No family turned up awkwardly at the last moment to mar things; she left safely after the ceremony, eh ?" Michael looked away suddenly, and then answered with overdone unconcern: "Yes--soon after the ceremony." "I do wonder you had no curiosity to investigate her character further!" "I had--but she did not appreciate my interest--and--after she had gone--I was rather in a bad temper, and I reasoned myself into believing she was probably right--also just then I wanted to join Latimer Berkeley's expedition to China.

I remember, his letter about it came by the next morning's post--so I went--but do you know, Henry, I believe that little girl made some lasting impression upon me.

I believe, if she had stayed, I should have been frantically in love with her--but she went, so there it is!" "Why don't you try to find her ?" Henry asked.
"Perhaps I mean to some day.

I have thought of doing so often, but first China, and then one thing and another have stopped me--besides, she may have fancied some other fellow by this time--the whole thing was one of those colossal mistakes.

If we could only have met ordinarily--and not married in a hurry and then parted--like that." "Has it never struck you she was rather young to be left to drift by herself ?" "Yes, often--" Then Michael grew a little constrained.