from breathing? It ached in her bosom as though someone
had grasped it with a hand of ice; she shuddered as though a ghost had
been sitting by her and pleading with her, instead of a lover. Her own
name echoed in her ears, and she remembered that Brooke Dalton had
called her "Lettice." But it was not his voice which was calling to her
now.

Dalton presently reappeared with the news that the carriage was waiting
for them in the road below.

So in an hour from that time they were at home again, and Lettice was
able to get to her own room, and to think of what had happened.

If amongst those who read the story of her life Lettice Campion has made
for herself a few discriminating friends, they will not need to be
reminded that she was not by any means a perfect character. She was, in
her way, quite as ambitious as her brother Sydney, although not quite so
eager in pursuit of her own ends, her own pleasure and satisfaction. She
was also more scrupulous than Sydney to the means which she would adopt
for the attainment of her objects, and she desired that others should
share with her the good things which fell to her lot; but she had never
been taught, or had never adopted the rule, that mere self-denial, for
self-denial's sake, was the soundest basis of morality and conduct. She
was thoroughly and keenly human, and she did but follow her natural
bent, without distortion and without selfishness, in seeking to give
happiness to herself as well as to others.

Brooke Dalton's offer of marriage placed a great temptation before her.
All the happiness that money, and position, and affection, and a
luxurious home could afford was hers if she would have it; and these
were things which she valued very highly. Edith Dalton had done her best
to make her friend realize what it would mean to be the mistress of
Brooke's house; and poor Lettice, with all her magnanimity, was dazzled
in spite of herself, and did not quite see why she should say No, when
Brooke made her his offer. And yet her heart cried out against accepting
it.

She had needed time to think, and now the process was already beginning.
He had given her a month to decide whether she could love him--or even
like him well enough to become his wife. Nothing could be more generous,
and indeed she knew that he was the soul of generosity and
consideration. A month to make up her mind whether she would accept from
him all that makes life pleasant, and joyful, and easy, and comfo