotel, with the sensations of a man who is honestly miserable, and
also who has not dined.

Julia sat by the open window until very late in the hot night, and Helen
with her, comforti