, or, rather, my mother's, and I can esteem
you as such, but I cannot be your wife."

"Because you love Jack Harcourt, I suppose," Howard said, a little
bitterly, and Eloise replied, "I do not think we should bring Mr.
Harcourt into the discussion. When he asks me to be his wife it will be
time to know whether I love him or not. I cannot marry you."

She arose to go, while Howard tried to detain her, feeling every moment
how his love was growing for this girl who had so recently come into his
life, and was crossing his path, as he had felt she would when he first
heard of her from his uncle, and had promised to sound her as to her
fitness for a teacher. There had been no need for that; his uncle was
dead, and she was going from him, perhaps to return as a usurper.

"Eloise," he said again, with more feeling in his voice than when he
first spoke, "you must listen to me. I cannot give you up. I would
rather lose Crompton, if it is mine, than to lose you."

Rising to his feet, he took her face between his hands and kissed it
passionately.

"How dare you!" she said, wresting herself from him.

"Because I dare! Jack may have the second kiss, but I have had the
first," he replied. Then his manner changed, and he said, entreatingly,
"Forgive me, Eloise, I was beside myself for a moment. Don't give me an
answer now. Think of what I have said while you are gone, if you will
go; and if you fail, remember this is your home and your mother's, just
as much as it will be if you succeed. Promise me you will come back here
whatever happens. You will come?"

"For a time, yes; till I know what to do if I fail," she replied.

Then she went out and left him alone, to go again through the
pigeon-holes and drawers and shelves he had been through so often and
found nothing.

CHAPTER VI

IN FLORIDA

The Boston train was steaming into the Central Station in New York, and
Eloise was gathering up her satchels and wraps, and looking anxiously
out into the deepening twilight, wondering if the cars would be gone
from the Jersey side, and what she should do if they were. She had
intended taking a train which reached New York earlier, but there was
some mistake in her reading of the time-table, and now it was growing
dark, and for a moment her courage began to fail her, and she half
wished herself back in Crompton, where every one had been so kind to
her, and where every one had looked upon the journey as useless, except
the rect