ritation in his voice--

"Of course your wishes should be considered. I don't need any one to
teach me that. I am quite willing to go to America and do my best. I
shall be glad of the change, but it's nonsense to talk of not being
bound. We _are_ bound! We need not correspond regularly, if you make a
point of that. I don't think much of letters in any case. Writing once
a week, or once in two or three months, can make no difference. There's
only _one_ thing that counts!"

Stephen assented gravely.

"Just so. From what I have seen of Miss O'Shaughnessy, I realise that
her only hope of happiness is to marry a man who can give her a
whole-hearted love."

Stanor's glance held a mingling of surprise and displeasure--surprise
that the Runkle should offer any opinion at all on matters sentimental;
displeasure, that any one should dictate to him concerning Pixie's
welfare. He switched the conversation back to more practical matters.

"When shall I start? The sooner the better. If the post is open there
is no object in wasting time." His face lit up with sudden animation.
"I say! Could we manage it in a fortnight, should you think? Miss Ward
is sailing by the `Louisiana,' and it would be topping if I could go by
the same boat. I might wire to-day about a berth."

"Who is Miss Ward?"

"Honor Ward--an American. Awfully jolly! No end of an heiress! I've
met her a good deal this year, and she was staying at the Hilliards' at
the time of the accident. Awfully fond of Pixie, and a real good sort!"
He laughed shortly.--"We _ought_ to go out together, for we are
mentally in the same boat. She had intended to stay over the summer,
but ... her romance has gone wrong too!"

"Indeed!"

Stephen was not interested in Miss Ward's romance, but he made no
objection to the sending of a wire to the Liverpool office of the
steamship company, and before evening the berth was secured and Stanor's
departure definitely dated.

"I'll spend the rest of the time with Pixie," was Stanor's first
determination, but each hour that passed brought with it a recollection
of some new duty which must needs be performed. One cannot leave one's
native land, even for a couple of years, without a goodly amount of
preparation and leave-taking, and the time allotted to Pixie dwindled
down to a few hasty visits of a few hours' duration, when the lovers sat
together in the peacock walk, and talked, and built castles in the air,
and laugh