Good; he had given Madeline a final chance, and she had neglected it.

In every sense he was at liberty to turn his thoughts elsewhither, and now he felt that he had even received encouragement.
"We had an unexpected meeting with Mr.Elgar," were Cecily's words, when she spoke to her aunt of the day's excursion.
Mrs.Lessingham showed surprise, and noticed that Cecily kept glancing over the columns of a newspaper she had carelessly taken up.
"At Pompeii ?" "Yes; in the Street of Tombs.

For some reason, he had delayed on his journey." "I'm not surprised." "Why ?" "Delay is one of his characteristics, isn't it ?" returned the elder lady, with unaccustomed tartness.

"A minor branch of the root of inefficiency." "I am afraid so." Cecily laughed, and began to read aloud an amusing passage from the paper.

Her aunt put no further question; but after dinner sought Mrs.
Bradshaw, and had a little talk on the subject.