t I meant it for such," said she, sorrowfully. "I may have felt
a passing sense of displeasure that you should have heard from any other
than myself of this correspondence; but even that is passed away, and
I care not to learn from whom you heard it. I have written as many as
three letters to Mr. Layton. This is his last to _me_." She took at the
same moment a letter from her pocket, and handed it towards him.

"I have no presumption to read your correspondence, May Leslie," said
he, red with shame and anger together. "Your asking me to do so implies
a rebuke in having dared to speak on the subject, but it is for the last
time."

"And is it because we are about to part, Charles, that it must be in
anger?" said she; and her voice faltered and her lip trembled. "Of all
your faults, Charles, selfishness was not one, long ago."

"No matter what I was long ago; we have both lived to see great changes
in ourselves."

"Come, let us be friends," said she, taking his hand cordially. "I know
not how it is with you, but never in my life did I need a friend so
much."

"Oh, May, how can I serve you?"

"First read that letter, Charles. Sit down there and read it through,
and I 'll come back to you by the time you 've finished it."

With a sort of dogged determination to sacrifice himself, no matter at
what cost, Charles Heathcote took the letter from her, and turned away
into another alley of the garden.

[Illustration: 506]

CHAPTER L. THREE MET AGAIN

When, on the following morning, Charles Heathcote repaired to the hotel
where he had left his friend Lord Agin-court, he was surprised to hear
the sound of voices and laughter as he drew nigh the room; nor less
astonished was he, on entering, to discover O'Shea seated at the
breakfast-table, and manifestly in the process of enjoying himself. Had
there been time to retire undetected, Heathcote would have done so,
for his head was far too full of matters of deep interest to himself
to desire the presence of a stranger, not to say that he had a
communication to make to his friend both delicate and difficult.
O'Shea's quick glance had, however, caught him at once, and he cried
out, "Here's the very man we wanted to make us complete,--the jolliest
party of three that ever sat down together."

"I scarcely thought to see you in these parts," said Heathcote, with
more of sulk than cordiality in the tone.

"Your delight ought to be all the greater, though, maybe, it is n't