urne Park. It was his hope that he should
reach Mrs Yule's house before any ordinary afternoon caller could
arrive; and so he did. He had not been here since that evening when he
encountered Reardon on the road and heard his reproaches. To his great
satisfaction, Amy was alone in the drawing-room; he held her hand a
trifle longer than was necessary, and returned more earnestly the look
of interest with which she regarded him.

'I was ignorant of this affair when your letter came,' he began, 'and I
set out immediately to see you.'

'I hoped you would bring me some news. What can have driven the poor man
to such extremity?'

'Poverty, I can only suppose. But I will see Whelpdale. I hadn't come
across Biffen for a long time.'

'Was he still so very poor?' asked Amy, compassionately.

'I'm afraid so. His book failed utterly.'

'Oh, if I had imagined him still in such distress, surely I might have
done something to help him!'--So often the regretful remark of one's
friends, when one has been permitted to perish.

With Amy's sorrow was mingled a suggestion of tenderness which came of
her knowledge that the dead man had worshipped her. Perchance his death
was in part attributable to that hopeless love.

'He sent me a copy of his novel,' she said, 'and I saw him once or twice
after that. But he was much better dressed than in former days, and I
thought--'

Having this subject to converse upon put the two more quickly at ease
than could otherwise have been the case. Jasper was closely observant
of the young widow; her finished graces made a strong appeal to his
admiration, and even in some degree awed him. He saw that her beauty had
matured, and it was more distinctly than ever of the type to which he
paid reverence. Amy might take a foremost place among brilliant women.
At a dinner-table, in grand toilet, she would be superb; at polite
receptions people would whisper: 'Who is that?'

Biffen fell out of the dialogue.

'It grieved me very much,' said Amy, 'to hear of the misfortune that
befell my cousin.'

'The legacy affair? Why, yes, it was a pity. Especially now that her
father is threatened with blindness.'

'Is it so serious? I heard indirectly that he had something the matter
with his eyes, but I didn't know--'

'They may be able to operate before long, and perhaps it will be
successful. But in the meantime Marian has to do his work.'

'This explains the--the delay?' fell from Amy's lips, as she smiled.