nflection of the voice, for
though he could forgive the woman now, he could not forget his
resentment towards the man who had supplanted him. "For your sake, I
hope he will."

Millicent glanced at him sideways, and, as if anxious to change the
subject, asked:

"Is it the Orchard Valley you are endeavoring to reclaim? Yes. I
might have guessed it. I have heard people say that the scheme of Mr.
Savine, if that is his name, is impracticable. It is characteristic of
you, Geoffrey, to play out a losing game, but, with one's future at
stake, is it wise?"

"I do not know that I was ever particularly remarkable for wisdom,"
Geoffrey answered with a shake of the head. "The scheme in question
is, however, by no means so impracticable as some persons imagine it to
be."

"Then you still hope for success. Have you not failed in one or two of
your efforts?"

Millicent's voice was politely indifferent, but a certain keenness in
her eyes, which did not escape Geoffrey's notice, betrayed more than a
casual interest. Thurston afterwards decided that the shock of the
unexpected meeting had the effect of rendering his perceptions
unusually quick.

"I have not been often successful," he admitted, with a laugh, "but my
employer is, as you may have heard, a sanguine person, and has not
hitherto been beaten."

"I hope he will not be in this instance," said Millicent, and it
occurred to Geoffrey that she was concealing a sense of disappointment.
They talked a little longer and then she remarked: "I am afraid we have
been shamefully neglecting our social duties, but as we shall, in all
probability, meet now and then, I hope--in spite of all that has
happened--it will be as good friends."

Again the man felt that the meeting had not been brought about wholly
by accident, but he bent his head as he answered:

"If ever you should need a friend, you can, for the sake of old times,
count on me."

"One of the finest views in the province," said a voice behind them.
"We are proud of the prospect from this balcony. If you stand here,
Miss Helen, you can enjoy it, and tell me if you have anything better
at High Maples. Most romantic spot on such a night for a quiet chat,
and if I was only twenty years younger, my dear young lady----" Then
the speaker evidently retired with some precipitation from the window,
as he added, "No, never mind drawing the curtain, Savine. If she is
not over tired I can show your daughter something int