ie's eyes met his without the
faintest shadow of reproach. There was a subtle change in her
expression, but it spoke neither of offence nor anger.

"No, I am not vexed; that would be stupid, for it would only make things
worse. It is my nature to look on the bright side of things. I know I
am thoughtless, but it won't last. I shall be serious enough some day--
perhaps sooner than we think. Don't grudge me my little hour!"

The face raised to his looked so young and wistful that Jack felt a pang
of the same remorse which one feels who has wounded a little child. He
averted his eyes and drove on in silence, thinking, thinking.--The
clever town girl would have been mortally insulted if he had dared to
criticise her manners or attainments, and would have justified herself
by a dozen plausible arguments. Mollie was ready to admit everything
against herself, and only anxious to save him from any feeling of
embarrassment.

She talked on impersonal topics all the rest of the way to the vicarage,
and her smile when she bade him good-bye was resolutely cheerful, but he
hated himself as he realised that for the first time there was an effort
involved. As he turned the pony round the corner of the little lane
which bordered the lawn he heard Mrs Thornton's surprised exclamation,
"Why, Mollie!" and the half-laughing exclamation, "It's nothing! The
sun is so strong, it made my eyes--smart!"

Jack Melland set his teeth and drove on in a tumult of feeling such as
he had never known before in the course of his self-satisfied existence.
Blundering, presumptuous wretch that he was! If any trouble came to
Mollie Farrell, he would feel as guilty as if he himself had
deliberately brought it to pass!

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

CONFIDENCES.

While Mollie was busy at the vicarage, Ruth took her book to her
favourite seat, and prepared to spend a quiet morning; but to her
delight, Victor joined her, and took his place by her side, before she
had been seated more than a few minutes.

"He will see Lady Margot this afternoon. He need not ride ahead in the
hope of meeting her," came the involuntary bitter thought; but it was
impossible to harbour jealousy for more than a minute when alone in
Victor's company. Every word, every look, every tone, was filled with a
subtle flattery which was not only soothing but inspiring into the
bargain, for we are always at our best in the society of those who
appreciate us.

Ruth gazed, with