o the insatiable giant, Aspel turned away, and found himself
face to face with Phil Maylands.

It was not by any means their first meeting since the recovery of Aspel,
but, as we have said, the latter had kept out of the way of old friends,
and Phil was only partially excepted from the rule.

"The very man I wanted to see!" cried Phil, with gleaming eyes, as he
seized his friend's hand. "I've got mother over to London at last.
She's longing to see you. Come out with me this evening--do. But I'm
in sudden perplexity: I've just been sent for to do some extra duty. It
won't take me half an hour.--You're not engaged, are you?"

"Well, no--not particularly."

"Then you'll do me a favour, I'm sure you will. You'll mount guard here
for half an hour, won't you? I had appointed to meet May here this
evening to take her home, and when she comes she'll not know why I have
failed her unless you--"

"My dear Phil, I would stay with all my heart," said Aspel hastily,
"but--but--the fact is--I've not seen May for a long time, and--"

"Why, what on earth has _that_ to do with it?" asked Phil, in some
surprise.

"You are right," returned Aspel, with a deprecating smile, "that has
nothing to do with it. My wits are wool-gathering, Phil. Go: I will
mount guard."

Phil was gone in a moment, and Aspel leaned his head on his arm against
one of the pillars of the portico. He had scarcely breathed a prayer
for guidance when May approached. She stopped abruptly, flushed
slightly, and hesitated a moment, then, advancing with the hearty air of
an old playmate, she frankly held out her hand.

This was enough for Aspel. He had been depressed before; he was in the
depths of despair now. If May had only shown confusion, or shyness, or
anything but free-and-easy goodwill, hope might have revived, but he was
evidently nothing more to her than the old playmate. Hope therefore
died, and with its death there came over Aspel the calm subdued air of a
crushed but resigned man. He observed her somewhat worn face and his
heart melted. He resolved to act a brother's part to her.

"I'm so glad to meet you at last, May!" he said, returning the kindly
grasp of the hand with interest, but quite in a brotherly way.

"You might have seen me long ago. Why did you not come? We would all
have been so glad to see you."

May blushed decidedly as she made this reply, but the shades of evening
were falling. Moreover, the pillar near to which