I now know why you did not care to correspond with me while making your noble effort." [Illustration: HER LIPS WERE SLIGHTLY PARTED; HER POSE, GRACE ITSELF.] "Truly, Graydon, your memory and penetration are phenomenal." "You may disclaim out of kindness now, but I know I am right.

You make my life appear shallow and trivial.

What have I done in the last two years but attend carefully, from habit, to the details of business, and then amuse myself?
And when I wrote I merely sought to amuse you.
What were my flippant letters worth to one who was in earnest ?" "Graydon," said Madge, looking into his eyes with gentle dignity, "you may do yourself injustice if you will, but you shall not misjudge me.
I have acquired a little of the art of taking care of myself, and you are doing me a wrong which I cannot permit.

I remember everything, from the time that your kind eyes rested on the pallid, shrinking child that crept down to the dining-room when we first met, and from that day to this you have been kind and helpful to me.

I said that I regarded you as one of the best friends I had in the world.