But she was driven
slowly to perceive that she was by no means necessary to Mrs. Luttrell's
happiness. Mrs. Luttrell loved her still, but her heart had gone out
vehemently to Brian and Elizabeth; and when either of them was within
call she wanted nothing else. Brian and Elizabeth would gladly have kept
Angela with them for evermore, but it seemed to her that her duty lay
now rather with her brother than with those who were, after all, of no
kith or kin to her. She returned, therefore, to Rupert's house in
Kensington, and lived there until his marriage took place.

She was sorry for one thing--that the friendship between herself and
Percival Heron seemed to be broken. The words which she had spoken to
him before Hugo's death had evidently made a very strong impression upon
Percival's mind. He looked guilty and uncomfortable when he spoke to
her; his manner became unusually abrupt, and at last she noticed that,
if she happened to come into a room which he occupied, he immediately
made an excuse for leaving it. She had very few opportunities of seeing
him at all; but every time she met him, his avoidance of her became so
marked that she was hurt and grieved by it. But she could not do
anything to mend matters; and so she waited and was silent.

She heard, on her return to Kensington, that he had been a great deal to
her brother's house, and had done much for Rupert's comfort. But as soon
as he knew that she intended to stay in London he began to discontinue
his visits. It was very evident that he had determined to see as little
of her as possible. And, by-and-bye, he never came at all. For full
three months before Kitty's engagement to Rupert Percival did not appear
at the pleasant house in Kensington.

Angela was sitting alone, however, one day when he was announced. He
came in, glanced round with a vexed and irritated air, and made some
sort of apology.

"I came to see Rupert. I thought that you were away," he said.

"And, therefore, you came?" she said, with a little smile. "It was very
good of you to come when you thought he would be lonely."

"I did not mean that exactly."

"No? I wish you would come to see him a little oftener, Mr. Heron; he
misses your visits very much."

"He won't miss them long, he will soon get used to doing without me."

"But why should he?"

"Because I am going away."

"Where are you going?" said Angela, turning to look at him.

"To California," he answered grimly.

She paused f