u," replied Archie, quietly; but now he looked at her. "You
are very kind. Yes, it was best for me to know." And then, as Phillis
rose and gave him her hand, for he had taken up his hat as he spoke,
she read at once that her caution had been in vain,--that he had full
understanding why the news had been told to him, and to him only, and
that he was grateful to her for so telling him.

Poor Phillis! she had accomplished her task; and yet as the door
closed behind the young clergyman, two or three tears fell on her
work. He was not angry with her; on the contrary, he had thanked her,
and the grasp of his hand had been as cordial as ever. But, in spite
of the steadiness of his voice and look, the arrow had pierced between
the joints of his armor. He might not be fatally wounded,--that was
not in the girl's power to know; but that he was in some way
hurt,--made miserable with a man's misery,--of this she was acutely
sensible; and the strangest longing to comfort him--to tell him how
much she admired his fortitude--came over her, with a strong stinging
pain that surprised her.

Archie had the longest walk that day that he had ever had in his life.
He came in quite fagged and foot-sore to his dinner, and far too tired
to eat. Mattie told him he looked ill and worn out; but, though he
generally resented any such personal remarks, he merely told her very
gently that he was tired, and that he would like a cup of coffee in
his study, and not to be disturbed. And when she took in the coffee
presently, she found him buried in the depths of his easy-chair, and
evidently half asleep, and stole out of the room on tiptoe.

But his eyes opened very speedily as soon as the door closed upon her.
It was not sleep he wanted, but some moral strength to bear a pain
that threatened to be unendurable. How had that girl read his secret?
Surely he had not betrayed himself! Nan had not discovered it, for her
calmness and sweet unconsciousness had never varied in his presence.
Never for an instant had her changing color testified to the faintest
uneasiness. He understood the reason of her reserve now. Her thoughts
had been with this Dick; and here Archie groaned and hid his face.

Not mortally hurt, perhaps; but still the pain and the sense of loss
were very bitter to this young man, who had felt for weeks past that
his life was permeated by the sweetness and graciousness of Nan's
presence. How lovely she had seemed to him,--the ideal girl of hi