d
though I know Avice will beg me to stay longer, this children's
entertainment will be a good excuse for getting back to town. I'll keep
out of his way as much as possible until I go, and forget all about him
when I step into the train. Ten days! Only ten days! It must be easy
enough to forget a little time like that. It would be cowardly to let
ten days interfere with one's life."

She was very quiet that evening, very subdued all next day, and so much
engrossed in helping her aunt that she was hardly seen by the rest of
the guests until evening came round. That she had been missed was
evident, but while the other men loudly regretted her absence, and plied
her with tiresome questions as to its cause, Ralph was silent, watching
her face with an anxious glance, and attending to her comfort with even
more than his usual quietly unobtrusive care. Hope felt that he had
divined a secret trouble, and she was sure of it the next morning after
breakfast, when, Mrs Loftus having sent her into the library to write
some notes, he suddenly remembered his own correspondence and followed
her into the room. Hope would have settled down to work at once, but
she could not be so ungracious as to refuse to help in his search for
some mislaid articles, and in the middle of commonplaces another
question was put, suddenly, briefly, but with an earnestness of manner
which showed what was his real purpose in following her to the library.

"You are not yourself; something is troubling you. Have you had bad
news?"

Hope fell back a pace and looked at him with startled eyes. Before his
earnest scrutiny ordinary denials became impossible; she could answer
nothing but the truth.

"Not bad news--no; but something troubles me a little. Please take no
notice; it will pass away."

"Is it nothing in which I can help?"

A faint smile flitted across Hope's charming face, and she shook her
golden head. "You are very kind, but--"

"If I can help at any time, in any way, will you give me the
opportunity? Will you believe that nothing could possibly give me so
much pleasure?"

He stepped towards her as he spoke; but even as he did so there came
from without the sound of Truda's voice, loud and insistent, approaching
nearer and nearer to the room. With a shiver of dismay, Hope realised
that in another moment the door might be thrown open and a _tete-a-tete_
discovered, which, however innocent in reality, would certainly have a
romant