nerous, hospitable
entertainment, but there was much of unspoken recrimination between
their guests.

What pent malice often is masked by smiling social courtesies!

Upon the next day Sir Donald proposed that all take a sail on the lake
and enjoy some excellent fishing.

To reach the water at a convenient spot near the boat, the gay party,
with lunch and fishing outfit, took a double carriage, Sir Donald
occupying a seat with the driver. All entered the boat, Sir Donald with
much skill handling the canvas. After an extended ride the party landed
on a shaded bank, where a fire was kindled. The fish and coffee soon
were steaming on a table before used by the family on similar lake
excursions.

After the meal Sir Donald lay down at a little distance and took a nap.
The rest of the party strolled together through the timber skirting the
shore.

Esther and Alice became separated by a narrow ravine, which gradually
widened until its sides became steep. Oswald had followed Esther, who
seemed perfectly happy, and unconscious of the widening breach between
them and her friend.

Paul had seen his chance to be alone with Alice. The girl had not
noticed how their path was being separated from that of her friends
until they had gone some distance. Then she thought of retracing her
steps, but Paul suggested that they might get farther away in this
manner, and that by continuing up the ravine a crossing soon would be
found. They kept on their way, Paul evincing his desire to find Esther
and Oswald by frequent calls. There were no responses. After an hour of
wandering, Alice became tired, and sat down to rest.

Paul now seemed worried over not finding Esther and Oswald. He suggested
that they wait to see if their friends would not come that way. They
more easily could get back to the point of separation by not traveling
farther. Alice approved of this plan, and both waited in the shade of an
overhanging tree on the bank of the ravine.

Paul was very kind, treating her anxiety with marked solicitude. He
succeeded in allaying her doubts as to the outcome of this incident, and
they talked freely upon little events of their past.

Gradually Paul approached the subject uppermost in his mind. Alice tried
to divert him until some better time. Her ingenuity was not equal to the
occasion in dealing with Paul Lanier. She became aware of this, and
tremblingly awaited the attack.

With softened accents and apparent deference, Paul ask