I have merely lost my old place in his affection, and have had and shall have no opportunity to win his love.

If this is to be my fate it is well to discover it so speedily, and not after weeks of torturing hope and fear.

I'll learn the truth with absolute certainty as soon as possible, and then find a pretext to join the Waylands." At last the fatigue of the morning brought the respite of sleep, and when she waked she found late evening shadows in her room, and learned that Mr.Muir had arrived, it being his purpose to spend the Fourth and the remainder of the week with his family.
Weariness and despondency are near akin, and in banishing one Madge found herself better able to cope with the other.

At any rate, she determined to show no weakness.

If Graydon would never love her he should at least be compelled to respect and admire her, and he should never have cause to surmise the heart-poverty to which she was doomed.
Still less would she give her proud rival a chance to wound her again.
Miss Wildmere might make Graydon's devotion as ostentatious as she pleased, but should never again detect on Madge's face a look of pained surprise and solicitude.
She made a careful toilet for the evening, telling Mr.Muir and her sister not to wait for her, as she had overslept herself.
"Where is Madge ?" Graydon asked, at the supper-table.
"She did not wake up in time to come down with us," Mrs.Muir replied.
"What does it matter?
Miss Wildmere so fills your eyes that you see no one else.