"When she was gone everything--even the man's life for which he had sacrificed her--turned worthless.

He always had the seeds of consumption, I suppose, and his gnawing remorse caused them to develop." A short silence followed his words, while Laura stared at him with eyes which seemed to weigh gravely the meaning of his words.

Then, rising hurriedly, she made a gesture as if throwing the subject from her and walked rapidly to the door.
"Aunt Rosa and Aunt Sophy are coming to dine," she said, "so I must glance at the table.

I can't remember now whether I ordered the oysters or not." The old man glanced after her with timid disappointment.

"So you haven't time to hear me play ?" he asked wistfully.
"Not now--there's Aunt Angela's dinner to be seen to.