or what he might say next. He was now
at any rate in the house with her, and did not know whether such
an opportunity as that might ever occur to him again. He felt that
there were words within his bosom which, if he could only bring them
up to his mouth, would melt the heart of a stone. There was his
ineffable love, his whole happiness at stake, his purpose,--his holy
purpose,--to devote himself, and all that he had, to her well-being.
Of all this he had a full conception within his own heart, if only he
could express it so that others should believe him! But of what use
was it now? He had had this further liberty of speech accorded to
him, and in it he had done nothing, made no inch of progress. She had
hardly spoken a dozen words to him, but of those she had spoken two
remained clear upon his memory. He must never hope, she had said; and
she had said also that that other man was better than he. Had she
said that he was dearer, the word would hardly have been more bitter.
All the old feeling came upon him of rage against his rival, and of
a desire that something desperate should be done by which he might
wreak his vengeance.

But there he was standing alone in Mrs. Dosett's drawing-room, and it
was necessary that he should carry himself off. As for dining in that
house, sitting down to eat and drink in Ayala's presence after such a
conversation as that which was past, that he felt to be quite out of
the question. He crammed his hat upon his head, left the room, and
hurried down the stairs towards the door.

In the passage he was met by his uncle, coming out of the
dining-room. "Tom," he said, "you'll stay and eat your dinner?"

"No, indeed," said Tom, angrily.

"You shouldn't let yourself be disturbed by little trifles such as
these," said his uncle, trying to put a good face upon the matter.

"Trifles!" said Tom Tringle. "Trifles!" And he banged the door after
him as he left the house.

END OF VOL. II.

* * * * * *

AYALA'S ANGEL

by

ANTHONY TROLLOPE,

Author of "Doctor Thorne," "The Prime Minister," "Orley Farm,"
&c., &c.

In Three Volumes.

VOL. III.

London:
Chapman and Hall (Limited),
11, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.
1881.
[All Rights Reserved.]

Westminster:
J. B. Nichols and Sons, Printers.
25, Parliament Street.

CONTENTS OF VOL. III.

XLIV. IN THE HAYMARKET.
XLV. THERE IS SOMETHING OF THE ANGEL ABOUT HIM.