sliked and distrusted him."

"Poor Aulain! Why, Lizzie, he's one of the straightest fellows that ever
lived, and I am sure he has a sincere regard for me. You must never take
notice of the queer looks and actions of men who have had fever badly."

"Tom! I'm a woman, and I know. He was thinking of Kate Fraser--and you.
And he is suffering from another fever--the fever of violent jealousy."

Gerrard looked up--they were at breakfast. "Well, if that is the case,
it is a bad complication of diseases, and I am sorry for him. He has no
earthly reason to be jealous of me."

"He _is_ jealous, Tom, 'deadly jealous,' as Jim would say, and I dislike
him, dislike him intensely for it You have been so good to him, too."

"Only keeping things quiet about Big Boulder Creek, as I promised him I
should. And then, you see, Lizzie, his not getting the Government
reward of five thousand pounds, as he thought he should, has been a big
disappointment to him."

Mrs Westonley rose, came over to him, and placed her two hands against
his bronzed cheeks.

"Thomas Gerrard, Esquire?"

"Mrs Elizabeth Westonley!"

"You are to marry Kate Fraser!"

"Am I, old woman? You're a perfect jewel of a sister to find me such a
charming wife. But you see there are one or two trifling formalities
to be observed. First of all, I should have to ask her her views on the
subject."

"You ought to have done that a year ago."

"And have met with a refusal like poor Forde and Aulain."

"No, you would _not_ have been refused. I know that much," was his
sister's emphatic observation. "But you are letting the time go by, Tom.
And I am sure she is wondering why you don't ask. I know that she loves
you."

"Do you really?" and he shook his head smilingly.

"Yes, I do. I'm certain. And I know you are fond of her."

"Been long in the clairvoyant business, Lizzie?"

"Don't talk nonsense, Tom. I am very serious--and it would make me very
happy. Ask her this time, Tom. You must--else you have no right to be
with her so much. It is not fair to the girl."

"We are very great friends, Lizzie. I like her better than any woman I
have ever met. And I have sometimes thought--but anyway, I'm not in a
position to ask her."

"Nonsense! Your affairs are improving every day."

Gerrard was silent for a minute, then he said:

"I think Aulain means to try again."

"I am sure of it. But he is wasting his time. High-spirited as she is,
she is almost frightened of him. Sh