"Do you know whether anything unpleasant has happened to George lately to account for what he said to-night ?" "I do not, sir," replied Henry.
"I had a fancy that he might have been slighted by some one, or given the cold shoulder.

He is very sensitive." "I don't think any one in the village would slight him," said Henry.
"I should have said so too," remarked the minister, reflectively.

"Poor boy, poor boy! He seems to feel very badly, and it is hard to know how to cheer him." "Yes, sir--that is--certainly," replied Henry incoherently, for Madeline was now coming down the aisle.
In his own preoccupation not noticing the young man's, Mr.Lewis passed out.
As she approached the door Madeline was talking animatedly with another young lady.
"Good-evening," said Henry.
"Poor fellow!" continued Madeline to her companion, "he seemed quite hopeless." "Good-evening," repeated Henry.
Looking around, she appeared to observe him for the first time.
"Good-evening," she said.
"May I escort you home ?" he asked, becoming slightly red in the face.
She looked at him for a moment as if she could scarcely believe her ears that such an audacious proposal had been made to her.

Then she said, with a bewitching smile-- "I shall be much obliged." As he drew her arm beneath his own the contact diffused an ecstatic sensation of security through his stalwart but tremulous limbs.

He had got her, and his tribulations were forgotten.