ts to London.
The growing friendship between these two young people seemed to meet his
hearty approval. About nine months ago Paul joined his father at
Calcutta, and Alice thought he was still there until she was surprised
by his unheralded appearance.

"Less than a year previous to this meeting, Pierre Lanier was in
London. At this time Paul proposed to Alice that they be married during
his father's stay. Alice gently but positively declined this proposal.
Paul insisted, and was fiercely indignant at her continued refusal.
Finally, seeing there was then no hope of a favorable answer, his
tactics took more subtle form, and Paul said:

"'It is unreasonable that I should expect an immediate answer. You have
known me as a boy, and have seen little of society. You will like me
better after seeing the hollow mockery of social compliments. My love
for you will be constant. Will you not kindly leave me some hope, and
wait a year before final decision? I will go abroad, hoping that at the
end of twelve anxious months Alice Webster will consent to become my
bride.'

"Thus appealed to, this generous-hearted girl consented to grant the
desired time, and to defer until then the final reply. Soon after this
Pierre Lanier left London, and in a few weeks Paul went to India."

Oswald was much interested in this romance and awaited developments.

Alice experienced much uneasiness because of her promise to wait. She
felt determined upon refusing to become the wife of Paul Lanier, but
dreaded the ordeal. She doubted his sincerity, and felt dread of both
father and son. For several weeks before her visit at Northfield Alice
had experienced an unaccountable sense of being watched, and often in
her walks met a strange man with familiar, furtive, shifting glances.
Fully determined forever to end this unwelcome affair, Alice gladly
accepted Esther's invitation to visit Northfield. In the sweet
infatuation of the past few weeks Alice almost had forgotten her former
distresses, and was experiencing a sense of unmitigated pleasure at this
beautiful home. Her growing interest in Oswald Langdon would make easier
dismissal forever of Paul's attentions.

Though when in company of Esther and Oswald, Alice often had experienced
a temporary sense of being watched, yet her pleasure was too genuine
long to feel the presence of unreal objects. More than once had the
reflected shadow of Paul Lanier appeared in startling clearness. Far
from being home