t of abandoning his career
to assist in the management of a pickle factory."

There was an inflection in the tone in which these last words were
pronounced which brought Pixie's eyes upon him in reproach.

"They are very _good_ pickles! I can't see that making them is any less
dignified than `bulling' and `bearing' cotton--whatever that may mean!--
Stanor used to write of it in his letters. Honor's father loved his
workmen, and made her promise to go on looking after them as he had
done. She doesn't need any more money; it would be easier for her to
retire and hand over the factory to some one else. It's for the men's
sake that she keeps it on, and to keep her promise to her father. Mr
Glynn, you _must_ love Honor. She's good, and true, and honourable, and
she's--Stanor's wife!"

"How could he? How could he?" Stephen rose impetuously, and began
pacing up and down, a rare excitement growing in voice and manner.
"When he could have had _You_! ... Good? Yes! She may be good--I'm
not denying the girl's good points. She has behaved well. She has her
attractions--Stanor evidently thinks her beautiful--but--_he might have
had You_! ... He has chosen this girl with her ordinary attractions,
instead of _your_ sweetness, _your_ sunshine, _your_ generosity, _your_
kindness! Your voice, Pixie; your eyes ... Your _love_! He was so
blind ... so deaf. ... The substance was his, and for a shadow--a poor,
faint shadow--"

Pixie had risen in her turn. Red as a rose she stood before him, with
shrinking eyes, but hands held out in sweet, courageous invitation.

"If ye think so much of me as all that," said the deep voice
breathlessly, "_wouldn't ye like me for yourself_?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ten minutes later the miracle, the wonder, was as marvellous as ever: as
incredible to the man whose life was suddenly irradiated with sunshine.

"Pixie! Pixie!" he cried. "My youth! ... Will you give it back to me,
sweetheart--the youth that I lost?"

"Beloved!" said Pixie, and her voice was as the swell of a deep organ
note. "It was not lost. It's been waiting for you--" she touched her
heart with an eloquent gesture--"here!"

THE END.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Love Affairs of Pixie, by
Mrs George de Horne Vaizey

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF PIXIE ***

***** This file should be named 23125.txt or 23