e upon her.

His face hovered before her in the dim light of the sick room, and
filled her with the aching longing of unsatisfied love.

Oh, why could she not forget him? Why could she not bring herself to
accept, to return, the love of the man who loved her with all his heart
and soul? He was all that was good, he was a genius, and a brave man to
boot! Surely any woman might be proud to possess him for a husband,
might learn to love him!

She turned and looked at him as he lay, his head tossing restlessly on
the pillow, his lips moving deliriously; but though her whole being was
stirred with pity for him, pity is not love, though it may be nearly
akin, and one cannot force love as one forces a hothouse plant.

After a while he became weaker, and the rambling, incoherent talk
ceased; but she was still holding his hand when Dick and the doctor came
in again. She sought the latter's face eagerly, but he merely smiled
encouragingly.

"He has had a better night than I expected," he said, "and the
temperature is not exceedingly high. You had better get some rest, Miss
Lorton; you have been sitting up, I see."

Dick drew Nell out of the room.

"Drake--confound it! Lord Angleford, I mean!--has sent for Sir William.
Is--is he going to die, do you think. Nell?"

Nell shook her head, her eyes filling.

"I don't know; I hope not. You--you have seen Dra--Lord Angleford,
Dick?"

"Just now. He came to inquire. Nell, I can't understand it, though he
has tried to explain why he hid his real name; and--and--Nell--he didn't
tell me why you and he broke it off."

She flushed for a moment.

"There was no need," she said. "It does not matter."

Dick sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

"No, I suppose it doesn't; but it's a mysterious affair. I hear he is
going to marry that fair woman, Lady Luce."

Nell inclined her head, her lips set tightly.

"It's a pity we can't get away from here," he said gloomily. "It's jolly
awkward. Though Drake was more than friendly with me last night and just
now. He's awfully changed."

They were standing by the window of the sitting room, and Nell was
looking out with eyes that saw nothing.

"Changed?"

"Yes; he looks years older, and he's stern and grave as if----Well, he
doesn't look the same man, and it strikes me that he's anything but
happy, though he is the Earl of Angleford, and going to marry one of the
most beautiful woman in England."

Nell stood with compressed lips and eye