ore.
She seemed to appreciate my consideration and though she was as yet too
much unused to the ways of the world to completely hide her
perturbation, she gradually regained a semblance of self-possession, and
ere long was enabled to return short answers to my remarks, though her
eyes remained studiously turned aside and never so much as ventured to
raise themselves to the passing throng much less to my face, half turned
away also.

Presently however a change passed over her. Pressing her two little
hands together, she drew back a step or two, speaking my name with a
certain tone of command. Struck with apprehension, I knew not why, I
followed her. Instantly like one repeating a lesson she spoke.

"It is very good in you to talk to me as though we were the strangers
that people believe us. I appreciate it and thank you very much. But it
is not being just true; that is I feel as if I were not being just true,
and as we can never be friends, would it not be better for us not to
meet in this way any more?"

"And why," I gently asked, with a sense of struggling for my life, "can
we never be friends?"

Her answer was a deep blush; not that timid conscious appeal of the
blood that is beating too warmly for reply, but the quick flush of
indignant generosity forced to do despite to its own instincts.

"That is a question I would rather not answer," she murmured at length.
"Only it is so; or I should not speak in this way."

"But," I ventured, resolved to know on just what foundations my
happiness was tottering, "you will at least tell me if this harsh decree
is owing to any offence I myself may have inadvertently given. The honor
of your acquaintance," I went on, determined she should know just what a
hope she was slaying, "is much too earnestly desired, for me to wilfully
hazard its loss by saying or doing aught that could be in any way
displeasing to you."

"You have done nothing but what was generous," said she with increasing
womanliness of manner, "unless it was taking advantage of my being here,
to learn my name and gain an introduction to me after I had desired you
to forget my very existence."

I recoiled at that, the chord of my self-respect was touched. "It was
not here I learned your name, Miss Preston. It has been known to me for
two weeks. At the risk of losing by your displeasure what is already
hazarded by your prudence, I am bound to acknowledge that from the hour
I left your father's house that night,