ink not," with an irrepressible touch of scorn. "There is Miss
Maliphant."

"You mean that he can decline upon her. Of course I can quite understand
that you do not like him," says she with a quick sigh. "But, believe me,
any heart he has was really given to Joyce. Well, he must devote himself
to ambition now."

"Miss Maliphant can help him to that."

"No, no. That is all knocked on the head. It appears--this is in strict
confidence, Felix--but it appears he asked her to marry him last
evening, and she refused."

Felix turns to her as if to give utterance to some vehement words, and
then checks himself. After all, why add to her unhappiness? Why tell her
of that cur's baseness? Her own brother, too! It would be but another
grief to her.

To think he should have gone from her to Miss Maliphant! What a pitiful
creature! Beneath contempt! Well, if his pride survives those two
downfalls--both in one day--it must be made of leather. It does Felix
good to think of how Miss Maliphant must have worded her refusal. She is
not famous for grace of speech. He must have had a real bad time of it.
Of course, Joyce had told him of her interview with the sturdy heiress.

"Ah, she refused?" says he hardly knowing what to say.

"Yes; and not very graciously, I'm afraid. He gave me the mere fact of
the refusal--no more, and only that because he had to give a reason for
his abrupt departure. You know he is going this evening?"

"No, I did not know it. Of course, under the circumstances----"

"Yes, he could hardly stay here. Margaret came to me and said she would
go, but I would not allow that. After all, every woman has a right to
refuse or accept as she will."

"True." His heart gives an exultant leap as he remembers how his love
had willed.

"I only wish she had not hurt him in the refusal. But I could see he was
wounded. He was not in his usual careless spirits. He struck me as being
a little--well, you know, a little----" She hesitates.

"Out of temper," suggests Felix involuntarily.

"Well, yes. Disappointment takes that course with some people. After
all, it might have been worse if he had set his heart on Joyce and been
refused."

"Much worse," says Felix, his eyes on the ground.

"She would have been a severe loss."

"Severe, indeed." By this time Felix is beginning to feel like an
advanced hypocrite.

"As for Margaret Maliphant, I am afraid he was more concerned about the
loss of her bonds and scrips than of