happy look as if her heart were
singing for very joy. That look upon her face drove from Rupert all the
hesitation and fear which had fallen upon him during these days of her
ministry to the wounded girl. He took a sudden and desperate resolve
that he would put his fate to the test.

Adrien's answer was short and decisive.

"No, Rupert," she said. "I cannot. I thought for a little while, long
ago, that perhaps I might, but now I know that I never could have loved
you."

"You were thinking of that note of Jack Maitland's which I sent you last
night?"

"Oh, no," she said gently. "Not that."

"I felt awfully mean about that, Adrien. I feel mean still. I thought
that as you had learned all about it from Victor, it was of no
importance."

"Yes," she replied gently, "but I was the best judge of that."

"Adrien, tell me," Rupert's voice shook with the intensity of his
passion, "is there no hope?"

"No," she said, "there is no hope, Rupert."

"There is someone else," he said, savagely.

"Yes," she said, happily, "I think so."

"Someone," continued Rupert, his voice trembling with rage, "someone who
distributes his affections."

"No," she said, a happy smile in her eyes, "I think not."

"You love him?" he asked.

"Oh, yes," she whispered, with a little catch in her breath, "I love
him."

At the door on their return Jack met them. A shadow fell upon his face,
but with a quick resolve, he shouted a loud welcome to them.

"Hello, Adrien," he cried, as she came running up the steps. "You
apparently have had a lovely drive."

"Oh, wonderful, Jack. A wonderful drive," she replied.

"Yes, you do look happy."

"Oh, so happy. I was never so happy."

"Then," said Jack, dropping his voice, "may I congratulate you?"

"Yes, I think so," she said. "I hope so." And then laughed aloud for
very glee.

Jack turned from her with a quick sharp movement, went down the steps
and offering his hand to Rupert, said:

"Good luck, old chap. I wish you good luck."

"Eh? What? Oh, all right," said Rupert in a dazed sort of way. But he
didn't come into the house.

Never was there such a day in June, never such a fete. The park never
looked so lovely and never a party so gay disported themselves in it
and gayest of them all was Adrien. All day long it seemed as if her very
soul were laughing for joy. And all day long she kept close beside
Jack, chaffing him, laughing at him, rallying him on his solemn face and
driving him ha