He had loved her as a sister, and had given ample proof of this.

He had maintained his affection for the Madge that he remembered.

"But I have been told," he thought, bitterly, "that the young lady before me is a 'friend.' She has been a rather distant friend, if the logic of events counts for anything.

Not satisfied with the thousands of miles that separated us, she has also withheld her confidence in regard to changes that would have interested even a casual acquaintance." Madge soon detected the changing expression of his eyes, the lessening of simple, loving truth in his words, and while she was pained she feared that all this and more would necessarily result from the breaking up of their old relations.

Her task was a difficult one at best--perhaps it was impossible--nor had she set about it in calculating policy.