_never_ get on.
Of course they cast my pride in my teeth, but God knows I have little
enough to be proud of.'

His mood cast its dark spell over the girl's sensitive heart, and she
turned to go.

'It is all so different,' she said in a low voice, 'but the difference
is not in me. Shall we never meet now, Walter?'

'It will be better not. If I ever succeed, and I have sworn to do it, we
may then meet on more equal ground,' he said steadily, and not a sign of
the unutterable longing in his heart betrayed itself in his set face.
His pride was as cruel as the grave.

'Till then it is good-bye, then, I suppose?' she said quietly.

'Yes, till then; the day will come, or I shall know the reason why.'

'But it may be too late then, Walter, for us both.'

With these words, destined to ring their warning changes in his ears for
many days, she left him, without touch of the hand or other farewell.

'Well, dear,' said Clara, with a slightly quizzical smile, 'has it made
you happier to revive the ghosts of the past?'

'No; you were right, and I wrong,' said Gladys, as she sank into the
cushioned seat. 'It was a great mistake.'

But even Clara did not know how dark was the shadow which had settled
down on the girl's gentle soul.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SWEETS OF LIFE.

From that day a change was observed in Gladys Graham. It was as if she
had suddenly awakened from a dream, to find herself surrounded by the
realities of life. Her listlessness vanished, her pensive moods became
things of the past. None could be more interested in every plan and
project, however small, in which the Fordyce household were concerned.
She became lively, merry, energetic; it seemed impossible for her to be
still.

'Now, what do you suppose is the matter with Gladys, Clara?' said Mina,
the morning of the day they were to leave town. 'You who pretend to be a
philosopher and a reader of character ought to be able to solve that
mystery.'

'What do you see the matter with her?' inquired Clara, answering the
question by another, as was her way when she did not want to commit
herself to an expression of opinion.

'Why, she is a different girl. Don't tell me you haven't noticed it. She
carries that Len to outrageous lengths, and if you don't call her
behaviour at Aunt Margaret's last night the most prominent flirtation,
I don't know what it is.'

'Just put it to Gladys, Mina. If she ever heard the word flirtation, I
am p