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the door, he paused in the hall to lay his hand on her arm, and inquire in a voice unusually tremulous-- "You have often spoken to me about your `Govies,' as you call them. Was--was _She_ one of the number?" Betty murmured an assent, guiltily conscious of the criticisms which had accompanied the references. Was he about to take her to task for all the scathing remarks she had made on the subject of his old love? But no--the grip tightened on her arm, and he said gently-- "God bless you, my dear, for all your kindness! May it be meted out to you a hundred times over in your hour of need. A Governesses' Home-- Alice Beveridge! And Terence Digby living in the lap of luxury! Well, well! Twenty years, my dear, since we last met--I was over forty, but she was a mere girl. A beautiful girl,--I never saw her equal, and the years have not touched her. I should have known her anywhere. She is marvellously unchanged!" Betty gazed at him dumbly, and there came to her at that moment, for the first time in her life, a realisation of the deep, abiding love which sees beneath the surface, and knows neither change nor time. She had no inclination to laugh at the old man's blindness; rather she felt towards him reverence and admiration. Happy Miss Beveridge! To one loyal heart at least she would remain always young, always beautiful. Happy Terence Digby, who had kept his ideal untouched! When Betty retraced her steps to the drawing-room a few minutes later, another surprise was in waiting, for behold, Miss Beveridge sobbing, with her hands over her face, while Mrs Trevor patted her tenderly on the shoulder. She looked across the room and shook her head at her young daughter. "Go away, Betty dear, please! Leave us alone," she said gently, and Betty tottered across the hall and collapsed in a heap on the nearest chair, positively faint with excitement. The first real romance with which she had come in contact,--and behold! The leading characters were General Digby and Miss Beveridge! Wonders would never cease! The next afternoon the General appeared once more, and had a long _tete- a-tete_ with Mrs Trevor. "I am sorry to be such a trouble to you, madam, but you have no one to blame but yourself, for you have been so patient and forbearing with me during the last six months, that I feel as if there were no limits to your kindness. I went to that Governesses' Home to-day--for that matter I passed it half
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