rs, and caused a smile to pass
around, although the cause of the merriment was unknown beyond the little
group from which it started.

"I fancy I can guess the cause of the trouble," said Lancy. "I daresay Hugh
found the parting painful. Am I right?"

Just then the starting-signal sounded, and the train sped away across the
country, and our travellers settled down to whatever comfort there is to be
obtained in a railroad car.

As soon as Lancy could get a word with Dexie, he asked her again what Hugh
had said to her, and she, willing to put his mind at ease, replied:

"He wanted me to promise that I would answer a letter he wished to write to
me, and I gave him to understand that I wanted no correspondence with my
sister's lover, so we had a few words over it and then parted--_not_
friends, I fear!"

Lancy knew that Hugh was only waiting his opportunity to oust him from his
favored position, and it delighted him to hear Dexie speak of him in that
strain.

"Thank you, Dexie; I guess Hugh can hear all he needs to know of you
second-hand."

Dexie smiled, and she did not pull away her hand when, for a moment, Lancy
laid his own shapely one across it. Lancy was her good friend; why should
he not feel sure of it? And a warm pressure of the hand goes a great way
towards proving friendship, to say nothing of a stronger feeling.

We must go back to Hugh, whom we left driving furiously along the road, his
heart full of bitter, angry feelings. He reproached Dexie for her cold,
heartless words, and himself for his ungovernable temper. He would give
worlds to recall those hasty words spoken on the roof, but it was too late;
he doubted if ever Dexie would forgive them. He felt that he could not
meet Mrs. Gurney's searching glance while in such a mood, so he kept on,
seeing nothing and hearing nothing of what was passing around him, his only
thought being to get away from human sight until the heat of the battle had
somewhat passed away.

It was not until some hours later that he made his appearance at Mrs.
Gurney's. She was becoming quite anxious at his long absence, as she wished
to hear the latest news of Elsie. Even when Hugh did return, he lingered so
long in the stable that she had to send a message to him before he made his
appearance.

He felt glad to find her alone in the room; he could not hide his feelings
from her, but others need not know of his weakness.

"How did she keep up, Hugh? Is she all right?"

"El