In half an hour." When they were a mile or two away Madge asked, as if with sudden compunction, "Graydon, are you sure you were disengaged ?" He laughed outright.

"That question comes much too late," he said.
She braced herself as if to receive a deadly blow, and was pale and rigid with the effort as she asked, with an air of curiosity merely, "Are you truly engaged to Miss Wildmere, Graydon ?" "In one sense I am, Madge," he replied, gravely.

"I have given her my loyalty, and, to a certain extent, my word; but I have not bound her.
Since you have proved so true and generous a friend to me I do not hesitate to let you know the truth.

I am sorry you do not like her altogether, and that you have some cause for your feeling; but you are both right at heart.

She spoke most enthusiastically of your rescue of the child.