how it
happened. She was a timid, shrinking, little thing, rather pretty--her
features are not at all bad--and `poor Mr Wolff' was a big burly fellow
who took a fancy to her because she was a contrast to himself. She
didn't say much, so he credited her with thinking the more. She agreed
with everything he said, so he considered her the cleverest woman he
knew. He discovered his error, no doubt, in sackcloth and ashes, poor
fellow; but mercifully he had not to endure many years of
disenchantment. I can't imagine a worse fate than being tied for life
to an automaton!"

"Humph!" Mollie pondered, pinching her soft chin between thumb and
finger. "He might not be so particular as you... Did you ever... Have
you ever,--I mean, did you ever meet..."

Jack blew a cloud of smoke from between his lips with a half-embarrassed
smile.

"Did I ever meet a girl whom I imagined might be my Mrs Wolff! Is that
what you want to ask? Yes--once!--for a passing moment. We met, and I
caught a glimpse of her face, and recognised it as the fulfilment of a
dream. Then she disappeared. Romantic, isn't it, and disappointing
into the bargain? I am not a sentimental fellow, I suppose, for I have
never even imagined myself in love, though I have known scores of
charming girls; but at that moment I realised possibilities!"

"But, oh, how disappointing! Did she really disappear? Couldn't you
find her? Is there no chance that you may meet again?"

"Sometimes I think there is; at other times it seems impossible. In any
case, I am powerless to help, or to hinder."

"I should not say that if I were a man! I would search the world over
till I found her!" Mollie sat silently, with bent head and thoughtful
air, then suddenly lifted her eyes to his with a sweet, grave glance.
"I hope you _will_ meet! I hope you will be very happy together some
day,--you, and your Lady of Dreams!"

Jack looked at her, and his face changed strangely. He said nothing,
not even a word of thanks for her good wishes, and presently got up from
his seat, and limped into the house, leaving Mollie depressed and self-
reproachful.

"I suppose I should not have said it. He thinks it `gush,' and won't
condescend to answer. I wonder what she was like? Dark, I suppose, and
stately, and serious; the very opposite from me. She will appear again
some day, and they will be married and look so handsome together. I'm
awfully, awfully glad; at least, I should be