m. "I think
that it is better so."

"Better, Enid?"

"Yes. He says that I am not strong--and it is true. I feel very weak
sometimes, not strong enough to bear much, I am afraid. If I were to
become an invalid, I should not marry." She spoke gently, but with great
resolution.

"That is all a morbid fancy of yours," said Hubert. "You will be better
soon. After this summer, the General talks of winter in the Riviera.
That will do you all the good in the world."

"I think not," she answered quietly. "I am afraid that I am not so
likely to recover as you think. And, if not, nothing on earth will
induce me to marry any man. Remember that, Hubert--if I am not better, I
will not marry you. I intend to join the sisters at East Winstead."

"It is that meddling parson who is at the bottom of this, I'll swear!"
said Hubert angrily, quitting her side and pacing about the room. He
noticed that at his words the color rose in the girl's pale cheeks.

"If you mean Mr. Evandale," she said, "I can assure you that he has
never said a word to me about East Winstead. It is entirely my own
wish."

"My dear child," said Hubert, halting in front of her, "the last thing
we want is to force your wishes in any direction. If, for instance, you
wish to throw me over and be a nun, do so by all means. I only ask you
to be true to yourself, and to see that you do not act on impulse, or so
as to blight the higher impulses of your nature. I can say no more."

Enid looked at him wistfully, and seemed inclined to speak; but the
entrance of her uncle at that moment put a stop to further conversation,
and the subject was not reopened before Hubert's return to town.

"No engagement--free to do as I please." The words hummed themselves in
Hubert's mind to the accompaniment of the throbs of the steam-engine all
the way back to London. What did it mean? What did Enid herself mean?
Was it not a humiliating position for a man to be in? Was it fair either
to him or to the girl? Did it not mean, as a matter of fact, that Flossy
had been mistaken, and that Enid was not in the least in love with him?
He could not say that she had been especially affectionate of late.
Passively gentle, sweet, amiable, she always was, but not emotional, not
demonstrative. At that moment Hubert would have given ten years of his
life to know what was in her heart--what she really meant, and wanted
him to do.

Arrived at Charing Cross Station, he seemed uncertain as to his
mov