a little station about midway between Wendover and Richmond, where it
stopped twenty minutes for dinner.

Many of the passengers left the train to stretch their cramped limbs or
to satisfy their hunger.

Alden Lytton got out and went into the waiting-room, when the first form
his eye fell upon was that of Mary Grey.

She looked pale, weary and harassed, as she sat alone on one of the
benches, with a small carpet-bag at her feet.

Now Alden Lytton's heart was so full of happiness that it expanded with
affection for the whole human race, and even warmed with sympathy for
this erring woman, who had once possessed and forfeited his faithful
boyish love.

And now, in his compassion, he went to her and, smiling very kindly, he
said:

"Why, Mrs. Grey! I am so surprised to see you here, and alone too!" he
added.

"When, since I left Blue Cliff Hall, have you ever seen me when I have
not been alone?" she inquired, with a sad smile.

"True," he answered, gently. "Even in a church, or a crowded parlor, you
have still been ever alone. But why should this be so, while you have so
many faithful friends? Miss Cavendish I know is--"

She put up her hand to stop him. She turned paler than before, and
trembled as with a chill. For she had loved this man _only_, of all that
she had fascinated and fooled; she had loved him _utterly_; and even
now, when she bitterly hated him, she could not bear to hear her rival's
name from his lips.

"'The heart knoweth its own bitterness,'" she murmured, in faltering
tones. "Let us talk of something else. I came down here to bring some
funds that I had collected from charitable friends for a poor family who
were burned out near this village. And now I am going back by this
train. Pray pardon my nervousness! But the crowd and bustle and
excitement of a railway station always does make me very nervous."

"You need refreshment. Come to the table with me and have something.
There is yet plenty of time," he said, kindly, offering her his arm.

He felt so safe and happy in his wisely placed affection and firmly
based engagement to Emma Cavendish that he could afford to be very kind
to this poor woman, although she had once possessed--and by her conduct
forever forfeited--his honest youthful love.

He gave her his arm and led her away to the dining-room, where a crowd
was collected at the refreshment table.

There was a whisper between two attendants as they passed by.

"Hush! That is the you