uvelles a lire_," which words the
servant scanned with burning curiosity, but of which she could remember
but one, when she tried to repeat them to the grocer's young man, and
this one she pronounced "arick," as was natural enough in a lady of her
nationality. This much of the message was speedily circulated through
the town, and caused at least one curious person to journey to a great
library in the city in quest of a Celtic dictionary. As for the
recipient of the card, she met her old lover with a face made more than
beautiful by the conflicting emotions which manifested themselves in it.
The interview was short. Mr. Brown said he had accidentally met the
major and had successfully acted as his agent in relieving him from his
embarrassments. He had the pleasure of delivering a letter from the
major, and hoped it might make Miss Elserly as happy to receive it as
it made him to present it. Miss Elserly expressed her thanks, and then
Mr. Brown said:

[Illustration: HE TOOK MISS ELSERLY'S HAND IN HIS OWN, AND STAMMERED, "I
CAME TO PLEAD FOR THE MAJOR."]

"Pardon a bit of egotism and reference to an unpleasant subject, Miss
Elserly, Once I told you that I loved you; in this matter of the
major's, I have been prompted solely by a sincere desire for your
happiness; and by acting in this spirit I have entirely taken the pain
out of my old wound. Mayn't I, therefore, as the major's most sincere
well-wisher, enjoy once more your friendship?"

Miss Elserly smiled sweetly, and extended her hand, and Hubert Brown
went home a very happy man. Yet, when he called again, several evenings
later, he was not as happy as he had hoped to be in Miss Elserly's
society, for the lady herself, though courteous and cordial, seemed
somewhat embarrassed and _distrait_, and interrupted the young man on
several occasions when he spoke in commendation of some good quality of
the major's. Again he called, and again the same strange embarrassment,
though less in degree, manifested itself. Finally, it disappeared
altogether, and Miss Elserly began to recover her health and spirits.
Even then she did not exhibit as tender an interest in the major as the
student had hoped she would do; but, as the major's truest friend, he
continued to sound his praises, and to pay Miss Elserly, in the major's
stead, every kind of attention he could devise.

Finally he learned that the major was in the city, and he hastened to
inform Miss Elserly, lest, perhaps, she h