That Mr Crosbie was very grand and very fashionable he had heard, but he knew no more of him.

Why should Mr Crosbie be allowed to walk with Lily Dale?
And why should Mrs Dale mention the circumstance as though it were quite a thing of course?
Such mystery as there was in this was solved very quickly.
"I'm sure Lily won't object to my telling such a dear friend as you what has happened," said Mrs Dale.

"She is engaged to be married to Mr Crosbie." The water into which Johnny's heart had been plunged now closed over his head and left him speechless.

Lily Dale was engaged to be married to Mr Crosbie! He knew that he should have spoken when he heard the tidings.

He knew that the moments of silence as they passed by told his secret to the two women before him,--that secret which it would now behove him to conceal from all the world.