She will be so glad to see you, John! We all expected you to-day." "Did you ?" said Johnny, whose heart had been plunged into cold water at the mention of Mr Crosbie's name.

He had been thinking of Lilian Dale ever since his friend had left him on the railway platform; and, as I beg to assure all ladies who may read my tale, the truth of his love for Lily had moulted no feather through that unholy liaison between him and Miss Roper.

I fear that I shall be disbelieved in this; but it was so.

His heart was and ever had been true to Lilian, although he had allowed himself to be talked into declarations of affection by such a creature as Amelia Roper.

He had been thinking of his meeting with Lily all the night and throughout the morning, and now he heard that she was walking alone about the gardens with a strange gentleman.