Then came the thought of his blindness, and in a great horror of self-mistrust he seemed to see throughout it all his criminal folly.

He, poor fool, had been pleasing himself with dreams of a meeting, when all the while the other man had been the real lover.
She had despised him, spared not a thought for him save as a pleasing idler; and he--that he should ever have ventured for one second to hope! Curiously enough, for the first time he thought of Stocks with respect; to have won the girl seemed in itself the proof of dignity and worth.
"Thanks very much for telling me.

I am glad I know.

No, I don't think I'll go into the house yet." * * * * * The days passed and Alice waited with anxious heart for the coming of the very laggard Lewis.

To-day he will come, she said each morning; and evening found her--poor heart!--still expectant.