r, "we will not talk of it any more to-day; my
head aches, and of course it has upset me. I want to think over what
you have said. It seems"--and here she caught her breath--"as though I
can hardly believe it. Will you go away now, dear, and come to me
to-morrow? To-morrow we shall see how far we can trust each other."

"I must go away if you send me," he answered, humbly; and then he got
up and walked to the door. He had never felt more wretched in his
life. She had not reproached him, but all the color and life had gone
out of her face. She had spoken so mildly, so gently to him. Would she
forgive him, and would everything be as though this had never
happened? "Oh, Erle, will you not wish me good-bye?" and then for a
moment the poor girl felt as though her heart were breaking. Was she
nothing to him after all?

At her words Erle quickly retraced his steps. "Forgive me, Eva," he
said, and there were tears in his eyes; "I am not myself, you know;
all this takes it out of a man." And then he stooped over her as
though to take her in his arms.

For an instant she shrunk from him; then she lifted up her face and
kissed him. "Good-bye, Erle," she said, "good-bye, my darling. No one
will ever love you as I have loved you." And then, as he looked at her
wistfully, she released herself and quietly left the room, and no one
saw Evelyn Selby again that night.

* * * * *

The following afternoon Fern stood by the window, looking out on the
white, snowy road sparkling with wintery sunlight. Her little black
bonnet lay on the table beside her, and the carriage that had brought
her from Belgrave House had just driven away from the door. Erle had
given special orders that it was to be at Miss Trafford's service, and
every morning the handsome bays and powdered footman drew a youthful
crowd round the side door of Mrs. Watkins's. Sometimes Fern entered
the carriage alone, but very often her little sister was with her.
Fluff reveled in those drives; her quaint remarks and ejaculations
often brought a smile to Fern's sad lips.

Those visits to Belgrave House were very trying to the girl. Mrs.
Trafford used to sigh as she watched her changing color and absent
looks. A door closing in the distance, the sound of a footstep in the
corridor, made her falter and turn pale. But she need not have feared;
Erle never once crossed her path. She would hear his voice sometimes,
but they never once came face to fa