e _you_.

"She says there must positively be another ceremony. I don't know
how dad will take it--but mother is so good, so certain of his
forgiving me.

"It wrings my heart--the silent astonishment of Cecile and
Gray--and their trying to make the best of it, and mother,
smiling for my sake, tender, forgiving, solicitous, and deep
under all bitterly disappointed. Oh, well--she can bear that
better than disgrace.

"I've been crying over this letter; that's what all this blotting
means.

"Now I can never see you again; never touch your hand, never look
into those brown eyes again--Garry! Garry!--never while life
lasts.

"I ask forgiveness for all the harm my love has done to you, for
all the pain it has caused you, for the unhappiness that, please
God, will not endure with you too long.

"I have tried to pray that the pain will not last too long for
you; I will try to pray that you may love another woman and
forget all this unhappiness.

"Think of me as one who died, loving you. I cling to this paper
as though it were your hand. But--

"Dearest--dearest--Good-by.

"SHIELA CARDROSS."

When Portlaw came in from his culinary conference he found Hamil
scattering the black ashes of a letter among the cinders.

"Well, we're going to try an old English receipt on those trout," he
began cheerfully--and stopped short at sight of Hamil's face.

"What's the matter?" he asked bluntly.

"Nothing."

Hamil returned to his chair and picked up a book; Portlaw looked at him
for a moment, then, perplexed, sorted his mail and began to open the
envelopes.

"Bills, bills," he muttered, "appeals for some confounded foundlings'
hospital--all the eternal junk my flesh is heir to--and a letter from a
lawyer--let them sue!--and a--a--hey! what the devil--what the--"

Portlaw was on his feet, startled eyes fairly protruding as he scanned
incredulously the engraved card between his pudgy fingers.

"O Lord!" he bellowed; "it's all up! The entire bally business has gone
up! That pup of a Louis!--Oh, there's no use!--Look here, Hamil! I tell
you I can't believe it, I can't, and I won't--_Look_ what that fool card
says!"

And Hamil's stunned gaze fell on the engraved card:

"Mr. and Mrs. Neville Cardross have the honour of announcing the
marriage of their daughter Shiela to Mr. Louis Malcourt."

The date and place f