THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr.Musselwhite.But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

Clifford had begun to nurse a daring ambition.

Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

There could be no doubt that she knew, at all events, the main items of his story; was it not certain that they must make some appeal to her sympathies?
His air of graceful sadness could not but lead her to muse as often as she observed it; he had contemplated himself in the mirror, and each time with reassurance on this point.