ite candid; and I hope you won't think I have spoken out of any
unkindness or ill-feeling."

He answered her at last,

"I agree with every word you have said."

A quick flush swept across Miss Burgoyne's forehead; but probably he
could not have told what that meant, even if he had been looking; and he
was not.

"I hope you won't think me unkind," she repeated. "I am sure it will be
better for both of us to have that tie broken. If I had not thought that
it would be as grateful to you as to me to be released, be sure I would
not have come and spoken to you while you were lying on a sick-bed. Now,
I promised Mr. Mangan not to talk too much nor to agitate you," said
she, as she rose, and smoothed her sun-shade, and made ready to depart.
"I hope you will get strong and well very soon; and that you will come
back to the New Theatre with your voice as splendid as ever." But still
she lingered a little. She felt that her immediate departure might seem
too abrupt; it would look as if she had secured the object of her visit,
and was therefore ready to run away at once. So she chatted a little
further, and looked at the photographs on the wall; and again she hoped
he would be well soon and back at the theatre. At last she said, "Well,
good-bye." Gave him her gloved hand for a second; then she went out and
was joined by her brother. Mangan saw them both down-stairs, and
returned to Lionel's room.

"Had her ladyship any important communication to make?" he asked, in his
careless way.

"She proposed that our engagement should be broken off--and I
consented," said Lionel, simply.

Mangan, who was going to the window, suddenly stood stock-still and
stared, as if he had not heard aright.

"And it is broken off?" he exclaimed.

"Yes."

There was a dead silence. Presently Maurice said,

"Well, that is the best piece of news I have received for many a
day--for you don't seem heartbroken, Linn. And now--have you any
plans?--perhaps you have hardly had time?--"

He was looking at Lionel--wondering whether the same idea was in both
their heads--and yet afraid to speak.

"Maurice," Lionel said, presently, with some hesitation, "tell me--could
I ask Nina--look at me--such a wreck--could I ask her to become my wife?
It's about Capri I am thinking--we could go together there, when I am a
bit stronger--"

There was a flash of satisfaction in the deep-set, friendly gray eyes.

"This is what I expected, Linn. Well, put the quest