ive.

"I drew back," he said, "and clenched my hands to keep myself from
strangling Urquhart. Then I broke into hurried pants, that subsided
gradually into words of perplexity and amazement as I met his eye, and
realized that it contained nothing but a rude sort of sympathy and good
fellowship.

"'How? Why? What do you mean by coming back?' I cried. 'You said you
would be gone a week. You swore--'

"A gay laugh interrupted me.

"'And must a man keep every oath he makes, especially when it separates
him from a charming betrothed, and a friend who swore that he would make
this day his wedding one?'

"'Urquhart!'

"'Felt!'

"'Are you a monster or are you--'

"'A self-possessed man who is going to take in charge a crazy one. Come
into the house, Mark, a dozen eyes can see us here.'

"He took me in charge; he piloted me into my own dwelling--he whose
whole body I had always esteemed weaker than my little finger; my enemy
too, or so I considered him; the cause of half my grief, of all my
shame, the beginning and end of my hatreds.

"When we were closeted, as we soon were in the room I had expended so
much upon to make worthy of my bride, he came and stood before me and
uttered these unexpected words:

"'Felt, I like you. You are the only friend I have, and I am indebted to
you. Now, what have you against me?'

"I was astonished. His whole look and bearing were so different from
what I had expected, so different from anything I had ever seen in him
before. I began to question my doubts, and dropped my eyes as he
pursued:

"'You have been disappointed in your marriage, I hear; but that need not
make you as downcast as this. A woman as capricious as Miss Leighton
might easily imagine she was too ill to go through the ceremony to-day.
But she must have repented of her folly by this time, and in a week will
reward you as your patience deserves. But what have I got to do with it?
For incredible as it appears, your every look and tone assures me that
you blame me for this mishap.'

"Was he daring me? If so, he should find me his equal. I raised my eyes
and surveyed him.

"'Shall I tell you why this is so--why I associate Miss Leighton's
caprice with your return, and regard both with suspicion? Because I have
seen you look on her with love; because I have surprised the passion in
your face and beheld her--'

"'Well?'

"The tone was indescribable. It was as if a hand had taken me by the
throat and choked me. I