nxious to avoid his mother and sisters, who were on their side
anxious to devote every remaining minute of the time to his comfort
and welfare. I am afraid it must be acknowledged that he went with
all his jewelry. It could do no good. At last he was aware of that.
But still he thought that she would like him better with his jewelry
than without it. Stubbs wore no gems, not even a ring, and Ayala when
she saw her cousin enter the room could only assure herself that the
male angels certainly were never be-jewelled. She was alone in the
drawing-room, Mrs. Dosett having arranged that at the expiration of
ten minutes, which were to be allowed to Tom for his private adieux,
she would come down to say good-bye to her nephew. "Ayala!" said Tom.

"So you are going away,--for a very long journey, Tom."

"Yes, Ayala; for a very long journey; to Pekin and Cabul, if I live
through, to get to those sort of places."

"I hope you will live through, Tom."

"Thank you, Ayala. Thank you. I daresay I shall. They tell me I shall
get over it. I don't feel like getting over it now."

"You'll find some beautiful young lady at Pekin, perhaps."

"Beauty will never have any effect upon me again, Ayala. Beauty
indeed! Think what I have suffered from beauty! From the first moment
in which you came down to Glenbogie I have been a victim to it. It
has destroyed me,--destroyed me!"

"I am sure you will come back quite well," said Ayala, hardly knowing
how to answer the last appeal.

"Perhaps I may. If I can only get my heart to turn to stone, then I
shall. I don't know why I should have been made to care so much about
it. Other people don't."

"And now we must say, Good-bye, I suppose."

"Oh, yes;--good-bye! I did want to say one or two words if you ain't
in a hurry. Of course you'll be his bride now."

"I hope so," said Ayala.

"I take that for granted. Of course I hate him."

"Oh, Tom; you shan't say that."

"It's human nature! I can tell a lie if you want it. I'd do anything
for you. But you may tell him this: I'm very sorry I struck him."

"He knows that, Tom. He has said so to me."

"He behaved well to me,--very well,--as he always does to everybody."

"Now, Tom, that is good of you. I do like you so much for saying
that."

"But I hate him!"

"No!"

"The evil spirits always hate the good ones. I am conscious of an
evil spirit within my bosom. It is because my spirit is evil that you
would not love me. He is good, and yo