ed with the last words: "He was hurt! I could see he was hurt.
There was a sort of strained look on his face as he stood looking after
the train. Oh Theo, do you think I did right? Do you think I have made
a mistake?"

Theo's arm pressed tenderly against the heaving shoulder. "I think,"
she said quietly--"I think you did what seemed to you best at the time,
and what was very hard to do; and that, having done it, you must not
regret. When you have chosen the narrow way, dear, you must not look
back."

"No," said Hope faintly; "but still--I can't--help--regretting. It is
cowardly, Theo, but he was so--I liked him so very much. Do you think
it is all over--that I shall never see him again?"

"He can see you at his sister's next month if he wishes to. Try to put
him out of your mind until then. Work hard, and let off steam to me
when you feel particularly blue. This new plan is going to be a
success; I feel convinced of it."

Theo was too prudent to give more definite comfort, but when by herself
she laughed scornfully at the idea that a solitary refusal could
discourage a true lover. If this Mr Merrilies had been simply attracted
by a pretty face, and was likely to forget the fancy as quickly as it
was formed, why, then, the less Hope thought of him the better. But the
artless narrative had given Theo a different impression of his feelings.
Dear, modest Hope had no idea of her own winsome charm, but her sister
felt it impossible that a man of taste could live in the same house,
learn the unselfish sweetness of her disposition, share in her
light-hearted gaiety, and watch the different emotions flit over her
face as she sang, and still call his heart his own. "If he is a
thousand times all she thinks him, he is not good enough for Hope," she
told herself proudly. "But oh, what a comfort it would be if she
married happily, and had no need to fight for her bread! She is too
sensitive to bear the `heart-breaking' that is my apprenticeship."

The slow tears rose in Theo's eyes and trickled on to the pillow. The
"worrying story" had been returned for the third time. It was looking
quite dog-eared and shabby!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

ENTER THE HERMIT.

The next morning Hope and Theo seated themselves at the piano, and tried
over the songs which were to be included in the musical recital. The
words had been written to fit certain tunes, but on singing them over
little hitches and awkwardnesses were discov