"If you are going to marry this young girl, _this child,_ I hope, I"-- almost passionately--_"hope_ it will be for her good and yours." "Margaret! What a tone! You mean something!" "I do." Margaret's strong face lights up with honest anxiety.

"I mean this!" She takes a step nearer him.

"How is it between you and Marian ?" "Why, how has it been ?" asks he, with affected lightness; but a change passes over his face.
"Oh, Maurice, take care!" says his cousin, laying her hand upon his arm.
"Well, if you must have it," says he, frowning, "all that is over." He breaks away from her, frowning still.
It is quite plain to her that she has offended him.

But even as he leaves her he looks back; a sort of grim smile illumines his face.
"I note that in your 'hoping' you have put Miss Bolton before me; that is as it should be.

She is a sworn admirer of yours.