Of course, he knew he liked Claudia's society; he found her talk at once a change, a rest, and a stimulus; he had even become aware that of all the people at the Manor, except his old friend and host, she had for him the most interest and attraction; perhaps he had even suffered at times that sense of vacancy of all the chairs when her chair was vacant that should have told him of his state if anything would.

But he did not see; he was blind in this matter, even as, say, Ayre or Morewood would have proved blind if called upon to study and describe the mental process of a religious conversation.

He was yet far from realizing that an influence had entered his life in force strong enough to contend with that which had so long ruled him with undivided sway.

It was the part of a friend to hope and try that he might go with his own heart yet a secret to him.

So hoped Eugene.