Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-12-15
CHAPTER VIII.

iilb, his uiSt III i<pnuou, dlout. joan ,
effort to persuade him to avoid Glou-
cester Place had tended TO quicken
the apprehensiveness which until
then he had tried not TO acknowledge
10 himself But his determination
was unchanged
In spite OF the fact of Pauline's
engagement 10 Sir Gilbert Strachan,
Wray found IL little difficult TO re-
alize her alienation from himself
He speculated concerning the nature
of the interview on Thursday. which
yet seemed eminently necessary. For
Pauline's sake and his own, he deter
mined that the first encounter should
not occur in public
On Wednesday afternoon. he receiv-
ed Mrs Bishops invitation. and on
Thursday he set forth to Gloucester
Place.
His appearance had become more
conventional since Tuesday He wore
a new frock-coat and his trousers no
longer bagged at the knees.
is Miss Cathcart at homer he
asked at the door.
VIII YOU walk this way. sir? said
the servant. and led him upstairs He
felt conscious of a slight nervousness
when she opened the drawingroom
door. but the next instant he was
calmly shaking hands with Amabel
He glanced round the room, but
Amabel was entirely alone
If | had known where YOU were
staying. she said. 1 should have sent
a note | should have spared you the
trouble OF coming
Has Pauline not returned YETI he
inquired
1 only heard yesterdav
explained she will not be at home
until Monday morning
Does she know | am in England?
he asked
How could she know?
Well thought you would tell her.
said Wrav
oh. it seemed pity TO disturb her
mind. answered Amabel DO sit
down. she added. taking \ chair
You regard me as a disturbing in
fiuence. then? he suggested rather
eagerly
Pauline is sure to feel sorry for
you. said Amabel with a demure ex-
preston.
That won't be much good will It.?
he exclaimed
You know my sister is very sympa
thetic. answered Amabel.
1t would be merely sentimental
he said a little abruptly
L don't think any one can say she
is sentimental Amabel retorted
That would he a libel.
Pity that leads to nothing. tears
which make nothing grow-isn't that
sentimentality?
Still, You can't always help pity
ing people. and it's very often quite
impossible TO assist them
No doubt. but If you indulge in that
sort of thing often why. you are SEN
timental,' he said.
There's nothing I should hate so
much cried Amabel SO shall
glory in your discontinue. Because
If sympathized with you
Without doing anything he sug.
Eesieu.
wei. | can't see how ANYBODY can
DO anything.
The mere fact OF your sympathy
may 90 far. he said. with a smile.
And Pauline's?'
Wray continued in a bantering
tone
srT . 49,, l-,ooi-. 49, ao...,, oo-.t
sincerely thank him for picking me
up and busting my coat Now, with
an innocent bystander the case is diff
ferent, you see
He would be at least disinter~.tedY
said Amabel
Certainly
And you might even go as lar as
To listen 10 his advice
If he were kind enough TO offer
it, said Wray.
4 advise you to be satisfied with
things as they are. she persisted.
i advise you not to come here again
Now WHY asked Wray.
Are you one of those tiresome per.
sons who always want a reason? she
exclaimed
is your counsel calculated for my
sake or Paullne's?' he said. little
more eagerly.
For the sake OF the general peace.
4 assure you. my last wish is 10 dis.
turb it,
Then pray don't come here again,
Mr. Waterhouse
But. he urged. whether come or
not. Pauline and | are bound 10 meet
sooner or later
You might 50 back to Africa she
sugge sted.
We'll. yes. | might he said. But
don't think | shall.
How nice TO live away from. the
convent.onality everybody complains
Of she continued. Now, confess
that kind OF life has it charm
So has almost every kind OF life.
You are not a pessimist. them! she
retOrted.
oh. well. every kind OF life has its
| drawbacks. too, YOU know.
You are not an unmitigated opti-
mist ether she exclaimed.
TO tell the truth. he said. 1 don
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